Fund My New Ride!

Hi! My name is Barbara Ackermann and I have had MS for the past 32 years. During the course of my illness, I have gotten progressively worse in a slow, but deliberate manner. Despite every possible medication to slow the path of my disease, my disability has been relentless. Even so, I have continued to be an active member in my community, as well as a hard-working substitute teacher in a couple of different school districts. In addition to teaching, I also work with kids in an after school program and in summer camp. I tutor children in need of extra help, and have taught third grade religion for the past 25 years in my parish.

During all of this time I have navigated the world in a power wheelchair which is now antiquated. They no longer make parts to fix it. It is over 12 years old. Wheelchair companies only guarantee replacement parts for seven years. I have been very lucky that this one has lasted as long as it has! The last time it required repairs, it cost over $1000! The technician had to take it to a local car garage and have the broken part welded in order to reuse it, since they no longer make a new one for my model. This old wheelchair needs replacement. If anything fails on it, I will be stranded! A new wheelchair which suits my needs costs approximately $60,000. My insurance company will pay a portion, but this still leaves me with a very daunting and difficult bill I am unable to pay on my own.

Six months ago, I needed to purchase a new van so that I may continue being independent. My old one had become completely unreliable, and it was dangerous to continue driving it. You can imagine how expensive a new vehicle might be, especially with all the handicap alterations necessary for me to drive it safely. A year ago I moved to assisted living. Monthly rent is extremely expensive! Anyone who has an aging individual in their life knows that assisted living drains your assets until you have nothing left. In paying for a new wheelchair, I am now faced with yet a third large sum of money I need to raise. However, with your support, I know I can obtain my goal so I can continue teaching and living an active lifestyle.

This new wheelchair will afford me the opportunity to stand up, which increases the circulation in my legs, improves the scoliosis in my posture, and allows me to more effectively teach in a classroom. It will help me to elevate my legs so I do not get blood clots or progressive edema. It will let me lie back and rest, getting the pressure off of my rear end, so I don’t get sores. The seat goes up and down, allowing me to reach into high cabinets and helping me remain as independent as possible. Finally, it will be custom-designed so I can drive in it and do not have to transfer to a driver’s seat. Clearly, this is something that I vitally need at this time, especially because I am still a young woman who just recently turned 60. It may seem like a huge amount of money, but I am confident that if everyone pitches in, even just a little little, my goal is attainable. Thank you in advance for your contribution!