Gary Hauck's continues independence
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I'm trying to raise money to help Gary get some needed items so that he can maintain his independence and continue living in his own home.
In 1992 a guy pulled out in front of Gary on Grand Avenue. He had no time to stop and hit him in his ‘64 Chevelle Malibu SS. In 1964 seatbelts were an option. As a result of the accident Gary injured his C5 and C6 vertebrates and has spinal stenosis. The doctor at the time told him that the surgery would be awful and the recovery would be worse. He had had a couple surgeries as a child, and has never been a fan of any type of elective surgery. The doctor said that since he was in pretty good shape for a 32-year-old man, his recommendation would be to wait until he was 50 or 60 and it started to bother him. What the doctor didn’t say was that without the surgery his muscles would atrophy and he would slowly become substantially weaker. Had he understood this in 1992, he would have had the surgery then and would not be in the condition he is in today.
In addition to the spinal stenosis he has a dysplastic hip with arthritis (bone on bone) and the doctor says he runs double the risk of dislocation if he has the surgery now. It makes it difficult for him to stand for any length of time and he has to be very cognizant of his positioning. If not it will give out and he will fall. And because of the weakness from the atrophied muscles, it is very difficult for him to get up. He is going to doctors to address these and other issues.
He has been approved for a power wheelchair through Medicare. However there is a $3000 add-on to the chair that would raise him up 18 inches which would help him with tasks like cooking but Medicare won’t cover it.
We also found a scooter for $4000. A scooter would allow him the ability to get out and do things involving walking or standing that he can’t do now like concerts, grocery shopping etc.
And finally, he has a friend who is in a wheelchair that is selling her van completely equipped with a ramp. It has low miles, has been very well maintained, and is a steal for $10,000. She too is on a fixed income and could use the money. There will also be other expenses with buying the van such as insurance and licensing.
Gary needs $17,000 to keep his freedom and remain connected to his community. Please find it in your heart to help him maintain his independence.
Thank you for your kind attentions!
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Gary Hauck. I was raised in Billings Montana, and graduated from Billings Senior high school in 1978. I was born three months premature in 1960 and as a result have cerebral palsy. There are so many varying degrees of severity of CP from moderate to quadriplegia. It can even affect your speech, drooling etc. I’m truly blessed to have only ever needed crutches. I’ve never let it slow me down. In fact in large part it’s made me who I am and I’m thankful. I’ve always been fiercely independent and prior to say the last 10 years or so, I’ve always been very strong and able to do whatever I wanted physically. I did the rings as a gymnast my sophomore year, I’ve arm wrestled, (the guy broke his arm) I used to love to dance.
I was a telephone operator at the phone company for over 13 years, got married, had a son, and did the daddy day care thing for nine months (which I absolutely loved) and then went on to sell digital phone systems and data networks for another 15 years until I started drawing disability in 2008. All I ever wanted to be when I grew up was a DJ and I was able to do so for a few years after I started drawing disability. I’ve always worked hard to remain independent through the years.
A few years ago I qualified for a $25,000 deferred loan through the city for home improvements. I’ve owned my home for 20 years and was able to do several things to it that as it turns out were essential for what I needed today (i.e. a handicapped accessible entrance way with a ramp)
My parents both passed away several years ago as did my oldest sister through which I became Christian in 1973. I love the Lord and he has truly blessed me in more ways than I can count. He has blessed me with amazing friends I would probably be dead without. I would do anything for them as they do for me. Unfortunately, the last few years I’ve had to rely on them more than I would like to do things that I’ve always been able to do for myself in the past but can’t now.
So consequently here I am in a place I never thought I’d be in, a mere shell of my former self trying to figure out how to best get through the rest of whatever is left of this life. Thank you for your time and consideration.
God bless you and Amen!
Gary
In 1992 a guy pulled out in front of Gary on Grand Avenue. He had no time to stop and hit him in his ‘64 Chevelle Malibu SS. In 1964 seatbelts were an option. As a result of the accident Gary injured his C5 and C6 vertebrates and has spinal stenosis. The doctor at the time told him that the surgery would be awful and the recovery would be worse. He had had a couple surgeries as a child, and has never been a fan of any type of elective surgery. The doctor said that since he was in pretty good shape for a 32-year-old man, his recommendation would be to wait until he was 50 or 60 and it started to bother him. What the doctor didn’t say was that without the surgery his muscles would atrophy and he would slowly become substantially weaker. Had he understood this in 1992, he would have had the surgery then and would not be in the condition he is in today.
In addition to the spinal stenosis he has a dysplastic hip with arthritis (bone on bone) and the doctor says he runs double the risk of dislocation if he has the surgery now. It makes it difficult for him to stand for any length of time and he has to be very cognizant of his positioning. If not it will give out and he will fall. And because of the weakness from the atrophied muscles, it is very difficult for him to get up. He is going to doctors to address these and other issues.
He has been approved for a power wheelchair through Medicare. However there is a $3000 add-on to the chair that would raise him up 18 inches which would help him with tasks like cooking but Medicare won’t cover it.
We also found a scooter for $4000. A scooter would allow him the ability to get out and do things involving walking or standing that he can’t do now like concerts, grocery shopping etc.
And finally, he has a friend who is in a wheelchair that is selling her van completely equipped with a ramp. It has low miles, has been very well maintained, and is a steal for $10,000. She too is on a fixed income and could use the money. There will also be other expenses with buying the van such as insurance and licensing.
Gary needs $17,000 to keep his freedom and remain connected to his community. Please find it in your heart to help him maintain his independence.
Thank you for your kind attentions!
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Gary Hauck. I was raised in Billings Montana, and graduated from Billings Senior high school in 1978. I was born three months premature in 1960 and as a result have cerebral palsy. There are so many varying degrees of severity of CP from moderate to quadriplegia. It can even affect your speech, drooling etc. I’m truly blessed to have only ever needed crutches. I’ve never let it slow me down. In fact in large part it’s made me who I am and I’m thankful. I’ve always been fiercely independent and prior to say the last 10 years or so, I’ve always been very strong and able to do whatever I wanted physically. I did the rings as a gymnast my sophomore year, I’ve arm wrestled, (the guy broke his arm) I used to love to dance.
I was a telephone operator at the phone company for over 13 years, got married, had a son, and did the daddy day care thing for nine months (which I absolutely loved) and then went on to sell digital phone systems and data networks for another 15 years until I started drawing disability in 2008. All I ever wanted to be when I grew up was a DJ and I was able to do so for a few years after I started drawing disability. I’ve always worked hard to remain independent through the years.
A few years ago I qualified for a $25,000 deferred loan through the city for home improvements. I’ve owned my home for 20 years and was able to do several things to it that as it turns out were essential for what I needed today (i.e. a handicapped accessible entrance way with a ramp)
My parents both passed away several years ago as did my oldest sister through which I became Christian in 1973. I love the Lord and he has truly blessed me in more ways than I can count. He has blessed me with amazing friends I would probably be dead without. I would do anything for them as they do for me. Unfortunately, the last few years I’ve had to rely on them more than I would like to do things that I’ve always been able to do for myself in the past but can’t now.
So consequently here I am in a place I never thought I’d be in, a mere shell of my former self trying to figure out how to best get through the rest of whatever is left of this life. Thank you for your time and consideration.
God bless you and Amen!
Gary
Organizer
Ellen Jane Krause
Organizer
Billings Metropolitan Area, MT