Catholic Student Needs Wheelchair
Donation protected
Where does a serious Catholic gal who wants to major in writing go to college? Franciscan University of Steubenville, of course! But what if this Catholic gal has debilitating joint condition that necessitates a motorized wheelchair to navigate the sloping paths on campus? Well, then she turns to a Go Fund Me appeal!
My name is Tatiana Federoff. When I was 16, I was diagnosed with a painful and incurable collagen disease called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. EDS causes frequent joint dislocations, because it weakens the tissue that composes the joints. It's similar to osteoarthritis, except it attacks every joint and tendon in my body. EDS has made it increasingly difficult for me to walk and live a normal life, and it will only get worse.
I've been Catholic my whole life, and I am very passionate about my faith. I run my own Catholic blog, and I write for several others, including Epic Pew and The Catholic Response. I've been involved in my local pro-life movement for several years. I attended Life Teen through high school and was a youth minister myself after graduation. I'm a lector at my parish, and am very involved in parish life.
I recently applied and was accepted into Franciscan University of Steubenville, one of the premier Catholic institutes of higher education in the country. I intend to major in English, with a specialization in writing. I've attended a local college here in Arizona for a year and got high marks in all my classes. I'm a dedicated student, and I know that Franciscan University will help me become better academically as well as spiritually.
I started using a manual wheelchair two years ago, but the strain that this puts on my shoulder joints has been excruciating, causing major problems with the joints that have required medical attention. In addition, the chair I currently have is quite old and is starting to fall apart. I now use it only for my worst days and limp around with a cane at other times. There is absolutely no way that this chair and I could make it up the steep hills of Franciscan University. My doctor and I agree that a motorized wheelchair is desperately important as my disease progresses. We decided that the Lexis light foldable mobility scooter would be the best option for me, since it is lightweight (so I can carry it if need be without risking injury) and can handle steep hills.
(Link to the chair here! http://www.discovermymobility.com/store/scooters/summit-scooters/lexis-light-foldable-scooter/index.html)
However, my insurance company is not willing to help pay for this chair. They will give us money only if we get a chair that is not as sturdy, as able to climb hills, or (sadly) as expensive as the Lexis light, which will cost my family $1500. With all my siblings, my outstanding medical bills, and general house bills, my family is unable to pay for the chair I need, and so I am asking all of you for help. Any money you generously donate will go towards getting me, a student with great potential, to a place where that potential can be fully realized. I need this chair before I leave in January, so time is of the essence. I am deeply, deeply grateful to everyone who donates, whether in money or in prayer, toward this endeavor.
My name is Tatiana Federoff. When I was 16, I was diagnosed with a painful and incurable collagen disease called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. EDS causes frequent joint dislocations, because it weakens the tissue that composes the joints. It's similar to osteoarthritis, except it attacks every joint and tendon in my body. EDS has made it increasingly difficult for me to walk and live a normal life, and it will only get worse.
I've been Catholic my whole life, and I am very passionate about my faith. I run my own Catholic blog, and I write for several others, including Epic Pew and The Catholic Response. I've been involved in my local pro-life movement for several years. I attended Life Teen through high school and was a youth minister myself after graduation. I'm a lector at my parish, and am very involved in parish life.
I recently applied and was accepted into Franciscan University of Steubenville, one of the premier Catholic institutes of higher education in the country. I intend to major in English, with a specialization in writing. I've attended a local college here in Arizona for a year and got high marks in all my classes. I'm a dedicated student, and I know that Franciscan University will help me become better academically as well as spiritually.
I started using a manual wheelchair two years ago, but the strain that this puts on my shoulder joints has been excruciating, causing major problems with the joints that have required medical attention. In addition, the chair I currently have is quite old and is starting to fall apart. I now use it only for my worst days and limp around with a cane at other times. There is absolutely no way that this chair and I could make it up the steep hills of Franciscan University. My doctor and I agree that a motorized wheelchair is desperately important as my disease progresses. We decided that the Lexis light foldable mobility scooter would be the best option for me, since it is lightweight (so I can carry it if need be without risking injury) and can handle steep hills.
(Link to the chair here! http://www.discovermymobility.com/store/scooters/summit-scooters/lexis-light-foldable-scooter/index.html)
However, my insurance company is not willing to help pay for this chair. They will give us money only if we get a chair that is not as sturdy, as able to climb hills, or (sadly) as expensive as the Lexis light, which will cost my family $1500. With all my siblings, my outstanding medical bills, and general house bills, my family is unable to pay for the chair I need, and so I am asking all of you for help. Any money you generously donate will go towards getting me, a student with great potential, to a place where that potential can be fully realized. I need this chair before I leave in January, so time is of the essence. I am deeply, deeply grateful to everyone who donates, whether in money or in prayer, toward this endeavor.
Organizer
Tatiana Philip-Thérèse Federoff
Organizer
Vail, AZ
