Help Carrie Get a Life-Changing Tobii Device

Hi, my name is Carrie Carpenter. It’s hard to ask for help, but with insurmountable medical bills, I want to help my hero, Kenny, and take a little bit off his plate.

In 2023, I was diagnosed by a neurologist in Colorado with a neurodegenerative disease called Multiple System Atrophy, known as MSA.

MSA is similar to ALS and Parkinson’s; it is a movement disorder that damages the cerebellum, which can impact speech and coordination. Speech with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is often characterized by slurring, slowness, and breathiness.

I am hoping to raise money for a Tobii device. The TD I-Series is an eye gaze-enabled speech-generating device featuring the world's leading eye tracker. These are purpose-built for people with conditions such as cerebral palsy, Rett syndrome, or ALS. This Windows-based device is controlled completely with your eyes to communicate and allows you to live more independently.

I would like to be able to buy one for myself, so I can communicate with others and not feel so isolated. This would also take some of the load off of my husband. In fact, he does not know that I am asking.

Our insurance won’t cover the cost. If I had ALS, there are companies that donate, and it’s mandatory for insurance companies to cover the cost, but as I have MSA, I am not eligible for that help.

When I am gone, I will have my family donate it to the MSA donation program. In the United States, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) affects between 15,000 and 50,000 people. However, the exact number is difficult to estimate because MSA is rare and often misdiagnosed, which is about 0.6 out of 100,000 people. People with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) typically live 6 to 10 years after their symptoms begin.

By having one of these devices, it will solve one of the many struggles I am currently experiencing and allow me to have a better quality of life.

Thank you for any support you can provide. Every dollar will help.