Hi, folks. I'm Duane. I have held off and agonized over whether to launch this campaign. I am loathe to beg strangers for help, especially given some of the abuses of this system we've all seen. Some people have urged me on, however, saying that I should let the rest of the world decide whether or not my cause is justified.
I'm a single dad with two kids (joint custody with their mother, full 50/50.) I've been on full disability since 2003 with severe anxiety compounded with panic attacks, plus social phobia. I'm also clinically diagnosed with autism. Growing up with undiagnosed autism led to the anxieties and phobias I struggle with now.
Last year I was diagnosed with stage IV base-of-tongue cancer. I went through a tongue resection (a piece of my tongue was removed), and a radical neck dissection. This was followed by chemotherapy and a full round of radiation treatments. While I'm in remission, as a result of the surgeries and treatment, I've lost partial range of motion and have reduced strength in my left arm. The left side of my neck has lost all feeling, and about half of my salivary glands were destroyed by the radiation.
I am an honest person. I can back all of these claims up with documentation, below.
I have two boys, 12 and 14. They are both exceptionally intelligent. They are both in all advanced placement classes and doing well. The eldest is also autistic (diagnosed with PDD/NOS.) Due to the local school system being unwilling to work with special needs kids, they receive a waiver to go to school in the next county over, which has treated them wonderfully. The school is about 20 miles from here, so that is two 40-mile trips each day to get them there and back. I've made that work since my eldest was in kindergarten.
The problem now is that my van, which was bought used with over 100,000 miles on it in 2004, has finally succumbed to wear and tear. The brakes are about to go out, the shocks are out, the rear doors don't open anymore and a few other things. It is now parked, as it is no longer safe to drive, and the repair costs would significantly exceed the value of the vehicle. It makes no sense to repair it. I need to replace it.
At this point, I don't have any other options to fall back on. I've checked into low income vehicle programs, and am on a few waiting lists, but I'm being told months or longer, and the kids need to go to school now. Due to my social anxiety I don't really have friends, and I have very little immediate family. So I'm asking here. I need enough for safe vehicle that is affordable enough to get my kids back and forth to school.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. If you can't afford to help, consider sharing this page on social media.
I'm a single dad with two kids (joint custody with their mother, full 50/50.) I've been on full disability since 2003 with severe anxiety compounded with panic attacks, plus social phobia. I'm also clinically diagnosed with autism. Growing up with undiagnosed autism led to the anxieties and phobias I struggle with now.
Last year I was diagnosed with stage IV base-of-tongue cancer. I went through a tongue resection (a piece of my tongue was removed), and a radical neck dissection. This was followed by chemotherapy and a full round of radiation treatments. While I'm in remission, as a result of the surgeries and treatment, I've lost partial range of motion and have reduced strength in my left arm. The left side of my neck has lost all feeling, and about half of my salivary glands were destroyed by the radiation.
I am an honest person. I can back all of these claims up with documentation, below.
I have two boys, 12 and 14. They are both exceptionally intelligent. They are both in all advanced placement classes and doing well. The eldest is also autistic (diagnosed with PDD/NOS.) Due to the local school system being unwilling to work with special needs kids, they receive a waiver to go to school in the next county over, which has treated them wonderfully. The school is about 20 miles from here, so that is two 40-mile trips each day to get them there and back. I've made that work since my eldest was in kindergarten.
The problem now is that my van, which was bought used with over 100,000 miles on it in 2004, has finally succumbed to wear and tear. The brakes are about to go out, the shocks are out, the rear doors don't open anymore and a few other things. It is now parked, as it is no longer safe to drive, and the repair costs would significantly exceed the value of the vehicle. It makes no sense to repair it. I need to replace it.
At this point, I don't have any other options to fall back on. I've checked into low income vehicle programs, and am on a few waiting lists, but I'm being told months or longer, and the kids need to go to school now. Due to my social anxiety I don't really have friends, and I have very little immediate family. So I'm asking here. I need enough for safe vehicle that is affordable enough to get my kids back and forth to school.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. If you can't afford to help, consider sharing this page on social media.