Janie's Freedom Van
Donation protected
This campaign is to help me with a down payment on a used wheelchair accessible van. The rest of the cost we will pay the car payments for, but I just need the down payment.
My name is Janie. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 3 years old. I have been using a power wheelchair to get around since I was 12 years old. I am a mother of three with 2 teenagers still at home.
14 years ago I was mugged and had my arm broken. This caused me to no longer be able to transfer in and out of a regular vehicle. Victim of Violent Crime program helped buy us a wheelchair accessible van at that time. It was wonderful to still be able to go places with my family and friends.
Two years ago the van's lift system broke to the point where we could no longer get it fixed. The van has 200,000 miles on it so it not worth replacing the lift. Without it, I am unable to go out with friends and family unless it is within easy access to the bus line. That really limits my ability to socialize and shop and have a normal life.
The last 2 years have been filled with other physical challenges. While taking children to school my power wheelchair went out of control and hit a post, breaking my leg. I was laid up in bed for 6 months in rehab and not able to be with my family as much as I would have liked. About 6 months after coming home and recovering from that I fell transferring and broke my shoulder and elbow. Without a van during these times I had to go to doctor appointments via ambulance.
All that trauma affected my body in other ways not known at the time. My kidneys started shutting down and I am now on nightly dialysis. Most appointments for my kidney specialist are at a hospital that takes 2.5 hours by bus to get to. That makes for a very long and draining day.
Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Spending time with my family and friends is important to me. You would be helping me enjoy a fuller and more satisfying life.
My name is Janie. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 3 years old. I have been using a power wheelchair to get around since I was 12 years old. I am a mother of three with 2 teenagers still at home.
14 years ago I was mugged and had my arm broken. This caused me to no longer be able to transfer in and out of a regular vehicle. Victim of Violent Crime program helped buy us a wheelchair accessible van at that time. It was wonderful to still be able to go places with my family and friends.
Two years ago the van's lift system broke to the point where we could no longer get it fixed. The van has 200,000 miles on it so it not worth replacing the lift. Without it, I am unable to go out with friends and family unless it is within easy access to the bus line. That really limits my ability to socialize and shop and have a normal life.
The last 2 years have been filled with other physical challenges. While taking children to school my power wheelchair went out of control and hit a post, breaking my leg. I was laid up in bed for 6 months in rehab and not able to be with my family as much as I would have liked. About 6 months after coming home and recovering from that I fell transferring and broke my shoulder and elbow. Without a van during these times I had to go to doctor appointments via ambulance.
All that trauma affected my body in other ways not known at the time. My kidneys started shutting down and I am now on nightly dialysis. Most appointments for my kidney specialist are at a hospital that takes 2.5 hours by bus to get to. That makes for a very long and draining day.
Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Spending time with my family and friends is important to me. You would be helping me enjoy a fuller and more satisfying life.
Organizer
Janie Parham
Organizer
San Jose, CA