Vee's road to the Future

 

My name is Vibeke, (a.k.a. Vee).

 

I am 44 years old, and I live in Peachland BC. I would like to tell you a little about my story before I ask for your help to cover Gas, Parking, and Learning Disability Tutor costs for the remainder of my 17 month Paralegal Diploma Program.

When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with type 1 severe brittle diabetes and was sick for a long time. Having a disease for so many years causes a lot of damage to every part of your body and in my case the worst was my kidney function.  Most people don’t believe that diabetes can cause this much damage and they will always blame the person, and not the disease, for everything. I have always taken my share of the blame. But people aren’t always willing to find out that person may not be all to blame. It can cause destruction between loved ones that isn’t always easily fixed.  I am still trying to reconcile relationships today.

In 2012, I was diagnosed with kidney failure and in early 2013 I was put on kidney dialysis and a kidney and pancreas transplant list.  My diabetes was the cause of my kidney failure so the Kidney Specialists recommended I receive only a kidney/pancreas transplant.  They said if I received just a kidney, the diabetes would destroy the organ within months. 

 

On May 11th, 2016, at 11 am, I received the transplant that saved my life, cured me of diabetese and renal disease and transformed my future. I came home 2 months after surgery and had a new appreciation for what I could now accomplish.  For the first time in many years, I could eat a healthy diet, drink as much water as I wanted, exercise with my wonderful dogs, Jersey and Libby, visit my horses in the field, ride again and snuggle my cat Jethro.  I could go for walks with my mom and I could work as a hairdresser again. But the best thing was I could honor the organ donor who made it possible for me to do something better with my new life 
 

I grew up in a small ranching community in the North Okanagan, on my families 110 acre registered Polled Hereford ranch, until I was 16, when we sold the ranch and moved to Peachland. That farm was my personal "TREE OF LIFE".  I am no stranger to hard work and I will always believe that was the best way to grow up. My father, an old-time saddle bronc rider and roper, got us interested and involved in rodeo at very a very young age, and I still participated in it, until about 10 years ago.  At that point, I had to stop because of my diabetic and renal health, a broken back, and later a broken neck.  I still have horses and dogs, which I love very much.  In high school, I wanted to become a Lawyer but unfortunately my health took priority and I was simply unable to reach those goals.  So, I decided that now I could go went back to school to finally pursue a career in law, as a Paralegal

I am on a small disability which pays for my anti rejection medications that I have to take since I have had my transplant, and will be on them for the rest of my life.  I have to take other medications, too, for other conditions I acquired from my diabetes, which I had for over 31 years.  Disability has paid for my tuition to go back to school to become a paralegal which I am so grateful for - since there is no other way I would have been able to go back to school.  However, this cannot cover the cost for *transportation or* parking or * tutoring.

I didn’t have a working computer, so I had to borrow from my father’s hay money to purchase a $600 laptop, which I am paying back in small installments.  I have to drive to school because there is no transit that comes out to where I live, and I have to pay for parking where I attend college.  I also have learning disorders: Dyslexia and Audio Distortion, for which I require a specialized tutor twice a week at $60/session. *Parking is $140/month, *Fuel is $250/month and *Tutors are $480/month. 

I started college on May 29, 2017.  The paralegal Diploma Program runs through until September 14, 2018 with only a one-week break at Christmas. The total length of the program is 17 months.

I am looking to raise $12,180 to cover the cost for *Parking, *Fuel, and *Tutors for the remainder of the course.

My ‘Person with Disabilities’ benefits just cover my living expenses and the cost it takes to care for my beautiful animals. Without ‘GoFundMe’, I’m afraid I might have to pull out of the program and pay fees to the college for leaving and also pay back the full tuition to disability.

I have never given up on anything and have never backed down from hard work. My parents are elderly, have no money to spare, and given me all they can.  They have instilled in me the very essence of truth, work ethic, strength and kindness.

I was never married, and was unable to have children, so my animals have the place of family in my life.  If I can finish school and make a better life for myself, I can make a better life for them and for other animals that could use a home with us. 

I have never asked for a hand out or charity except for a few times at the food bank and I feel awkward doing this, but it was recommended to me by a true friend who would never steer me wrong.              

 

I’m the proud daughter of the kindest most giving and loving, long retired, Danish mom straight from Copenhagen and a hard-working old rancher, retired logger, D-8 cat operating dad, who taught me everything about being a true horsewoman. I’ve finally come to the point in my life where I am, or should be able, to help them be supported - not have them support me.

 

I truly need the help from all of you, who are so kind and will give to GoFundMe to ensure that I am able to finish my course so I can become a Paralegal and give back to, not only my parents, my family, my animals and friends, but also to the people who donate to this fund and most of all to the organ donor who made this day and every day to come for me a possibility!


The funding would be needed as soon as possible. Although it is an ongoing need until September 2018, I am in need of the monthly costs immediately.


My "family"!
Libby, 6, on the left (brown), Jethro, 4, ( black cat in the middle), Jersey,10,on right
Willie and Wiz 

My mom on a horse pack trip

Best picture dad will let you get of him hehehe