Help Pam keep her independence!

The friends of Pam Mappin in Tulsa and Oklahoma City are seeking help to raise funds to purchase a used wheelchair accessible mobility van with hand controls for our dear friend who has Multiple Sclerosis.

Diagnosed with MS 24 years ago, Pam’s mobility and balance has severely decreased over the last few years and she has steadily moved from walker, wheelchair, to electronic mobility scooter. This has led her to become more reliant on friends and family for help and increasingly losing her independence. Her decreased leg strength and flexibility have caused her to give up driving. This disease has taken so much from our friend whose life was full of work, charity and physical fitness; but it has not taken her optimism, stubborn spirit, or her desire to live a full, independent life.

Financially, MS has led to an inability to continue employment and an increase in costs related to medical appointments and medications, structural changes to make her home accessible, and equipment to help her become as mobile as possible.

Pam’s PRESSING NEED is for a wheelchair accessible mobility van with hand controls. Putting hand controls in her current vehicle with its 100,000+ miles is not a good or lasting fix. Unfortunately, her depleted savings and SSI benefits are insufficient to meet her need to preserve her independence and she needs our help. We expect a used wheelchair accessible mobility van will cost approximately $35,000 and the addition of hand controls $5,000.

Pam was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (Relapsing Remitting) in the Fall of 1999. Her diagnosis was changed to Secondary Progressive MS in February, 2024. MS is a debilitating disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between one’s brain and the rest of the body. Eventually, the disease can cause permanent, devastating damage and deterioration of the nerve fibers - this has happened to our friend Pam. For more information, see the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or mayoclinic.org.

Pam would never ask for it, but deserves our and your support. She has been a generous, powerful advocate, participant, and valued leader in many charitable events and missions, in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City, including the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, State of Oklahoma Cancer and Prevention and Treatment Committee, leading her workplace’s contributions to Tulsa’s Family & Children’s Services “Christmas for Kids” program, Tulsa County Election Board, and Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum Docent program.

Please help us help her and we appreciate any donation you can give!