Help Eduardo Regain His Independence and Continue His Journey

Hello, my name is Eduardo Rivera, and I’m 46 years old. I am the oldest of six siblings, and I have lived my life determined not to let my disability define me.

At the age of 8, I was diagnosed with Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle-wasting condition. Despite the challenges, I stayed active riding bikes, skating, playing sports and I graduated high school. I walked independently until the age of 21, when a fall and a difficult recovery left me permanently in a wheelchair.

Since my early 20s, I found independence and purpose working part-time as a livery driver. For over 26 years, I proudly drove passengers safely across New Jersey, Connecticut, Upstate, never once getting into an accident. Driving was not just a job it was my lifeline to the world, my way of staying active, meeting new people, and feeling free.

Unfortunately, as my condition worsened, it became unsafe for me to continue driving. My reflexes and muscles have weakened, making it harder to react behind the wheel. A year and half ago, I made the heart-wrenching decision to stop working.

Around the same time, tragedy struck my personal life. My girlfriend, my closest companion, suffered a cardiac arrest. It took EMS 15 minutes to revive her, but the damage was devastating she suffered severe brain injury. For the past 2 years, I have traveled daily sometimes spending 7–8 hours just commuting to visit her as she moves between hospitals, rehab centers, and now a nursing home. The emotional, physical, and financial toll has been overwhelming. I’ve maxed out all my credit cards just trying to be by her side.

Now, I am fighting to reclaim a piece of the independence I lost. I am working with ACCES-VR (Vocational Rehabilitation) to get funding for EMC Hi-Tech Primary Driving Controls, adaptive technology that would allow me to drive again safely. However, the process has been slow it’s been 18 months without progress. The driving controls alone cost $70,000–$90,000, and I also need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, which costs around $70,000–$80,000.

I am asking for your help.

Your support will help me purchase the necessary equipment to drive again to regain my freedom, to see my girlfriend more often, to reconnect with life, and to continue moving forward despite everything I face.

My family, my friends, and my faith in God have kept me strong. With your help, I believe I can overcome this next hurdle.

Thank you for reading my story. Anything you can contribute a donation, a share will bring me closer to living life fully once again.

With gratitude,

Eduardo Rivera