Help Pat Get His Mobility Back
I have known my friend Pat Sherman since 2000. He was one of the most active helpful people I had ever met. A mountain of a man that I could hide behind after shooting off my mouth. He was a truck driver and heavy equipment operator in the trash business that worked his way up to superintendent then manager of the busiest of our operations.
As a condescending civil engineer with far more education and an obviously superior intellect, I was blown away to find out he actually reads serious novels and knew stuff. Turns out he's been my go-to guy for 21 years. Not just building things with a dozer and equipment stuff, but also the important family and life stuff. He is a wealth of knowledge about the desert and 4 wheeling camping fun in the most remote parts of the State and a vast knowledge of most of the county west of the Mississippi.
In 2012 things started to change for my friend when he lost strength in his legs and arms. After at least 2 years of tests he was eventually diagnosed with Limb Girdle MD, one of the more rare strains of the disease, Pat is now one of Jerry's kids. The problem is that LGMD is rare and one of the last strains of the disease to be studied for cures or even relief.
Its been 9 years and his strength has deteriorated to the point where he struggles to walk with a cain yet he goes to work everyday. He deals with facility operations, employees, management aging yellow iron thats always down, customers, and an annoying engineer that somehow always gets him in trouble. He deals with these stresses and his physical decline and the pain that goes along with it and never complains. Not a word.
He has several battery powered mobility chairs that he carts between work and home. I have no idea how he manages but he is able to load them on the bumper carrier and still get to the door of his truck and get in and out. He has more patience than Job.
He recently moved to the Blythe area to be next to the river where he is happiest. But the uneven ground makes it difficult to maneuver in his chairs. That being said, I would like to buy him an all terrain Action Track Chair, but they start at $15k. One with the bells and whistles he deserves will run closer to $20k. I am putting in the first and last $1,000 and I am asking for anyone out there that has had a wonderful active friend or family stricken by this horrible disease to please donate a few dollars to help give this man a gift that will keep on giving.
