Wheelchair-Friendly Transportation Steph & Bernie

Please help us to get the Yarnell family a wheelchair-friendly vehicle in Minnesota!

As most of you know, Steph has seen significant improvement in her health and quality of life over this past year. Clarity in her diagnosis (autoimmune encephalitis) and regular IV treatments at the Mayo Clinic Minnesota are finally giving her more energy, less pain, much improved executive functioning, and some welcome weight gain. A recent move into a new apartment in Minnesota has also opened up new vistas for Steph and mom Bernie, who continues to be Steph’s main caretaker, as Jim is holding down the family’s fort and still working from The Netherlands.

One huge challenge that remains is transportation. The Yarnells do not have a car in Minnesota, so over the past years, Steph and Bernie have relied on shuttle service and local friends to get around. But recently, these options have become more limited.

So we at the Yarnell Family Trust believe that, after almost 8 years of enforced immobility, what the Yarnells need now in Minnesota is their own vehicle - one that is large enough to hold Steph’s wheelchair and will allow for Bernie (or Jim, when he is in Minnesota) to easily transfer Steph in and out of the car. Not only will this give them the independence to manage errands and get to and from Steph’s medical appointments, but with Steph’s health stabilizing, it will also allow her to begin exploring the world again.

With ongoing expenses due to Steph’s health challenges, the family does not have the funds to pay for such a vehicle at this time, and with all the support they have already received, they are very reluctant to reach out for help. So as part of our pledge to support the family through this long journey, we at the Yarnell Family Trust have set out to raise funds for the purchase and maintenance of a wheelchair-friendly vehicle that will serve them in the years to come. It is unclear how much longer Steph will need these IV treatments, but her doctors at Mayo say she is looking at a minimum of 2-3 more years of treatment and rehab, if there is any hope for this recent benefit to progress and sustain.

We welcome any donations you are able to make, and we appreciate any shares of this page on your social media. Any help is welcome!

Thank you - and thank you for all you have already done for Steph, Bernie, Jim, and Michelle!

In gratitude for your continued support,

The Yarnell Family Trust

Chris, Dawn, Tim, Sabine, Nic, and Myriam

P.S. For Steph’s updates over the years, please see this link.