Sharlas Story

SHARLA'S STORY

My name is Sharla, and I have an interesting story to tell and to ask for your help.

I was born in 1969 and placed for adoption. My mom found out about me when I was 3 days old; when I was 6 days old the state allowed my mom to take me home. My mom was told that I scored an 8 on the Apgar test, whatever that is. When I was 4 months old I was bitten by a hemotoxic insect, and all the progress I had made I then lost. I was eventually diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and a craniotomy revealed an Arachnoid cyst that took up 40% of my skull cavity. I can see, hear, and have some speech, but I am totally dependent on my parents for all of the activities of daily living; they are my arms and legs as I am a quadriplegic.

My dad, the man I call Dad and love so much, knew me before he ever met my mom. He has been my dad almost 18 years now. Prior to that, my mom and I spent a long time alone, and I even lived at a hospital and training school at one point. Being back home and having my dad is the best ever!!

When my dad's sister got sick and passed away, my parents and I asked that my cousin, her son with Down's syndrome, come and live with us. We felt that we needed a full size van to accommodate both of us. When nothing was found locally that was in reasonable condition, my mom turned to the internet.

Imagine our surprise when she found a NEW 3 year old van with only 8 miles on the odometer. When my dad called Wright Automotive Group in Wexford, PA, he was told that the van was indeed new and in perfect condition. We purchased the van and had it delivered to where we live. It had 98 miles on the odometer at that point. The four of us were so excited; it was just what we wanted!!

When we had a wheelchair lift for me installed, my dad was told that the chassis was extremely rusted. One man we took it to said that it looked to him that it had been in a flood. My dad contacted the dealership in PA, and the manager insisted the van had been in the showroom all 3 years and hinted that the rust occurred during the 3 day trip from their lot to our home. They refused to do anything about it and told my dad he would have to file a complaint with General Motors

After months of emails, phone calls, etc to and from General Motors, they agreed as my dad puts it “to put a band-aid on a wound that needs stitches”. My dad filed three claims with GM to get the van repaired correctly. They refused all three, and my dad has spent a year and four months fighting them.

Several estimates my dad got stated that the van would need a new “rolling chassis” due to the severe rust damage. The cost to do that will be more than my parents can afford.

In addition to the problem with the van, we had a house fire in October and will not be able to move back to our home for several more months. I miss my home so very much. The place where we are living is very crowded with all my necessary special equipment; I am medically fragile. At home I have a ceiling lift to help my parents move me from my chair to my bed, etc. Here they have to use a Hoyer lift, another piece of equipment to store.

This place does not have room for a Christmas tree. I love Christmas time and miss my tree and our decorations. I also miss my big dogs; we cannot have them here.

The first house my parents built, especially for me, had to be completely torn down when it was 7 years old due to the builder's errors. We had to spend 8 months in a rental house and were again away from our big dogs. Our new house was 8 years old when we had the fire. Right after the fire, my mom fell, broke her nose, and was all cut up. Then she and my dad were on the way to pick me up from my day program, and were in a car accident.

I hope nothing else bad happens.

It is very important that I get some help. My parents are unable to go back to work because they are both in their 70's and retired; my dad is also on disability.

Please help me to get my van repaired and to help my mom and dad who have devoted their lives to me.