Help give Calli her independence back!

Hi, I'm Jodi, Calli's mom. Many of you know my daughter Calli. What many don’t know is that in February 2022, she was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis). What started as some unexplained back pains & numbness in her legs eventually progressed and became so severe she could no longer drive. Calli endured visits to urgent cares, ERs, primary doctor and radiology appointments that resulted in what was essentially the system trying to tell her she had arthritis, was pre-diabetic and alluding that she didn’t have anything wrong with her.

After finally getting a doctor that ordered a full spine & head MRI, the answers she had been waiting for came surprisingly quick and were not what any of us were expecting. Like the trooper and strong young woman she is, Calli simply accepted the results and immediately went to work learning all she could and working to adapt to her new normal.

Calli’s new normal unfortunately means she has been unable to drive at all. Every doctor appointment. Everytime she needs to go into the office for work (for now is at least twice a week). Dropping off and picking up Baine (her nearly 2yo son). Trips for groceries and every other thing she needs a vehicle for all require coordination amongst her family and friends that have supported her through this all and we will continue to support her.

But what we’d really like to do is help give Calli her independence back. She has had the evaluation to have hand controls installed in her vehicle and the MS Society has offered a grant of $2000 to cover some of the costs but the gift of independence will not come cheap. The grand total for all of the parts, installation & hours of instruction and drive time, none of which will be covered by medical insurance, is nearly $5000.

We are hoping to get as much of the nearly $3000 out of pocket costs covered. Any donations that go above what is needed for the car controls & driving instruction will be donated to the MS Society