Help for the Amyotte Family
Donation protected
It`s never easy to ask for help.
I was born and raised in North Bay. I owned my own painting business for almost 12 when I was diagnosed with MS 9 years ago.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
MS is a disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves. The resulting nerve damage disrupts communication between the brain and the body. There is currently no cure for MS and the symptoms, severity and duration vary from person to person. MS is unpredictable. MS is physically, emotionally, and mentally disastrous. MS is forever.
My Diagnosis
It started with bowel stasis. Four days without a movement had me concerned. On day 5 I couldn`t urinate. That`s when I called for an ambulance. A series of tests were performed and an MRI later and I was diagnosed with MS. It was fast and devastating. With that diagnosis I lost my business, my livelihood, my independence, and my future. Owning my own business meant that did not have health insurance coverage. I gained doctors, specialists, medications and all the bills that come with it.
That was the first time I had to ask for help and I asked my parents. It`s me who is supposed to be taking care of them in their golden years but for the last 9 years and for the rest of my life they are the ones taking care of me.
They stepped in to help without hesitating.
My Parents
My dad, Rheo worked outside of the home to support my mom, brother, and me. In 1989 he lost much of his vision which meant he also lost his driver`s license, his job, and his livelihood. He lost his ability to provide and did not have any health insurance. Those were difficult years. My parents burned through all their savings barely keeping their car and their home before he qualified for ODSP. My mom, Janice went by many titles in her life: wife, mom, homemaker. She calls herself the CEO of our household and it is so true. She is the one who holds it all together. If you`ve met my parents then you would know that despite it all, they still love to laugh, and we do every day.
My Life
I am pretty good at moving around the two floors in my parents’ small semi-detached home. On the main floor, there is the living room and the kitchen. Up 5 small stairs are the bathroom and my bedroom. On occasion I would need some help, but support bars and a walker worked well enough inside. My wheelchair keeps me mobile outside.
I am having to ask for help once again.
Why Now?
This last year has been the worst yet. I am physically declining quickly, and I am now having issues with balance so climbing those 5 stairs will soon be impossible. I`m falling more and having to ask my senior parents to lift a grown man off the floor is painful for all of us.
My parent`s home needs to be renovated and on mine and their limited income, this would be financially impossible. I cannot ask them for that.
I am now asking for your help.
What needs to be renovated?
The stairwell needs to be widened and a chair lift purchased, installed, and supported. The bathroom needs to be wheelchair accessible with a wheel-in shower and safety bars, this will also require plumbing and electrical work. I have a hoist to use with a ceiling track to help me get from my bed to the chair and bathroom, but it needs to be installed. Eventually we will need a hoist and track for the main floor.
The costs are increasing every year along with my needs and we can no longer afford to wait.
We are working with not-for-profit organizations and people to help offset the costs and will update that progress as we move forward.
We have also reached out to the Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments for help but that is a painfully slow process and time is not something we have a lot of.
Funds are needed ASAP I am asking for any help you can give. Even small amounts add up. Please help me alleviate the financial burden on my parents as well as help make my life a little less painful and a lot safer.
I was born and raised in North Bay. I owned my own painting business for almost 12 when I was diagnosed with MS 9 years ago.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
MS is a disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves. The resulting nerve damage disrupts communication between the brain and the body. There is currently no cure for MS and the symptoms, severity and duration vary from person to person. MS is unpredictable. MS is physically, emotionally, and mentally disastrous. MS is forever.
My Diagnosis
It started with bowel stasis. Four days without a movement had me concerned. On day 5 I couldn`t urinate. That`s when I called for an ambulance. A series of tests were performed and an MRI later and I was diagnosed with MS. It was fast and devastating. With that diagnosis I lost my business, my livelihood, my independence, and my future. Owning my own business meant that did not have health insurance coverage. I gained doctors, specialists, medications and all the bills that come with it.
That was the first time I had to ask for help and I asked my parents. It`s me who is supposed to be taking care of them in their golden years but for the last 9 years and for the rest of my life they are the ones taking care of me.
They stepped in to help without hesitating.
My Parents
My dad, Rheo worked outside of the home to support my mom, brother, and me. In 1989 he lost much of his vision which meant he also lost his driver`s license, his job, and his livelihood. He lost his ability to provide and did not have any health insurance. Those were difficult years. My parents burned through all their savings barely keeping their car and their home before he qualified for ODSP. My mom, Janice went by many titles in her life: wife, mom, homemaker. She calls herself the CEO of our household and it is so true. She is the one who holds it all together. If you`ve met my parents then you would know that despite it all, they still love to laugh, and we do every day.
My Life
I am pretty good at moving around the two floors in my parents’ small semi-detached home. On the main floor, there is the living room and the kitchen. Up 5 small stairs are the bathroom and my bedroom. On occasion I would need some help, but support bars and a walker worked well enough inside. My wheelchair keeps me mobile outside.
I am having to ask for help once again.
Why Now?
This last year has been the worst yet. I am physically declining quickly, and I am now having issues with balance so climbing those 5 stairs will soon be impossible. I`m falling more and having to ask my senior parents to lift a grown man off the floor is painful for all of us.
My parent`s home needs to be renovated and on mine and their limited income, this would be financially impossible. I cannot ask them for that.
I am now asking for your help.
What needs to be renovated?
The stairwell needs to be widened and a chair lift purchased, installed, and supported. The bathroom needs to be wheelchair accessible with a wheel-in shower and safety bars, this will also require plumbing and electrical work. I have a hoist to use with a ceiling track to help me get from my bed to the chair and bathroom, but it needs to be installed. Eventually we will need a hoist and track for the main floor.
The costs are increasing every year along with my needs and we can no longer afford to wait.
We are working with not-for-profit organizations and people to help offset the costs and will update that progress as we move forward.
We have also reached out to the Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments for help but that is a painfully slow process and time is not something we have a lot of.
Funds are needed ASAP I am asking for any help you can give. Even small amounts add up. Please help me alleviate the financial burden on my parents as well as help make my life a little less painful and a lot safer.
Organizer
Dale Amyotte
Organizer
North Bay, ON
