A Wheelchair Van for Kristen

Please read the following story by Kristen Curran Gannon's family, and consider helping their parents in purchasing a wheelchair accessible van with a ramp for Kristen.  Over the past year and a half, many of those who were aware of what happened to Kristen have asked how they could help. The offers were not only extended to Kristen, but to her parents, Elaine and John as well. The outpouring of love, emotional and spiritual support, meals, etc.  shown to all of the Currans  from friends and family has been greatly appreciated.  However, there is now a need and a way to help that many are unaware of.  It is something that the Currans feel uncomfortable asking for help with, and we,  their extended family and close friends have decided to ask our community for assistance .  

As quoted by one of her sisters, "Having a converted wheelchair accessible minivan with a retractable ramp that Kristen can ride her electric wheelchair into, would mean everything to Kristen – and our parents.  This van represents freedom."  
Please help us to give Kristen some of her freedom back.

October 30, 2016 was the day our 44-year-old sister nearly lost her life.  Awoken in the early morning hours with severe pains in her back and chest, Kristen immediately knew something was terribly wrong. Our parents called an ambulance which brought her to Parkland Hospital in Derry, NH. The emergency room doctors told my family that Kristen had an acute life-threatening heart condition that would require emergent surgery at the highest level which is why they called for Med Flight to take her to Mass General in Boston.

When we arrived at Mass General Hospital, my family was told that Kristen had an ascending and descending aortic dissection and needed to go right into surgery. The 12+ hour surgery was the longest and scariest wait of our lives. 

During the wait, we learned a few things about aortic dissections. 

First, Kristen’s aorta essentially tore from the aortic value in her heart all the way down to where it branches off to her legs. We also learned that the mortality rate in medially treated patients with acute ascending aortic dissection was 88%. Actor’s John Ritter, Lucille Ball and Alan Thicke all died from aortic dissections. We were terrified that we were going to lose our sister/daughter.

With heavy hearts, we waited. We learned she was put on bypass but was hanging on. After what seemed like an eternity, her surgeon met with us and told us he was able to successfully repair the aortic valve and the ascending dissection. Kristen was still critical, and her kidneys had stopped functioning, but she was alive.

After a few days when Kristen was slightly more stable, she had surgery to repair her descending dissection. We hoped this surgery would get blood flowing to her lower organs and lower extremities. While the surgery was deemed successful, we soon found out there was irreversible damage to her lower organs and her intestines ruptured.

Once more, Kristen was in a fight for her life and whisked away for emergency surgery from her room in the cardiac ICU. Surgeons had to remove her intestines which were no longer viable. This resulted in Kristen needing a permanent ostomy. 

Worse yet, we found out the next day that Kristen had a stroke in her spine when her intestines ruptured. Doctor’s told us that Kristen would no longer have use of her legs and would live the rest of her life in a wheelchair. This was a devastating blow to my family knowing how difficult Kristen’s life would be. We prayed Kristen would have the will and the strength to fight her way back.

Since this time, Kristen has been diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome which was the cause of the aortic dissection. Marfan Syndrome is a genetic connective tissue disease that has made it extremely difficult for Kristen to heal and recover. Over the past year and a half, there have been countless setbacks and surgeries. Each time, our 80-year-old parents have been by her side caring for her. And, in between hospital stays, our parents transport her to and from weekly doctor appointments in Boston all the way from NH. 

Our parents selflessly sold their home, stored most of their treasured belongings, and moved into a wheelchair accessible apartment with Kristen. They take shifts at night caring for Kristen because the alternative is Kristen will have to live in a skilled nursing facility. And, yet, they have never asked for help.

But, over the course of the past year, we have realized there is something that my parents and Kristen don’t have that would be life changing for Kristen, and by default, our parents….a wheelchair accessible van. 

Kristen has an electric wheelchair but can only use it inside their apartment because it is too big to fit in my parents Honda Accord. Whenever Kristen goes out, she uses a heavy manual wheelchair. Once she transfers herself into the front seat of the car, one of my parents must fold up the wheelchair and lift it into the trunk. Then they lift it out of the trunk, assemble it, and help Kristen transfer into the chair from the front seat of their car. Also, Kristen can’t get into SUVs which most of us drive so we aren’t able to truly help.

Because of the difficulty in getting out of the apartment, Kristen is often stranded at home which leaves her lonely and isolated.

Having a converted wheelchair accessible minivan with a retractable ramp that Kristen can ride her electric wheelchair into, would mean everything to Kristen – and our parents.  This van represents freedom.

In fact, all family and friends could drive to her apartment and then use the van to take her out with ease… to the movies, to a restaurant, to Bingo, visit family and friends…the opportunities are endless.

Our family has never asked for help and it is not something we are completely comfortable with even now. But, so many people have asked how they can help so we thought if we were able to get help funding a new wheelchair accessible van for Kristen, we could ALL share in something that would have unlimited potential to improve the quality of Kristen’s life as well as our parents who continue to sacrifice every day because they love her so much.

Lastly, my family wants to take this opportunity to thank our family and friends for all the support over the past year and a half.  Every card, prayer, phone call, text or visit has meant so much to us. 

And, for those of you that can help with this fundraising campaign – we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

With our sincerest appreciation,

Julie Hamilton, Bob Curran, Tim Curran, Kelly Bradbury