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Help the Colwell family get a wheelchair accessible van for Chase!
My sister, Amy, and her husband, Shane Colwell, moved to Worcester, Massachusetts about five years ago to start The Church on Seven Hills, where Shane currently pastors. Their oldest son, Nathan will be five this June and Chase will be two this July. Chase was born with a genetic brain malformation, bilateral diffuse polymicrogyria, and resulting microcephaly, cerebral palsy, epilepsy with uncontrolled seizures, hypotonia, cortical vision impairment and laryngomalasia. The prognosis means that he will likely never talk, walk, be potty trained, eat and drink normally, etc. He has gone through so much in the last year and has a difficult life ahead of him. However, he is the toughest and happiest little guy you’ll ever meet!
Chase's diagnosis rocked their world, but they are trusting in God’s sovereignty and provision on this wild journey. When they received Chase’s diagnosis, Amy had to quit her part-time job to juggle all the doctor visits, hospital stays, therapies and his demanding full-time care, leaving only Shane's income (as a pastor) to support their family of four.
The Colwell's most glaring need, which also seems financially impossible, is a wheelchair accessible van. Sweet Chase is a bruiser, already the size of a 3 year old. Yet, he cannot sit or even hold his head up for more than a few seconds at a time. It is getting increasingly difficult to get him in and out of the car for daily errands and appointments. My sister is strong, and did win the Strong Man competition in elementary school, but let’s help the girl out!! Even Wonder Woman has her limits!
He has a medical adjustable stroller that provides him with the support he needs but, because of its size and weight, that is even more difficult to continually get in and out of the trunk. Furthermore, due to the stroller’s size and limited ability to fold, there is little room for groceries and no room for luggage for travel.
With all Amy's family in Florida and Shane’s family in New Jersey, road trips have meant choosing to take luggage over his stroller, which will be more difficult of a sacrifice the bigger he gets. If they had a handicap van, his car seat would be his stroller/wheelchair, and they would still have all the trunk space for luggage on family visits and additional space in the cab next to Chase for other equipment they need for him. Chase really likes to feel the sand on his toes on a Florida beach, so hopefully we can help him get there with his swim suit AND medical supplies in tow!
Handicap accessible vans are SO much more expensive than they average vehicle and with Amy's car exceeding 225,000 miles...the check engine light on, again, and having to check the oil practically every time she gets in the car, this purchase will need to be made sooner than later. Also, this is happening at a time when they are starting a new medication to hopefully help control Chase's seizures which is NOT covered by insurance and is a new out-of-pocket expense.
Please help my sister get a wheelchair accessible van for Chase! He lights up the world every time he smiles, we just want to help him get around to see more of the world and spread more of his joy! Any financial help towards the purchase of their wheelchair accessible van would be a huge blessing! Thank you!
To help us get the word out, you can share my link to your Facebook Timeline!!!!
My sister, Amy, and her husband, Shane Colwell, moved to Worcester, Massachusetts about five years ago to start The Church on Seven Hills, where Shane currently pastors. Their oldest son, Nathan will be five this June and Chase will be two this July. Chase was born with a genetic brain malformation, bilateral diffuse polymicrogyria, and resulting microcephaly, cerebral palsy, epilepsy with uncontrolled seizures, hypotonia, cortical vision impairment and laryngomalasia. The prognosis means that he will likely never talk, walk, be potty trained, eat and drink normally, etc. He has gone through so much in the last year and has a difficult life ahead of him. However, he is the toughest and happiest little guy you’ll ever meet!
Chase's diagnosis rocked their world, but they are trusting in God’s sovereignty and provision on this wild journey. When they received Chase’s diagnosis, Amy had to quit her part-time job to juggle all the doctor visits, hospital stays, therapies and his demanding full-time care, leaving only Shane's income (as a pastor) to support their family of four.
The Colwell's most glaring need, which also seems financially impossible, is a wheelchair accessible van. Sweet Chase is a bruiser, already the size of a 3 year old. Yet, he cannot sit or even hold his head up for more than a few seconds at a time. It is getting increasingly difficult to get him in and out of the car for daily errands and appointments. My sister is strong, and did win the Strong Man competition in elementary school, but let’s help the girl out!! Even Wonder Woman has her limits!
He has a medical adjustable stroller that provides him with the support he needs but, because of its size and weight, that is even more difficult to continually get in and out of the trunk. Furthermore, due to the stroller’s size and limited ability to fold, there is little room for groceries and no room for luggage for travel.
With all Amy's family in Florida and Shane’s family in New Jersey, road trips have meant choosing to take luggage over his stroller, which will be more difficult of a sacrifice the bigger he gets. If they had a handicap van, his car seat would be his stroller/wheelchair, and they would still have all the trunk space for luggage on family visits and additional space in the cab next to Chase for other equipment they need for him. Chase really likes to feel the sand on his toes on a Florida beach, so hopefully we can help him get there with his swim suit AND medical supplies in tow!
Handicap accessible vans are SO much more expensive than they average vehicle and with Amy's car exceeding 225,000 miles...the check engine light on, again, and having to check the oil practically every time she gets in the car, this purchase will need to be made sooner than later. Also, this is happening at a time when they are starting a new medication to hopefully help control Chase's seizures which is NOT covered by insurance and is a new out-of-pocket expense.
Please help my sister get a wheelchair accessible van for Chase! He lights up the world every time he smiles, we just want to help him get around to see more of the world and spread more of his joy! Any financial help towards the purchase of their wheelchair accessible van would be a huge blessing! Thank you!
To help us get the word out, you can share my link to your Facebook Timeline!!!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Shane-Amy Colwell
Beneficiary