Rod’s Road to Independence With Multiple Sclerosis

Hi everyone! My name is Emily and my brother Matt and I have created this account for our dad, Rod. If you know Rod Mitchell, you are one of the lucky ones. Our dad is humble and selfless, yet mischievous and playful. He’s one of those guys you run into at the grocery store and he makes your day just by smiling and saying hello. He’s also a man who will hide toy snakes under your pillow just to get a rise out of you. Whether you know Rod for his wit, his modesty, or both, you can’t help but love the guy. And he needs our help.

In June of 2000, after 5 years of experiencing odd symptoms, our dad, Rod Mitchell, was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis, an incurable auto-immune disease that targets the central nervous system. Over time the disease can enter a Secondary progressive phase, which is characterized by a steady worsening of neurological function and accumulation of symptoms. This is the stage Rod has now entered.

Rod grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, but shortly after graduating high school he moved to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 1976 where he built three cabins in the Ishpeming woods with his two brothers and father. He felled trees, built and ran their sawmill, fished and swam, hiked with his 3-legged dog, and enjoyed every amenity that nature offered to him. It didn’t take long either for him to meet his wonderful, nature-loving wife, Kay, who has stood by him for nearly 4 decades now. Mom and dad’s deep and lasting love of the U.P. outdoors is something they instilled into both of us, something that guides us to this day. They taught us both in our time to downhill ski, cross country ski, ice skate, and roller blade. We camped, biked, hiked, and adventured all throughout our childhood.

Since being diagnosed, most of Rod's days have been good days, but there have been many more difficult ones as of late. He slowly went from living an active, outdoor lifestyle to a much more sedentary one. Experiencing life outdoors is a passion our father passed on to us but due to this Secondary progressive phase, Rod is no longer able to experience the world and share his life in the ways that light him up. He was forced to retire early due to his symptoms. He can no longer walk unaided. He is unable to take bike rides or walks with his wife and friends. Something as simple as moving through the world has become incredibly challenging.

Recently, due to a completely random chance meeting, Rod had the opportunity to test out the Omeo, an amazing personal mobility device with a unique balance based movement technology. He was able to operate the Omeo easily and comfortably, and turning to his wife said that it “felt like skiing again.” The Omeo allows users to go places other wheelchairs cannot because of its off-road capabilities. This revolutionary device is a perfect way our dad can regain his freedoms, to roam and explore the world again. He will be able to chase his two grandchildren on their bikes, join his wife on a walk down to the beach, and complete simple tasks like moving through the neighborhood with ease. Sounds great, right? The problem is that this state-of-the-art device comes with a hefty price tag, a price that is not covered by insurance and is not an amount most people can afford on their own.

Through all of the struggles Rod endures because of MS, he continues to remain positive. In fact, he still goes out of his way to help anyone and everyone he comes across that needs support. He is a true empath, a selfless soul, and it is finally his turn to receive help. Please help us reach our goal of raising $15,000 to help offset the total cost ($25,000) of an Omeo for Rod. Donate whatever amount you are comfortable with. Any amount raised above our goal will be donated to the National MS Society.

To learn more about MS visit https://www.nationalmssociety.org