My sister has been having a rough time since her husband’s massive stroke in 2010. She has been his caregiver going on eight years now and it’s been tough. The latest is their loss of independence to travel around by car.

These are her words:

“My husband, Richie, has always been nothing but a genuinely Good Guy.  He always volunteered and helped in any way he physically could:

> Painting people's houses
> Doing handyman work
> Driving friends to their oncologists
> As a mentor; merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts for over 15
    years
> Worked on our church's volunteer work crew and hurricane repair
     crew.

We never had lots of money to donate, so we donated our time in most cases.

Then, on July 2, 2010, he dropped to floor in front of me at Winn-Dixie while shopping for July 4th! He had a Hemorrhagic Stroke.  A Brain Bleed. He had to have brain surgery and nearly three months in rehab.

He was left disabled. I was told to put him in a nursing home. I quit my job to stay home and be his caregiver. Within the first 18 months we had to claim bankruptcy.

So, we adjusted to our new life and live within our means. We also depended a lot on the generosity of friends and family.  By the third year I began to get my own social security income and we have been
getting along in life enjoying our granddaughter who was born after his stroke. She is six now and the apple of her Pop-Pop's eye.  We take trips by Amtrak to visit when we can."

My brother-in-law had the ability to take a few steps with help and could maneuver his feet to turn to get into the car with help. Then last year he was diagnosed with lymphoma and had chemo treatments
from October 2017 through January 2018. The fatigue and weakness he was left with has robbed him of his little bit of ability to take a few steps. So now, he can no longer transfer into the car. They now rely on the County's para-transit system to bring them places. The van or small bus picks them up with Richie in his wheelchair.

This seems convenient, but it isn’t really. There is a LOT of waiting to be picked up, either coming or going. There’s a LOT of waiting for late pick-ups (by 2 hours or more). There is no spontaneity, the trips have to be scheduled a full 24 hrs in advance. There is also the difference of 5 minutes from when the driver arrives, and they are just finishing at the doctor office simultaneously, and the driver can’t wait. Which leaves them and another ride must be scheduled which takes another 2 ½ hrs of wait time, leaving my sister in tears.

She needs a Handicapped Accessible van to be able to have a quality of life that they can enjoy going places as they had done in the past, even with her husband’s disability.

Of course, they are tapped out on any funds to even get a used van.  A decent used van is anywhere from $15,000- $20,000 and new ones are around $30,000 or more.  Which is way too much money for anyone.

This is why I am asking all who feel that they can help to please give to this fund to help the Linda and Richie Vedsted get a Handicapped Van.

The van can give back to them a quality of life that they have been missing for so long.