My name is John. I am a 42 year old, happily married man with one exceptional 12 year old boy.  I have also been a Type 1 diabetic for 40 years.  I began to get sick on January 4, 2020. What felt like the flu on Saturday, turned out to be pneumonia when I went to the hospital on Sunday.  I was immediately intubated and placed in an induced coma for 14 days while I struggled to stay alive.  By the grace and mercy of God I survived, and was brought out of the coma.  I quickly realized that I was Paralyzed from the neck down.  My own body attacked itself and swelled up my spinal column.  The doctors were able to reduce the swelling, and I regained the use of my arms and upper torso.  I was then emergency airlifted to a hospital in Denver where I received specialized treatment to try and reverse the paralysis.  This treatment had no apparent results, and I was eventually sent to an acute rehab facility.  After 2 months of hospitalization I was finally able to go home, but that is where a whole new set of challenges appeared.

We live in the middle of nowhere.  We drive on rut filled, dirt roads to get to our house.
 It turns out that wheelchairs and dirt don't get along!  moving even a couple of feet takes tremendous effort, and is most often impossible.  I would not even be able to go outside if not for the very generous donation of my church and its mens ministry.
The sidewalk you see above goes around my house from door to door.  This walkway was paid for and installed by the men's ministry of my church, and I just can't thank them enough. http://www.pinonhillschurch.com 


The fact remains that
I can't move past the sidewalk
I can't go 30 feet to my shop where I used to build and fix  everything


I can't walk the dirt roads with my son

I can't touch the mountains with my family

This is why I'm asking You to help me.  There is a lever operated wheelchair that is made to go off-road.  It's designed for ruts, rocks, trails, dirt, sand, snow, hills, and much more.  My Insurance will not pay for one, they already got me the one you see in the pictures.  I am asking you for a "Grit Freedom Chair".
https://www.gogrit.us/ 

Grit offers three levels of Freedom chair, the basic, the Spartan, and the Pro.  After researching the cost and features of each chair, I have decided that the mid level Spartan best suits my situation, and my desire.  This chair costs $4000. Additionally there are taxes, shipping charges, and additional features I need that are not included with the chair.  This is why I am asking for $5000.  If there is any additional money left over I would like to work towards getting a Diabetic service dog, but that is a future dream. 

Please help me say
I Can Move 
I Can Go
I Can Walk
I Can Touch
Many people have generously offered help since I became disabled, but I just don't know what to say when they do.  for the most part I have everything I need to survive. my family is fed.  We have a roof over our head.  I have decided that this is the thing I can ask help with.  Whether it's $5 or $100 the amount doesn't matter as much to me as the fact that you did help me when I needed it.  I believe that what will give me freedom is you helping me with a little bit and sharing this with everybody you know so that they can help me with a little bit. 


Please help me post pictures of myself rolling off that curb, I want to be the one in the chair crossing a creek with my son, help me touch the mountains again!