Hello, my name is Gabriella. I am a 21-year-old Psychology student at George Mason University, and I am fighting to keep my future—and my health—afloat.

I have Dysautonomia, a condition where my nervous system fails to regulate my blood pressure properly. This means when I stand for too long my blood pressure drops and I pass out. It also happens when I change positions like going from siting to standing or laying down.

I also have ventricular tachycardia, a heart condition that causes palpitations that are worse when standing up.

I am fortunate to be able to utilize the GI Bill for my health insurance and schooling. However, to keep this, I need stay a full-time student and maintain my grades. I have been struggling to handle the physical toll of attending class, completing assignments, maintaining good grades, a part-time job, as well as my physical and mental health, all at the same time.

Due to all of this and several hospitalizations I am taking a break this semester and focusing on recovery. If I do not return to class next semester I will loose my heath insurance and collage funding. I cannot work a full-time job in order to access other heath insurance and cannot afford collage on my own.

I need a wheelchair to get around campus without passing out or having a cardiac event. The issue is my current and all other standard wheelchairs are too heavy for me to lift on my own, do not fit in my car and are not bult for use outside the home. I frequently avoid going outside due to this issue. I need to take at least one in person class to keep the GI Bill funding and my current wheelchair dose not allow me to do this.

I need a custom, light, foldable wheelchair that I can bring with me everywhere I go without assistance. Motorized wheelchairs are too heavy and bulky for me to transport on my own. I need a manual wheelchair that I would pair with a motorized attachment, a much lighter slimer option to fully motorized wheelchairs. This is unfortunately very expensive and my insurance dose not cover this.

TRICARE considers any assistive living equipment that is made for use outside of the home a luxury, and will not cover the cost of the custom chair I need.

Hands on Concepts in San Diego, California makes the lightest only compact folding custom wheelchairs in the US. This technology would allow me the mobility, energy and time to navigate the world on my own. Here is a video on the importance HOC folding chair:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EMSmLGG6QE. People fly in from all over the world to get fitted for chairs with them.

If you can spare anything, every little bit helps, even just 1 dollar would be amazing. Your donation goes directly towards-

Custom Hands on Concepts Wheelchair - 12k: A custom, ultralight, compact, foldable wheelchair built to my body’s measurements, lifestyle, daily needs and with materials that last a lifetime.

Wheelchair motor - 6k: Smart drive detachable manual wheelchair motor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcy6vRgvzY0

Fitting & Travel - 2k: A round trip for two, a helper and myself, from Virginia to California for me to be fitted by Hands on Concept specialists at their only physical location in San Diego, California.

I spend everyday of my life fighting to navigate the world. Your support allows me to continue moving forward.

Please share this post with others to help me reach my goal.

Thank you,

-Gabriella