Help Greg Drive Again
Donation protected
Greg was born with FSH dystrophy and has progressed to the point that he no longer can walk or stand. With the money raised, Greg will be able to purchase a van that accommodates an electric wheelchair.
Greg began noticing that he had limited arm and hand movement as a child around middle school age. As his mobility or range of motion digressed, it was not until his early college years before he was officially diagnosed with FSH muscular dystrophy, also known as MD, FSH, or FSHD .
In muscular dystrophies, abnormal genes (mutations) lead to muscle degeneration. Damaged muscles become progressively weaker. Most people who have the condition eventually need a wheelchair. Other symptoms include trouble breathing or swallowing, muscle weakness, joint weakness and hearing loss.
For the most part, Greg has been able to beat the norm for his condition and not use leg braces throughout his life. He was able to walk, drive, attend college and become a successful architect and artist, until the past 5-10 years. Greg has fallen twice and broken his leg which has been a huge detriment to his health, mobility and general stability. After Greg's last broken leg he was confined to a wheel chair for 6 months and lost all muscle strength in his legs and will now be confined to a wheel chair for the rest of his life.
Through his tenacity and hard work Greg was able to obtain a fully electric wheel chair. The electric wheel chair has brought him limited freedoms, it only has a 5 mile daily range. He has to use the local Orlando Lynx bus system to get most places. To get a ride on a bus that will accommodate his wheel chair he must make his reservations 36 to 24 hours in advance. This works for getting to work but makes it extraordinarily difficult to live an unscheduled life. Think about it; you want to visit a friend, run to the grocery store, go to a client meeting, go to a last minute much needed appointment, or meet friends for dinner after work - Greg can't. He's confined to the limitation of the chair's battery life and the scheduling system of the local bus system.
Florida Dept of Vocational Rehab is providing some assistance including drivers training. He expects the van, that accommodates his electric wheelchair, to cost around $100,000. The vehicle occupational therapist is prescribing electronic controls, which they are recommending as a restriction to his license. A week of driving training is scheduled for December 16-19 with a driving test at the DMV on that Friday.
He is looking for a used van with a motorized ramp already installed, and low mileage. The controls, driver seat removal, wheelchair lock downs, touch-pad controls and joystick will have to be installed, to allow Greg to drive the van, hopefully for decades.
Please click the video link above to view a brief statement by Greg - thank you to Jason Boldt, cinematographer. Greg is extraordinarily grateful for your continued friendship, kindness and support!
Thanks to my friend Brandi, who helped set this up!
Greg began noticing that he had limited arm and hand movement as a child around middle school age. As his mobility or range of motion digressed, it was not until his early college years before he was officially diagnosed with FSH muscular dystrophy, also known as MD, FSH, or FSHD .
In muscular dystrophies, abnormal genes (mutations) lead to muscle degeneration. Damaged muscles become progressively weaker. Most people who have the condition eventually need a wheelchair. Other symptoms include trouble breathing or swallowing, muscle weakness, joint weakness and hearing loss.
For the most part, Greg has been able to beat the norm for his condition and not use leg braces throughout his life. He was able to walk, drive, attend college and become a successful architect and artist, until the past 5-10 years. Greg has fallen twice and broken his leg which has been a huge detriment to his health, mobility and general stability. After Greg's last broken leg he was confined to a wheel chair for 6 months and lost all muscle strength in his legs and will now be confined to a wheel chair for the rest of his life.
Through his tenacity and hard work Greg was able to obtain a fully electric wheel chair. The electric wheel chair has brought him limited freedoms, it only has a 5 mile daily range. He has to use the local Orlando Lynx bus system to get most places. To get a ride on a bus that will accommodate his wheel chair he must make his reservations 36 to 24 hours in advance. This works for getting to work but makes it extraordinarily difficult to live an unscheduled life. Think about it; you want to visit a friend, run to the grocery store, go to a client meeting, go to a last minute much needed appointment, or meet friends for dinner after work - Greg can't. He's confined to the limitation of the chair's battery life and the scheduling system of the local bus system.
Florida Dept of Vocational Rehab is providing some assistance including drivers training. He expects the van, that accommodates his electric wheelchair, to cost around $100,000. The vehicle occupational therapist is prescribing electronic controls, which they are recommending as a restriction to his license. A week of driving training is scheduled for December 16-19 with a driving test at the DMV on that Friday.
He is looking for a used van with a motorized ramp already installed, and low mileage. The controls, driver seat removal, wheelchair lock downs, touch-pad controls and joystick will have to be installed, to allow Greg to drive the van, hopefully for decades.
Please click the video link above to view a brief statement by Greg - thank you to Jason Boldt, cinematographer. Greg is extraordinarily grateful for your continued friendship, kindness and support!
Thanks to my friend Brandi, who helped set this up!
Organizer
Gregory Stock
Organizer
Orlando, FL