Help Dylan Buy A New Van
Donation protected
Hello Everyone,
My name is Dylan Thompson and I'm 25 and I live in New York, Long Island, to be exact. I have a terrible disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which means my muscles weaken over time, including my heart. This is why the average life span for people with this disease is estimated to be the late 20's to early 30's. I also can't walk and I'm confined to a wheelchair everyday. I have very little use of my legs, arms, hands, fingers and neck and pretty much every muscle in my body. The normal day to days things that able bodied people inadvertently take for granted are just literally impossible for me like riding a bike, taking an Uber, driving a car and even running.
Transportation is a vital way to lead a fulfilling and independent life. If my current vehicle, which is in desperate need of many repairs, were to break down I would be stuck at home indefinitely. I wouldn't be able to take any other car because it needs to have a ramp and plenty of room for me to drive my wheelchair into. I'm not able to be moved out of my wheelchair and picked up and put into any car either. It would be very painful. My current 2005 Honda Element van is 13 years old and is not in good shape. It is still drivable but it is has rust all under the ramps hinges and other important places. There is a hole in the floor where I sit. You can see the ground. It needs a whole new exhaust and muffler system. A lot of exhaust comes out every time the car is started. The smell fills the whole car and its very nauseating. Breathing the carbon dioxide is not healthy long term. Not to mention the car is extremely loud. The list goes on. It is very worrisome when I drive in it for the driver and me. I can't afford to fix the van, let alone buy a new one. I'm afraid to drive far distances because it has that many problems. Also my current van is very small for my wheelchair and so its hard for me to drive in and out of. I know I had a different campaign on here like 2 years ago to buy an RV and go on a trip around the country but I realize that is a lot harder and more complicated for many reasons. That dream had to be put aside. So since I can really use a new and bigger more comfortable van, I figured I would do something on a smaller scale. Plus my only transportation is more important. It affects my day to day life. The van I'm interested in purchasing is a Used 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT-2R. Converted by BraunAbility Entervan XT. It has a side automatic foldout rap. It costs $40,000. Ideally I would love to have a new van by the time it gets warm.
Secondly there is this piece of equipment for my wheelchair that will allow me to control my phone through my wheelchair using my joystick. Now I cant use my phone personally to it's full potential like apps and so forth. I need someone to help me every time I want to look at something on my phone. Insurance doesn't pay for this specific piece of equipment. I have to pay for it out of pocket. I costs $884.37. I need to give the medical equipment company a 50% deposit before they order the part for me and then I have to pay the other 50% after they install it onto my chair.
I would greatly appreciate your generosity of any donation you can spare because a new van and this piece of equipment for my wheelchair will dramatically improve the quality of my day to day life. Any support would just mean the world to me.
Help spread the word!
My name is Dylan Thompson and I'm 25 and I live in New York, Long Island, to be exact. I have a terrible disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which means my muscles weaken over time, including my heart. This is why the average life span for people with this disease is estimated to be the late 20's to early 30's. I also can't walk and I'm confined to a wheelchair everyday. I have very little use of my legs, arms, hands, fingers and neck and pretty much every muscle in my body. The normal day to days things that able bodied people inadvertently take for granted are just literally impossible for me like riding a bike, taking an Uber, driving a car and even running.
Transportation is a vital way to lead a fulfilling and independent life. If my current vehicle, which is in desperate need of many repairs, were to break down I would be stuck at home indefinitely. I wouldn't be able to take any other car because it needs to have a ramp and plenty of room for me to drive my wheelchair into. I'm not able to be moved out of my wheelchair and picked up and put into any car either. It would be very painful. My current 2005 Honda Element van is 13 years old and is not in good shape. It is still drivable but it is has rust all under the ramps hinges and other important places. There is a hole in the floor where I sit. You can see the ground. It needs a whole new exhaust and muffler system. A lot of exhaust comes out every time the car is started. The smell fills the whole car and its very nauseating. Breathing the carbon dioxide is not healthy long term. Not to mention the car is extremely loud. The list goes on. It is very worrisome when I drive in it for the driver and me. I can't afford to fix the van, let alone buy a new one. I'm afraid to drive far distances because it has that many problems. Also my current van is very small for my wheelchair and so its hard for me to drive in and out of. I know I had a different campaign on here like 2 years ago to buy an RV and go on a trip around the country but I realize that is a lot harder and more complicated for many reasons. That dream had to be put aside. So since I can really use a new and bigger more comfortable van, I figured I would do something on a smaller scale. Plus my only transportation is more important. It affects my day to day life. The van I'm interested in purchasing is a Used 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT-2R. Converted by BraunAbility Entervan XT. It has a side automatic foldout rap. It costs $40,000. Ideally I would love to have a new van by the time it gets warm.
Secondly there is this piece of equipment for my wheelchair that will allow me to control my phone through my wheelchair using my joystick. Now I cant use my phone personally to it's full potential like apps and so forth. I need someone to help me every time I want to look at something on my phone. Insurance doesn't pay for this specific piece of equipment. I have to pay for it out of pocket. I costs $884.37. I need to give the medical equipment company a 50% deposit before they order the part for me and then I have to pay the other 50% after they install it onto my chair.
I would greatly appreciate your generosity of any donation you can spare because a new van and this piece of equipment for my wheelchair will dramatically improve the quality of my day to day life. Any support would just mean the world to me.
Help spread the word!
Organizer
Dylan P Thompson
Organizer
Centerport, NY
