Help Umar Get a Wheelchair Van!
Donation protected
Waiting is hard for many people. It’s difficult for them to wait in line at the drive-through, the grocery store, or at the bank. Waiting is obnoxious because people are accustomed to getting things quickly for themselves without having to rely on anyone else. Thus, when something we really want is out of reach and requires an extended wait-time, it’s frustrating.
What if waiting became a constant cloud over our heads? What if we had to wait for EVERYTHING? What if we had to wait for something as simple as moving from the living-room to the kitchen for a snack? Would we be able to stand our hunger because we had to wait for someone else to help us?
Our little brother, Umar, has to wait for EVERYTHING! As a non-verbal and immobile (wheelchair-bound) 14-year old boy, Umar has limited independence. He has to rely on his family (mom and us older sisters) to help him with his daily living skills, such as bathing, dressing, and feeding. Despite his lack of mobility and inability to speak, Umar is a very delightful boy! He is the love of our lives, the center of our universe. He has an infectious smile, a love for Disney movies, and an affinity for technology. Umar uses a Dynavox communication device (similar to what Stephen Hawkings has) to speak. Umar needs our help to transport him from point A to point B. He needs assistance to be carried from room to room, and also, to his manual wheelchair, which someone then has to push. This means that something as little as wanting to retrieve his IPAD from a distance across the room, or join a group for a game, is impossible for him to do on his own. He has to wait to get someone’s attention. Once he has their attention, Umar then has to wait for the person to understand his needs, either through gestures or through his electronic communication device. Umar is extremely social, intelligent, and sensitive. He notices what others are doing and wants to be able to join them, but is unable to. Umar waits ALL the time. Typically, he waits with patience and grace. He waits with a smile and sweetness. Sometimes, he waits with tears swelling in his big brown eyes and a heart-wrenching pout. He waits….and he waits.
But he shouldn’t have to.
As you can see from the picture provided (with his Bat mobile), Umar has pretty much outgrown his current manual wheelchair. Insurance only covers the costs for a wheelchair every 5 years; hence, getting a new one is a pretty big deal! We want to make sure that the next wheelchair he gets is a perfect fit for him since he will have to keep it for at least five years.
In order for Umar to attain his independence and reduce the ever-present-waiting from his life, he needs a power wheelchair. Umar did a power wheelchair trial at the rehab center and also at his school. At first, just like any young boy, he acted a little silly and crashed into a wall every now and then (you can view the video under "Updates"). But then he worked very hard and within a short amount of time, Umar was successful in demonstrating competency, making good choices, and maintaining safety while operating the power wheelchair (this video is also under "Updates"). This is perfect right? Here’s the dilemma, a wheelchair-accessible van MUST be available prior to the transition from manual wheelchair to power wheelchair. Why? Because a power wheelchair weighs around 200 lbs and can't be disassembled to fit into our sole family car (a four-door sedan).
We've been doing excessive heavy lifting to make transportation possible for Umar, constantly assembling and disassembling his wheelchair and hoisting it into the trunk of the car.
There is no way Umar will be able to get a power wheelchair and travel with us without an accessible van. Not having a wheelchair-accessible van is the only obstacle between Umar and his power wheelchair. He’s worked so hard and made tremendous feats in learning how to use the power wheelchair, and we’re so very proud of him. He is now ready to cruise according to his own will. The amount of happiness and joy that this will give him and our family is priceless. But as you know, there are prices to these things. Please help us meet the cost for a wheelchair-accessible van so that Umar doesn’t have to wait any longer.
Help Umar start the New Year with independence. He’s waited long enough. We need your help to give him the freedom and mobility that he deserves!
~Umar's Sisters
What if waiting became a constant cloud over our heads? What if we had to wait for EVERYTHING? What if we had to wait for something as simple as moving from the living-room to the kitchen for a snack? Would we be able to stand our hunger because we had to wait for someone else to help us?
Our little brother, Umar, has to wait for EVERYTHING! As a non-verbal and immobile (wheelchair-bound) 14-year old boy, Umar has limited independence. He has to rely on his family (mom and us older sisters) to help him with his daily living skills, such as bathing, dressing, and feeding. Despite his lack of mobility and inability to speak, Umar is a very delightful boy! He is the love of our lives, the center of our universe. He has an infectious smile, a love for Disney movies, and an affinity for technology. Umar uses a Dynavox communication device (similar to what Stephen Hawkings has) to speak. Umar needs our help to transport him from point A to point B. He needs assistance to be carried from room to room, and also, to his manual wheelchair, which someone then has to push. This means that something as little as wanting to retrieve his IPAD from a distance across the room, or join a group for a game, is impossible for him to do on his own. He has to wait to get someone’s attention. Once he has their attention, Umar then has to wait for the person to understand his needs, either through gestures or through his electronic communication device. Umar is extremely social, intelligent, and sensitive. He notices what others are doing and wants to be able to join them, but is unable to. Umar waits ALL the time. Typically, he waits with patience and grace. He waits with a smile and sweetness. Sometimes, he waits with tears swelling in his big brown eyes and a heart-wrenching pout. He waits….and he waits.
But he shouldn’t have to.
As you can see from the picture provided (with his Bat mobile), Umar has pretty much outgrown his current manual wheelchair. Insurance only covers the costs for a wheelchair every 5 years; hence, getting a new one is a pretty big deal! We want to make sure that the next wheelchair he gets is a perfect fit for him since he will have to keep it for at least five years.
In order for Umar to attain his independence and reduce the ever-present-waiting from his life, he needs a power wheelchair. Umar did a power wheelchair trial at the rehab center and also at his school. At first, just like any young boy, he acted a little silly and crashed into a wall every now and then (you can view the video under "Updates"). But then he worked very hard and within a short amount of time, Umar was successful in demonstrating competency, making good choices, and maintaining safety while operating the power wheelchair (this video is also under "Updates"). This is perfect right? Here’s the dilemma, a wheelchair-accessible van MUST be available prior to the transition from manual wheelchair to power wheelchair. Why? Because a power wheelchair weighs around 200 lbs and can't be disassembled to fit into our sole family car (a four-door sedan).
We've been doing excessive heavy lifting to make transportation possible for Umar, constantly assembling and disassembling his wheelchair and hoisting it into the trunk of the car.
There is no way Umar will be able to get a power wheelchair and travel with us without an accessible van. Not having a wheelchair-accessible van is the only obstacle between Umar and his power wheelchair. He’s worked so hard and made tremendous feats in learning how to use the power wheelchair, and we’re so very proud of him. He is now ready to cruise according to his own will. The amount of happiness and joy that this will give him and our family is priceless. But as you know, there are prices to these things. Please help us meet the cost for a wheelchair-accessible van so that Umar doesn’t have to wait any longer.
Help Umar start the New Year with independence. He’s waited long enough. We need your help to give him the freedom and mobility that he deserves!
~Umar's Sisters
Organizer
Maheen Nageeb
Organizer
Skokie, IL
