After 3 spine surgeries, at 55, I was left unable to walk, much less drive for the last five years. With the help of a Texas neurosurgeon, when no Louisiana neurosurgeons would accept me, I was facing cauda equina symptoms with a herniated disc that smashed my thecal sac.

I was bedridden for a year while my GP struggled in frustration to find someone to help me, especially with a spouse with grand mal seizures from epilepsy to care for.

I'm permanently disabled, but so grateful to walk, drive & most recently even eat out in public a few times. I still have out-of-pocket medical expenses as the house needs safety elements installed. We also need a used SUV, a Kia, inexpensive, but safe for me to maneuver in an emergency as I've had to get my spouse or myself to the ER many times and his older truck is too much for my two-level cervical fusion to handle, much less the lumbar area.

In three years or less, I've recently been informed that I'll need a third cervical fusion, which will further limit my mobility. When my husband has seizures, he legally cannot drive for 6 months, which makes this vehicle a life-saving necessity.

He is too proud to be on disability, so works from a small uninsured shop behind our old home. He is on Medicaid. He doesn't want people to know our circumstances as he is a private and proud person.

However, besides our own health issues, my mom with dementia was moved from one hour to 11 hours away from us. I'd be so appreciative of safe transportation to go spend time with her (she's 81) while she still remembers me. She was always my best friend. I miss her so much. My dad didn't even tell us he was moving her until the day they moved. She misses her former home and is on depression medication because she hates where she is. I'm heartbroken as she's taken a turn for the worse since he moved her. A used vehicle would be a tremendous blessing. Thank you for your love and consideration.