Accessible VAN for Rob
Donation protected
My name is Julie Williams and I am writing this for my cousin Rob Butts. We grew up together in a small town in Massachusetts. Rob was always an active, sports minded, athletic person. He loved the outdoors and there was never a challenge too much for him to tackle. He worked hard to finish a degree in electrical engineering, while working a full time day job. This was a great time in his life. He was starting a new job, getting married and living the American dream. Rob was also an avid skier and was always the first to hit the slopes during the first snowfall of the year. He loved to ski, probably more than any other sport. He loved the speed and the pure thrill. He skied in the winter and the spring whenever he could possibly get away and hit the slopes.
Unfortunately his skiing days ended quickly on April 18, 1992 when he went to Vermont before the snow would melt away and spring skiing would officially end. He was skiing with his wife and did a trick jump , on their last run heading to meet friends in the lodge. He landed on his forehead and felt every bit of feeling slowly drain from his body. He would later learn he had severed his spine at C5 and would be paralyzed for the rest of his life. This sent shock waves through the whole family.
Rob’s first 15 years were incredibly
difficult, he suffered with horrible burning pain throughout his body even though he couldn’t feel. This is not uncommon to happen to people who are paralyzed. But through all of this, Rob never lost his sense of humor or will to live, he kept fighting.
Rob’s care and medical expenses are crazy. He isn’t able to do anything for himself so he requires an aide to get him up and dressed in the morning and someone to get him showered and ready for bed in the evening. Not to mention the list of medical supplies that comes along with being paralyzed. He has a separate closet to keep all of his supplies
.Rob lives with his dad who is 83 since it would be too expensive to live alone. His 18- year-old son Tyler lives with them and his daughter Katie lives with his ex-wife. Rob receives social security and some assistance from long term disability but nothing compared to the amount an accessible van would cost. The one he has had for 10 years he was just told has irreparable frame rot which was devastating news.
Rob isn’t able to drive himself anywhere and relies on others to take him places. He is basically a shut in unless he has an appointment or someone is about to drive him to an activity of one of his children. He never complains, he finds ways to occupy himself and always has a smile. To me he is an incredible person who I couldn’t look up to anymore than I do. He needs this van to have any quality of life, to engage with other people, to get to doctor’s appointments (which he frequently has) and to take part in his children’s life.
We don’t know how much longer his van will last but the repair shop said it isn’t going to make it much longer and should not be driven on the highway.
If anyone deserves this help it is Rob. He has always tried to help others even on his worse days.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you consider helping him. It would mean the world to the family and Rob. God bless you all.
Unfortunately his skiing days ended quickly on April 18, 1992 when he went to Vermont before the snow would melt away and spring skiing would officially end. He was skiing with his wife and did a trick jump , on their last run heading to meet friends in the lodge. He landed on his forehead and felt every bit of feeling slowly drain from his body. He would later learn he had severed his spine at C5 and would be paralyzed for the rest of his life. This sent shock waves through the whole family.
Rob’s first 15 years were incredibly
difficult, he suffered with horrible burning pain throughout his body even though he couldn’t feel. This is not uncommon to happen to people who are paralyzed. But through all of this, Rob never lost his sense of humor or will to live, he kept fighting.
Rob’s care and medical expenses are crazy. He isn’t able to do anything for himself so he requires an aide to get him up and dressed in the morning and someone to get him showered and ready for bed in the evening. Not to mention the list of medical supplies that comes along with being paralyzed. He has a separate closet to keep all of his supplies
.Rob lives with his dad who is 83 since it would be too expensive to live alone. His 18- year-old son Tyler lives with them and his daughter Katie lives with his ex-wife. Rob receives social security and some assistance from long term disability but nothing compared to the amount an accessible van would cost. The one he has had for 10 years he was just told has irreparable frame rot which was devastating news.
Rob isn’t able to drive himself anywhere and relies on others to take him places. He is basically a shut in unless he has an appointment or someone is about to drive him to an activity of one of his children. He never complains, he finds ways to occupy himself and always has a smile. To me he is an incredible person who I couldn’t look up to anymore than I do. He needs this van to have any quality of life, to engage with other people, to get to doctor’s appointments (which he frequently has) and to take part in his children’s life.
We don’t know how much longer his van will last but the repair shop said it isn’t going to make it much longer and should not be driven on the highway.
If anyone deserves this help it is Rob. He has always tried to help others even on his worse days.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you consider helping him. It would mean the world to the family and Rob. God bless you all.
Organizer
Julianne Williams
Organizer
Hudson, MA
