Mark O’Neill needs new Wheels
My brother Mark was born on January 7th, 1987. He was born at only 32 weeks gestation, a tiny black and purple baby due to lack of oxygen, weighing a mere 3lbs, 8oz. He could fit in the palm of my father’s hand and was only given 24-hours to live.
Fast forward 33 years later and Mark has defied all odds that the doctors had originally given him living as an adult with Cerebral Palsy. He is one of the most caring and loving guys you could ever meet. A diehard sports fan, he will tell you any fact or game times you need to know. Whether it is Notre Dame football, the Philadelphia Eagles, Flyers, Phillies, or 76ers, he’s your guy. Even after decades of heartbreak across teams, his commitment never fades. Throughout my own athletic career, my brother was my number one fan, from elementary school through college. He is the type of person who brings a smile to anyone he meets and will message you about any score updates or team schedule changes he wants to make sure you are aware of. My brother is someone who, despite all of the physical and mental hardships he faces living with Cerebral Palsy as an adult, he never complains. Mark asks for very little, and never wants to seem like a burden.
Both of my parents have dedicated their lives to supporting my brothers and I. My mom, taking on the full-time job of caring for my brother to this day, as my father continues to work to support them and all 3 of their medical needs.
During such a difficult time for many across the globe, the last thing my family wants to do is ask for financial support, but they have hit an unfortunate speed bump during this never-ending year, leading them to have to say goodbye to our 14-year old handicap accessible van that has made it possible for my parents to transport Mark anywhere he needs to go. Returning to a typical car is not feasible for my family, as neither of my parents can safely move my brother from his wheelchair to a car without risk of seriously injuring themselves, and having a handicap accessible van is vital. Simple tasks such as getting my brother to a necessary doctor’s appointment for a check-up will turn into an extremely stressful process without the assistance of their van.
The cost of a handicap accessible vehicle can range anywhere from $30,000-$70,000, a financial burden that seems nearly impossible for my parents to take on. At this time, we are seeking any sort of support or resources feasible during such an unprecedented time. We know everyone is facing their own challenges throughout this pandemic and can only hope that others may be able to assist in any way possible.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and we hope you consider helping our cause.
