Help Vicki Weaver Speak Again
Vicki and Dan Weaver are American missionaries who live in Belize. They were led to minister to the refugee village "The Valley of Peace," near Belmopan, Belize.
About two years ago, while living and working to serve the people of that region, the couple was returning home from town in the evening. They were targeted by heavily armed robbers on the deserted road leading from Belmopan to The Valley, where they live.
Shots were fired and during attempts to evade gunfire, their vehicle flipped and landed upside-down in a creek, causing critical traumatic brain injury to Vicki Weaver. After months of excrutiating therapy to attain possible recovery, it became clear her injuries were irreversible, which will forever change Vicki's ability to function and drastically affect her quality of life.
While Vicki is cognitively able to process information, She is unable to communicate by speech, or as yet, through writing or typing. Her attempts to speak are frustrating to her and her loved ones.
She is immobile and spends most of her days in a chair, requiring 24 hour a day care. She has almost no use of the left side of her body, but thankfully, she has limited use of her right hand and arm.
Despite this debilitating injury, Vicki expressed her passion and desire to return to the people in the Valley of Peace, Belize. In doing so, she sacrificed state-of-the-art therapy and medical care, trading it for her home in the Valley - with a dear friend trading off with Dan to care for her.
During our recent Mission Trip to Belize, members of Northwest Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas were able to visit with Dan, and had a short, limited visit with Vicki. It was painfully clear that she has ideas to express, but is unable to do so due to lack of technology and assistive devices. Dan expressed that Vicki has the cognitive ability to process information, and even to type, but is unable to use the small keyboard on a laptop or PC.
Upon return home, research uncovered two devices that will change Dan and Vicki's life in a way beyond expression with words - they will allow her to speak again.
We are funding a large customizable keyboard to facilitate Vicki's ability to type into a computer. More excitedly, we are funding a device which generates speech through the selection of icons on a large tablet.
The keyboard and software is $510
The voice-generating ipad system is $2995
Shipping and Duty (tax) to get the systems shipped and accepted into Belize will run up to $1000.
Any additional funds not used for these purposes will be donated to the Weavers.
Please help - This is literally a way to change a life in a tangible way. Imagine being imprisoned in your mind and body - with no way to express your thoughts, feelings, or needs to others.
