Hi friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

I never thought I’d be here again writing something like this — but here we are.

I’m a bilateral above-knee amputee. Despite everything life has thrown my way, I’ve worked hard to maintain my independence, raise my children, and keep pushing forward with equal parts grit, grace, and gallows humor.

Thanks to the rising cost of, well… literally everything, and the fact that I’ve been denied disability benefits not once, not twice, but FOUR times because I’m considered “not disabled enough.” (Insert eye-roll here.) AND

According to the powers-that-be, I am still capable of working — which, in theory, I suppose I am, so if that’s the case, I need to get myself a J-O-B.

And I’m ready. I want to work. I’m capable of working.

But here’s the catch: in order to work, I have to be able to get there on my own.

And that’s where again I hit a very real, very frustrating roadblock.

The wheelchair I currently have/use was purchased five-ish years ago… at a garage sale. Yep — it was a blessing at the time, and it’s served me well for what it was, but it’s no longer the right fit. It does not allow me to independently get in and out of my vehicle. It’s bulky, heavy, and impossible for me to break down and load without help. What I need is a lightweight, portable manual wheelchair that I can disassemble and load into my car by myself. This would open the door to so much more than just transportation.

That piece of freedom would allow me to get to work, run errands, attend appointments, and simply do life with more dignity and more autonomy — without always having to rely on someone else.

Unfortunately, my insurance won’t cover it. Because it’s seen as “not medically necessary.”

But I promise you — independence and being able to support my family financially is very much necessary.

The wheelchair I need costs upwards of $2500 (special chair, tax, shipping etc) and that’s where I need your help. Every donation, share, or kind word helps me get one push closer to my goal — and one step closer to reclaiming the independence that I’ve been working so hard for.

So whether you can donate, share, or simply send up a prayer — it all helps more than you know. I’m not asking for a handout, just a hand up — toward reclaiming the person I once was so I can continue, showing up for my family, and proving (yet again) that setbacks don’t get the final say.

Thank you so very much for being part of my journey.

— Melissa.