Juanita's Wheels & Accessible Bath
Donation protected
I am a recently retired widow who spent most of my working life as a fund raiser for non-profit organizatons. Now I find that I need to raise money for myself to purchase a wheelcair accessible van and to help make my home handicap accessible. Last year, I had to have both of my legs amputated above the knee as a result of severe vascular disease. It was either amputation or death from gangrene. Not very much of a choice!
There was really no alternative to the amputations so I am now wheelchair bound. I have an amazing pair of prosthetic legs but even after I get the hang of it, these legs cannot be worn for extensive periods of time without a break.
I am no stranger to illness. At the age of 15 I was diagnosed with a severe disorder that ultimately led to a liver transplant and a kidney transplant. I have had 8 abdominal surgeries and I have probably taken more prescription drugs than any twenty other people I know. Through it all I have continued to hold on to a positive attitude and that allowed me to work and enjoy life.
This latest challenge however has me in a place that I never expected to be. I am no longer the independent agent I have been for nearly seventy years. I had expected my retirement to be a time of doing volunteer work with an animal welfare organization, spending time with my friends, driving my bucket list car-- a red Mini Cooper, and helping small organizations with their fund raising efforts..
Instead I find myself facing a serious mobility issue that will essentially limit my ability to travel, therefore restricting almost everything else. An even more drastic Issue, however is the need for a home that is handicap accessible, allowing me to have an almost normal life.
Most of my life I have either lived alone or with a spouse and recently with two wonderful housemates. Now I must live with my sister who has had to buy a new home to accommodate me and my disability. She found a delightful (and affordable!) older home, close to but not quite inside the city of Durham. We knew at the outset that certain renovations were needed to make it handicap accessible, specifically the bathroom and a ramp.
The house was built in the mid-1970's with spacious rooms, a wide hallway and most important, only one step. Widening the bathroom door and removing some built in cabinets would do the trick-- or so we thought. We soon learned that the renovation would be much more involved because the location of the main electrical box is next door to the bathroom. Reader's Digest version: what was just fine in the 70's is now a major violation of the building code. What we thought would cost about $15,000 is now more than $30,000.
The van is certainly a critical need but even more important is a home that is really livable! My wheelchair is 25" at its widest point (the smallest adult wheelchair made): the bathroom door is 22". I cannot get in to just wash my hands. I will let you imagine what else I cannot do! For now we have reverted to using methods more commonly used in undeveloped Third World countries but that cannot go on forever.
I have therefore changed my campaign purpose and goal to see if generous friends and kind strangers will help us move into the present. I am reaching out to several local non-profits that do this kind of work but almost all have long waiting lists. Our need is urgent! My wonderful daughter and other family members are doing all they can but we really must count heavily on the generosity of friends and kind strangers.
I am not asking for thousands of dollars but rather whatever help you can give. Many will read this and say "..I wouldlike to help but I am not rich." You don't have to be to make a difference. Imagine if 100 people donated $25 each: $2,500; or 400 people donated just $25 each: $10,000. Many of us spend $25 on Starbucks coffee in a week. I know asking anyone to give up coffee is asking a lot, so maybe give up three glasses of wine.
Please think about this and approach your poker, canasta, bridge and bid whist buddies, golfing partners, fellow members of your sorority or fraternity, your social clubs, church groups. In other words ANYONE anyone who has a good heart and the willingness to help someone who spent her career helping others.
I spent more than 35 years as a fund raising director to help various causes. My last position was for a human services organization serving abused and neglected children, medically fragile children, adults with disabilities and low-income elderly citizens. At my retirement celebration, the organization credited me with helping to raise $9 million during my tenure. I honestly believe that the work I have done over the years has made a difference in the lives of many others.
Today, May 4, 2015, I am asking you to help me so that I can go easily from place to place, but more important, so that I CAN TAKE A SHOWER!
There was really no alternative to the amputations so I am now wheelchair bound. I have an amazing pair of prosthetic legs but even after I get the hang of it, these legs cannot be worn for extensive periods of time without a break.
I am no stranger to illness. At the age of 15 I was diagnosed with a severe disorder that ultimately led to a liver transplant and a kidney transplant. I have had 8 abdominal surgeries and I have probably taken more prescription drugs than any twenty other people I know. Through it all I have continued to hold on to a positive attitude and that allowed me to work and enjoy life.
This latest challenge however has me in a place that I never expected to be. I am no longer the independent agent I have been for nearly seventy years. I had expected my retirement to be a time of doing volunteer work with an animal welfare organization, spending time with my friends, driving my bucket list car-- a red Mini Cooper, and helping small organizations with their fund raising efforts..
Instead I find myself facing a serious mobility issue that will essentially limit my ability to travel, therefore restricting almost everything else. An even more drastic Issue, however is the need for a home that is handicap accessible, allowing me to have an almost normal life.
Most of my life I have either lived alone or with a spouse and recently with two wonderful housemates. Now I must live with my sister who has had to buy a new home to accommodate me and my disability. She found a delightful (and affordable!) older home, close to but not quite inside the city of Durham. We knew at the outset that certain renovations were needed to make it handicap accessible, specifically the bathroom and a ramp.
The house was built in the mid-1970's with spacious rooms, a wide hallway and most important, only one step. Widening the bathroom door and removing some built in cabinets would do the trick-- or so we thought. We soon learned that the renovation would be much more involved because the location of the main electrical box is next door to the bathroom. Reader's Digest version: what was just fine in the 70's is now a major violation of the building code. What we thought would cost about $15,000 is now more than $30,000.
The van is certainly a critical need but even more important is a home that is really livable! My wheelchair is 25" at its widest point (the smallest adult wheelchair made): the bathroom door is 22". I cannot get in to just wash my hands. I will let you imagine what else I cannot do! For now we have reverted to using methods more commonly used in undeveloped Third World countries but that cannot go on forever.
I have therefore changed my campaign purpose and goal to see if generous friends and kind strangers will help us move into the present. I am reaching out to several local non-profits that do this kind of work but almost all have long waiting lists. Our need is urgent! My wonderful daughter and other family members are doing all they can but we really must count heavily on the generosity of friends and kind strangers.
I am not asking for thousands of dollars but rather whatever help you can give. Many will read this and say "..I wouldlike to help but I am not rich." You don't have to be to make a difference. Imagine if 100 people donated $25 each: $2,500; or 400 people donated just $25 each: $10,000. Many of us spend $25 on Starbucks coffee in a week. I know asking anyone to give up coffee is asking a lot, so maybe give up three glasses of wine.
Please think about this and approach your poker, canasta, bridge and bid whist buddies, golfing partners, fellow members of your sorority or fraternity, your social clubs, church groups. In other words ANYONE anyone who has a good heart and the willingness to help someone who spent her career helping others.
I spent more than 35 years as a fund raising director to help various causes. My last position was for a human services organization serving abused and neglected children, medically fragile children, adults with disabilities and low-income elderly citizens. At my retirement celebration, the organization credited me with helping to raise $9 million during my tenure. I honestly believe that the work I have done over the years has made a difference in the lives of many others.
Today, May 4, 2015, I am asking you to help me so that I can go easily from place to place, but more important, so that I CAN TAKE A SHOWER!
Organizer
Juanita Lawson
Organizer
Durham, NC