Give Kay a Ride
Donation protected
November 2016
New Years Eve 1991 was wonderful. We were looking forward to a great 1992. We were my wife, Kay, Doré (18) Marc (16) and me, Carl.
Kay was the foundation of our home. Super Girl. Super wife, mom, neighbor, friend. Always ready to lend a hand or share words of encouragement.
Then, 1992 arrived and our world was shattered.
On the 2nd, I think it was, Kay awoke couldn't stand up and was numb from her armpits down. The neurologist told us she had Multiple Sclerosis (MS). He said we were lucky. That the MS symptoms would start to go away in the next few weeks and she would recover about 95% of her abilities. Then, in 6 - 10 years she would probably have another attack and would recover about 95% of her pre attack abilities. At 45 that would give her a long and fairly good life. Not the greatest news but we could live with it. Sure enough, in a few weeks she started to get feeling back and we were greatly relieved.
But MS had other ideas and by the end of the year she was out of work, on long term disability and legally blind. The central nerves of her eyes gone. But she did have just a bit of peripheral vision. So, she could see a little to get around the house.
The next ten years we lived with it, though MS continued to ravage her and by the turn of the century she was in an electric wheelchair. She had lost most of the use of her right side and her left side wasn't as strong as it had been.
She could still transfer from her wheelchair to the car so I could take her to Dr. appointments, sometimes to the Mall and to church where Doré sang.
Two years ago, 2014 she fell in the bathroom and and had a spiral fracture of the lower third of her right tibia. The MS made recovery just that much more difficult.
But she could still get into the car.
In May, 2015, she fell in the bathroom, again, and this time it was a spiral fracture of the upper third of her right femur. And, she has not recovered from that fall.
Among other things the trauma of the two breaks left her weaker and she can no longer stand to transfer from her wheelchair to the car.
For a year and a half she has just sat in a recliner, listening to books from the State Library. When she has a Dr. appointment, we hire a service to take her. But that is too expensive to go see the grand kids, the mall, to church or just around town to see the changes.
A new van would cost about $35,000.00 but, then, another $35,000.00 to $45,000.00 to have it converted to accept a wheelchair. That $70,000.00 to $80,000.00 is (tongue in cheek)just a bit out of reach... OK, lots of bits...
So, we are looking for a dependable used van for $35,000.00 to $45,000.00 with wheelchair locks in front on the riders side so she can feel like she is just riding along.....
It's been a difficult 24 years. More difficult than I, and we, could ever have imagined but through it all Kay's sprit and bright smile haven't diminished like her body has and we take it one day at a time.
There is no cure for MS and the medicine that is now available doesn't help anymore.
A handicapped van will help both of us. Me, so I can get her out to appointments and soon.
But most of all, it will make the next few years so much easier for our Super Girl.
All money we receive from gofundme will go towards buying a used van for Kay's transportation. If that doesn't work out, the money will be used for the transport service to take her around.
New Years Eve 1991 was wonderful. We were looking forward to a great 1992. We were my wife, Kay, Doré (18) Marc (16) and me, Carl.
Kay was the foundation of our home. Super Girl. Super wife, mom, neighbor, friend. Always ready to lend a hand or share words of encouragement.
Then, 1992 arrived and our world was shattered.
On the 2nd, I think it was, Kay awoke couldn't stand up and was numb from her armpits down. The neurologist told us she had Multiple Sclerosis (MS). He said we were lucky. That the MS symptoms would start to go away in the next few weeks and she would recover about 95% of her abilities. Then, in 6 - 10 years she would probably have another attack and would recover about 95% of her pre attack abilities. At 45 that would give her a long and fairly good life. Not the greatest news but we could live with it. Sure enough, in a few weeks she started to get feeling back and we were greatly relieved.
But MS had other ideas and by the end of the year she was out of work, on long term disability and legally blind. The central nerves of her eyes gone. But she did have just a bit of peripheral vision. So, she could see a little to get around the house.
The next ten years we lived with it, though MS continued to ravage her and by the turn of the century she was in an electric wheelchair. She had lost most of the use of her right side and her left side wasn't as strong as it had been.
She could still transfer from her wheelchair to the car so I could take her to Dr. appointments, sometimes to the Mall and to church where Doré sang.
Two years ago, 2014 she fell in the bathroom and and had a spiral fracture of the lower third of her right tibia. The MS made recovery just that much more difficult.
But she could still get into the car.
In May, 2015, she fell in the bathroom, again, and this time it was a spiral fracture of the upper third of her right femur. And, she has not recovered from that fall.
Among other things the trauma of the two breaks left her weaker and she can no longer stand to transfer from her wheelchair to the car.
For a year and a half she has just sat in a recliner, listening to books from the State Library. When she has a Dr. appointment, we hire a service to take her. But that is too expensive to go see the grand kids, the mall, to church or just around town to see the changes.
A new van would cost about $35,000.00 but, then, another $35,000.00 to $45,000.00 to have it converted to accept a wheelchair. That $70,000.00 to $80,000.00 is (tongue in cheek)just a bit out of reach... OK, lots of bits...
So, we are looking for a dependable used van for $35,000.00 to $45,000.00 with wheelchair locks in front on the riders side so she can feel like she is just riding along.....
It's been a difficult 24 years. More difficult than I, and we, could ever have imagined but through it all Kay's sprit and bright smile haven't diminished like her body has and we take it one day at a time.
There is no cure for MS and the medicine that is now available doesn't help anymore.
A handicapped van will help both of us. Me, so I can get her out to appointments and soon.
But most of all, it will make the next few years so much easier for our Super Girl.
All money we receive from gofundme will go towards buying a used van for Kay's transportation. If that doesn't work out, the money will be used for the transport service to take her around.
Organizer
Kaylcarlson Depew
Organizer
Concord, CA