Josh's Adaptive Vehicle
Donation protected
Remember high school? Academic pressure, need for social acceptance, puberty, acne, first loves, learning to drive. It is a nonstop, emotional roller coaster ride. Take yourself back there for a moment … now imagine that amidst your freshman year you begin to lose function in your legs. Your dad coaches you to lift your leg higher when you pitch. Your siblings make fun of this new limp you are doing. They think you are trying to look cool. Your mom stares at you while you walk wondering, “What is happening here?” You have no idea what is happening to your body. All you know is that your legs are not doing the things you tell them to do.
Walking is something that most of us are lucky enough to take for granted. You have been doing it as long as you can remember. You don’t think about it. You need to go somewhere; your body just takes you there. In Josh’s sophomore year of high school that basic human function was taken away from him. Not all at once; but gradually over many years. He was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP). HSP is a group of rare, inherited neurological disorders. So rare that the incidence rate in the United States is a mere 20,000 people. This is approximately 0.00006% of Americans. It is caused by degeneration of the upper motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. When upper motor neurons degenerate, they cannot transmit the correct messages to the muscles. The legs are most commonly affected; but in some cases, the upper body can be affected leading to problems with the arms or speech and swallowing muscles.
Throughout his early years he loved running around, riding his big wheel, playing baseball, basketball and swimming. Josh has gone from running, to walking with a limp, to walking with the assistance of canes, to now being completely wheelchair bound. Strength - does not begin to describe Josh. Resilience - does not do him justice. Through the years, Josh has continued to realize new limitations as the disease progresses and he has always adapted and made the most of his situation. Josh enjoys life, being with friends and family and especially following his beloved Ravens. As a passionate and devoted Ravens Fan, his favorite season of the year is Football! He works from home as a successful Member Services Agent for Kaiser Permanente. He has also maintained a high level of independence and loves to hit the movie theaters alone to catch the latest flick.
During my most recent conversation with my brother, he told me of his latest limitation. “What are you up to this weekend? Are you going to the movies?” I asked Josh. “I cannot get my wheelchair in and out of my car by myself anymore; so, I haven’t been going much of anywhere lately,” he responded very matter of factly.
I have always known that an adaptive driving vehicle was in Josh’s future and I have always known that it would cost a lot of money. That time has come. The time is now. We are all strapped for funds; but together we are far richer than we know. Together, on his 30th birthday, we can give this young man his independence back. With an adaptive driving vehicle with a wheelchair ramp and hand controls, Josh will again have the ability to go get himself groceries, head to a family event or catch the latest Fast and Furious film on the big screen.
Approximate costs for an adaptive driving vehicle are detailed below.
Evaluation and Driving Training: $3,000
Basic Hand Controls: $4,000
Automatic Wheelchair: $5,300
Used Vehicle (conversion included): $50,000
New Vehicle: $80,000
Walking is something that most of us are lucky enough to take for granted. You have been doing it as long as you can remember. You don’t think about it. You need to go somewhere; your body just takes you there. In Josh’s sophomore year of high school that basic human function was taken away from him. Not all at once; but gradually over many years. He was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP). HSP is a group of rare, inherited neurological disorders. So rare that the incidence rate in the United States is a mere 20,000 people. This is approximately 0.00006% of Americans. It is caused by degeneration of the upper motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. When upper motor neurons degenerate, they cannot transmit the correct messages to the muscles. The legs are most commonly affected; but in some cases, the upper body can be affected leading to problems with the arms or speech and swallowing muscles.
Throughout his early years he loved running around, riding his big wheel, playing baseball, basketball and swimming. Josh has gone from running, to walking with a limp, to walking with the assistance of canes, to now being completely wheelchair bound. Strength - does not begin to describe Josh. Resilience - does not do him justice. Through the years, Josh has continued to realize new limitations as the disease progresses and he has always adapted and made the most of his situation. Josh enjoys life, being with friends and family and especially following his beloved Ravens. As a passionate and devoted Ravens Fan, his favorite season of the year is Football! He works from home as a successful Member Services Agent for Kaiser Permanente. He has also maintained a high level of independence and loves to hit the movie theaters alone to catch the latest flick.
During my most recent conversation with my brother, he told me of his latest limitation. “What are you up to this weekend? Are you going to the movies?” I asked Josh. “I cannot get my wheelchair in and out of my car by myself anymore; so, I haven’t been going much of anywhere lately,” he responded very matter of factly.
I have always known that an adaptive driving vehicle was in Josh’s future and I have always known that it would cost a lot of money. That time has come. The time is now. We are all strapped for funds; but together we are far richer than we know. Together, on his 30th birthday, we can give this young man his independence back. With an adaptive driving vehicle with a wheelchair ramp and hand controls, Josh will again have the ability to go get himself groceries, head to a family event or catch the latest Fast and Furious film on the big screen.
Approximate costs for an adaptive driving vehicle are detailed below.
Evaluation and Driving Training: $3,000
Basic Hand Controls: $4,000
Automatic Wheelchair: $5,300
Used Vehicle (conversion included): $50,000
New Vehicle: $80,000
Organizer
Jamie Gustin
Organizer
Columbia, MD
