Help Improve Lori's Life at Home

Hi everyone, my name is Danielle Schiavone. I am a Pediatric ICU nurse from New Jersey and I am creating this fundraiser to help raise money for my mom, Lori. She was a CCU nurse for years, but is now on the opposite side of the bedside.

She has had Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for 30 years now, but her condition has declined significantly over recent years. She is unable to walk- leaving her confined to wheelchair- nor move any of her extremities as they are paralyzed from MS.

Unfortunately, she is currently hospitalized at this time in respiratory failure. Her advanced MS has caused extreme muscle weakness and she will now need assistance breathing with a noninvasive ventilator when she goes home.

Despite our insurance, we do not qualify for at-home nursing or home health aides. We do not have safe transportation for her, nor the medical equipment necessary to care for her. We are in the process of moving her bedroom into our living room to help create an environment at home more conducive to caregiving.

It is our family's top priority that my mom continues living at home, but we need tremendous help to make that happen safely and to create a better quality life.

Funds raised will firstly be allocated towards paying out-of-pocket for home health aides and/or nurses who can complete my mom's Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and monitor her clinical (medical) condition. This will be done in conjunction with myself and my family. Then, towards replenishing our supply of her necessary medical equipment. These expenses will be lifelong because my mom's disease is progressive, so any contributions will be the gift that keeps on giving.

Our dream is to one day get a handicapped-accessible vehicle that her power wheelchair can lock into. She would have the freedom to go out anywhere, with anyone, and start enjoying life again. I also dream of renovating our home to make it fully handicapped-accessible.

As you can see, there are endless modifications that would help my mom live as freely as able-bodied individuals. They would transform her life and ours. If anyone deserves to accept help, it's my mom (especially because she never asks for it.) She is unbelievably loved by us, and so many others.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.