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Virginia's MS Assistance Fund

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My dear friend Virginia is in great need of help to pay for assistive devices, home modifications, and medical bills. The help you provide will enable her to purchase the necessary accomodations so she can live safely and much less limited for a good quality of life. Please help in any way you can. Every dollar is appreciated. 

Virginia's smile shines brightly and reflects her big, compassionate heart. Those with chronic illness often shine bright and fight bravely, even though the struggle is deep and the burden great on many levels. 

Virginia has had MS since the age of 32, and for many years overcame its symptoms. In the last ten years, her reality changed markedly as MS progressed. Virginia has since been unable to work, her walking has deteriorated, and her medical and other expenses have become overwhelming.

Since July of last year, she has had two long-term hospitalizations due to a bad fall and then a near-fatal car accident where she and her mother were trapped upside down in the vehicle in a lake and, thankfully, rescued. But, despite ongoing physical and other therapies, she has been unable to recover from these serious traumas. Her neurologist told her that people without MS wouldn't recover from such traumas easily, so it is understandable that her recent fall and car accident would have such a profound effect on her recovery.

Presently, Virgnia is unable to walk, and is relying on a borrowed scooter 24/7, which is about to wear out. She is unable to travel to the second floor of her mother's home where she resides. Her mother is selling her home, to move to a 1-story location for the safety of both of them, and hope to be relocated within months... if not sooner. But that home will need to be modified with ramps and other modifications for it to be safe for Virginia to reside. The cost is upwards of $15,000 for these modifications. She also needs a dependable wheelchair and other assistive equipment to help with day-to-day living as well as help to pay past and present medical bills. She continues to go to physical therapy to, hopefully, eventually, regain what has been lost through the events of the past year, as well as to prevent any further loss. 

The costs associated with this appeal are great, and much of them are not covered by Virginia's insurance and/or she is unable to meet the co-pays, especially with the already great burden of costs she is trying to pay for her hospitalizations and treatments of this past year. Every dollar will help Virginia receive the help she needs to have the best quality of life possible. If you know Virginia like I do, you know she is not one to ask for help. I want to help her by asking on her behalf. 

Thank you for any donation you can provide. When we work together, a heavy load becomes light. Let's work together to help Virginia receive help, and keep that smile of hers shining bright!
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Donations 

  • Christie Riegelhaupt
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs
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Organiser and beneficiary

Christie Riegelhaupt
Organiser
Delray Beach, FL
Virginia Santoro
Beneficiary

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