Ricardo Needs a Lift!
Donation protected
For those of you knew “Little Ricardo,” you can see in the pictures, he is no longer little. It’s so hard to believe he is now 33 years old. It was 27 years ago that this little boy, abandoned by his parents and abused as an orphan, was brought to the United States by Connie Freeman and the aid of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas to get some medical treatment.
Connie later adopted Ricardo and they began a life together. As he healed from his emotional trauma, Ricardo’s smile and personality grew infectious, touching so many who knew him or his story. Unfortunately, Ricardo’s medical needs were only beginning and we write you today on behalf of this 33-year-old man who needs modifications to his home so Connie and his caregivers can safely meet his needs and allow Ricardo to enjoy some of the basic dignities we all take for granted.
Even though Ricardo has grown to be a handsome young man, sadly the rare genetic disease he suffers from continues to rob him of his physical abilities to walk or stand on his own. In the past year, his needs have escalated to where he must be physically lifted with a mechanism called a Hoyer lift from his bed to his wheelchair to the sofa and so forth. This solution has helped considerably but it doesn’t work in his bathroom. Ricardo now weighs about 140 lbs. and it takes two people to literally drag him through the bathroom door and hold him up while he bathes.
Ricardo needs his bathroom modified so his wheelchair can fit through the bathroom door. Once inside the bathroom, he can then be transferred to a lift built into the ceiling that will allow him to be bathed without endangering him or those that provide his care. A remodel such as this involves enlarging the bathroom, moving the tub and toilet and reinforcing the ceiling to handle the extra load of the lift. A contractor who specializes in construction that meets the needs of the disabled estimated that these changes can be made for $25,000.
We wanted to reach out to those of you who know Ricardo and Connie or those whom God may touch. Would you be willing to give $50 or whatever amount is reasonable for you to add some comfort and dignity to this one man’s life in the years still before him. Your gift will also bless and honor Connie’s almost three-decade commitment to a boy, now a man, that has had to endure more than his share of suffering and has done so in a way that has enriched so many lives.
These gifts are not going through a charity so they will not be tax-deductible, but they will help make Ricardo's life a little easier. We selected GoFundMe because many are familiar with it and their site makes it easy to contribute.
They are hoping to start this renovation just as soon as funds are available.
Thanks for your consideration,
Darla & Jerry Baird
Connie later adopted Ricardo and they began a life together. As he healed from his emotional trauma, Ricardo’s smile and personality grew infectious, touching so many who knew him or his story. Unfortunately, Ricardo’s medical needs were only beginning and we write you today on behalf of this 33-year-old man who needs modifications to his home so Connie and his caregivers can safely meet his needs and allow Ricardo to enjoy some of the basic dignities we all take for granted.
Even though Ricardo has grown to be a handsome young man, sadly the rare genetic disease he suffers from continues to rob him of his physical abilities to walk or stand on his own. In the past year, his needs have escalated to where he must be physically lifted with a mechanism called a Hoyer lift from his bed to his wheelchair to the sofa and so forth. This solution has helped considerably but it doesn’t work in his bathroom. Ricardo now weighs about 140 lbs. and it takes two people to literally drag him through the bathroom door and hold him up while he bathes.
Ricardo needs his bathroom modified so his wheelchair can fit through the bathroom door. Once inside the bathroom, he can then be transferred to a lift built into the ceiling that will allow him to be bathed without endangering him or those that provide his care. A remodel such as this involves enlarging the bathroom, moving the tub and toilet and reinforcing the ceiling to handle the extra load of the lift. A contractor who specializes in construction that meets the needs of the disabled estimated that these changes can be made for $25,000.
We wanted to reach out to those of you who know Ricardo and Connie or those whom God may touch. Would you be willing to give $50 or whatever amount is reasonable for you to add some comfort and dignity to this one man’s life in the years still before him. Your gift will also bless and honor Connie’s almost three-decade commitment to a boy, now a man, that has had to endure more than his share of suffering and has done so in a way that has enriched so many lives.
These gifts are not going through a charity so they will not be tax-deductible, but they will help make Ricardo's life a little easier. We selected GoFundMe because many are familiar with it and their site makes it easy to contribute.
They are hoping to start this renovation just as soon as funds are available.
Thanks for your consideration,
Darla & Jerry Baird
Organizer and beneficiary
Darla Skinner Baird
Organizer
Dallas, TX
Connie Freeman
Beneficiary
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