Farm-worthy Wheels for Traci
Donation protected
Traci Adams Howell was badly injured in an auto accident in July, 2016. Now, after surgeries, many months in the hospital and in physical rehabilitation, she is at home with her husband and the animals on their homestead farm near Windsor. She has worked hard to become as active as possible with the use of a motorized chair, and continues with physical therapy to regain strength and more use of her arms and hands. Progress has been slow, but recovery from spinal cord injuries is often laborious. Even after these many months, however, Traci's determination to return to some of her previous activities hasn't flagged. She's not a quitter!
Prior to the accident, Traci spent much of her time outdoors. She raised sheep, goats, and dogs to sell, and kept a small herd of milk cows. In addition to the milking chores, she made butter and cheese, delivered milk to a route of regular customers, and provided custom baked goods. The bounty of a large garden was preserved by canning, freezing, and dehydrating.
(a milking lesson from one of the days before the wreck)
This year has been difficult for them, but Robert and Traci are trying to continue their dream of being as self-sufficient as possible. With his wife's guidance and knowledge, Robert has taken over the gardening and putting up of food for the winter months ahead. He has continued with raising some of the animals, but they've had to make some hard choices based on the amount of time he spends caring for Traci and working as many hours as possible.
The motorized chair Traci uses is sufficient for indoors, but is not well equipped for the outside use she needs. In researching the type of unit Traci could use on the lawn and around their place, I found that--once customized for her specific limitations--a chair with tracks or heavier tires and a stronger motor that would prevent her getting constantly stuck will cost about $20,000. And while this devoted couple has tried to keep a positive attitude about it, even joking about his oft-repeated question "Are you stuck yet?", the frustration is real, sometimes to the point of getting out the tow straps and using the truck to dislodge the chair from a shallow spot in the lawn!
These folks are generous with all that they have, but they could really use our help. Knowing they won't ask for anything for themselves, I am now asking you, on their behalf. Let's pool our resources to get Traci the Farm-worthy Wheels she needs. Please contribute whatever you can, and spread the word, if you will, to your friends and family. We can make this happen!!
Thank you so much,
Jesse Crain
Prior to the accident, Traci spent much of her time outdoors. She raised sheep, goats, and dogs to sell, and kept a small herd of milk cows. In addition to the milking chores, she made butter and cheese, delivered milk to a route of regular customers, and provided custom baked goods. The bounty of a large garden was preserved by canning, freezing, and dehydrating.
(a milking lesson from one of the days before the wreck)
This year has been difficult for them, but Robert and Traci are trying to continue their dream of being as self-sufficient as possible. With his wife's guidance and knowledge, Robert has taken over the gardening and putting up of food for the winter months ahead. He has continued with raising some of the animals, but they've had to make some hard choices based on the amount of time he spends caring for Traci and working as many hours as possible.
The motorized chair Traci uses is sufficient for indoors, but is not well equipped for the outside use she needs. In researching the type of unit Traci could use on the lawn and around their place, I found that--once customized for her specific limitations--a chair with tracks or heavier tires and a stronger motor that would prevent her getting constantly stuck will cost about $20,000. And while this devoted couple has tried to keep a positive attitude about it, even joking about his oft-repeated question "Are you stuck yet?", the frustration is real, sometimes to the point of getting out the tow straps and using the truck to dislodge the chair from a shallow spot in the lawn!
These folks are generous with all that they have, but they could really use our help. Knowing they won't ask for anything for themselves, I am now asking you, on their behalf. Let's pool our resources to get Traci the Farm-worthy Wheels she needs. Please contribute whatever you can, and spread the word, if you will, to your friends and family. We can make this happen!!
Thank you so much,
Jesse Crain
Organizer and beneficiary
Jesse Crain
Organizer
Windsor, MO
Robert and Traci Howell
Beneficiary
