Miranda’s journey to independence

Let’s look at your daily life.

You wake up, walk to the washroom, take a shower, and spend roughly 30 minutes getting ready for the day. A fresh pot of coffee and some breakfast before you head out the door. You drive to work or school where you’ll spend the next 8 hours or so socializing with peers. Get back into your car, drive home to make dinner, watch a show or go for a walk then begin your nightly routine, ready to conquer the next day.

Now imagine trying to do all this with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy that effects all four of your limbs. Now that hour long morning routine has turned into a two- or three-hour long ordeal. Making breakfast, lunch or dinner is a lengthy process and it takes several people to help ensure you make it to your desired destination on time, because packing up yourself doesn’t just include your purse, it includes several bags and a big clunky wheelchair.

Miranda is a young 22-year-old woman who has been affected by spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, born 2.5 months early she spent the beginning of her life in the NICU, where she caught an illness from a visitor within the hospital, Miranda fell so ill from this stranger’s illness it resulted in brain damage (CP)

With the odds of life stacked against her from her first breath of life, Miranda persevered to the best of her ability.

She grew up, beating all off the odds the doctors said. She grew to love learning.

She studied new languages like Spanish and French, reading books on psychology and how the brain functions.

She spent her spare time retaining the limited mobility she has.

Until in her senior year of Highschool she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, even this did not stop Miranda, she had to work harder but she was still able to graduate from DPTODD with her classmates.

Miranda is now a young adult; she took on the task of living on her own. Taking on most of the daily challenges independently and now she would like to return to school so she can pursue a higher education and obtain a job better suited for her.

As family we all struggle with getting Miranda out of the house, not all vehicles are well suited to transport a wheelchair, they also are not comfortable for someone who’s limbs have a hard time moving. Currently we must physically lift Miranda out of her wheelchair and place her safely into the vehicle we are driving. Then load up the not so foldable wheelchair and ensure both Miranda and the wheelchair are secure before leaving. Now, imagine having to do that every single time you get in or out of the car.

We are hoping to gain enough funding so we can buy and covert a van into a wheelchair assessable vehicle and adjust it to comfortably seat Miranda.

Unfortunately, life is not cheap nor easy, this ordeal will take time and effort from countless parties to become a success, but the end goal is empowering.

The freedom Miranda will gain, the social activities we can take her to with ease, getting her to and from school and countless other day to day tasks.

Think of how much you use a vehicle, now imagine not having one at all. We’d like to change this for Miranda—and since she cannot drive, it will be a way that each member of the family can safely and efficiently transport Miranda.

A reliable vehicle is #1 on our priority list, any of the excess funds will be put towards home and life style improvements for Miranda.

Lets make her life enjoyable and easy!