Specialized bed - Christopher - Muscular Dystrophy

Diana Howe is organizing this fundraiser.

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Christopher just celebrated his 32nd birthday on November 6th. Christopher has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. DMD is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. Christopher required the use of a wheelchair when he started Kindergarten. With time, he has required more and more specialized equipment due to his ever weakening muscles and changing needs. Christopher has very limited mobility. He is very fragile. Due to the progression of the disease Christopher has lost all muscle mass and he has little to no fat tissue. With only 10 % bone density he extremely fragile. With no muscle mass or fat to cushion his very brittle bones he has no protection. His bed and mattress are the only things keeping him from pressure sores, broken bones and other complications. His hospital bed is 15 years old and the air mattress is not far behind that. Unfortunately equipment does get old and need replacing. He needs this bed as much as he needs his Ventilator to breath. With out this bed his bones would break and he also would be unable to breath. He needs a new bed as this one is leaking and no longer holds air pressure properly. It has been repaired several times and the technicians say they can no longer repair it. His hospital bed does not respond properly to commands any more and has in the last month alone tried to fold him in half. We do not ask lightly for help. It is never easy asking for help from the community but this disease eats you up and spits you out. Its brutal and constantly changing with new challenges every day. And every day Christopher holds his up head and smiles no matter what pain he is in. He is a wonderful young man and always tries to find the positive in everything he deals with. A new bed costs about $17000. Please show your Christmas spirit and help Christopher sleep better at night. Every bit counts even a small donation. Its is a huge sum of money, but if everyone gives a little, together we can do a lot. Thank You!