Help Branden (Mr. Sarcastic) Obtain A JACO

Hello! My name is Branden.

 

When I was six years old, my parents noticed that I was falling a lot. At first, they thought that I was just doing it for attention, as I had a younger brother at that time who was still just a toddler. As the days and weeks went on, it became more and more clear that I indeed was not doing it for attention and that it was a real cause for concern and they decided to seek medical care.

 

After many specialist appointments, diagnostic tests, blood samples, and two muscle biopsies, I was diagnosed with a form of Muscular Dystrophy known as Mitochondrial Myopathy. This is a condition that is a degenerative one which mainly affects my skeletal muscles including my lower and upper extremities.

 

Because of the nature of my condition, when I was about thirteen, I became reliant on a wheelchair to provide me with the ability to get around. I also started losing the ability to perform physical activities that required the use of my upper extremities such as picking up a drink, eating my favorite snack, opening and closing doors, practicing personal hygiene, taking medications, and even picking up my phone to make calls in case of emergencies to name a few.

When I graduated highschool, I had a different perspective on my life. I realized that being 100% dependent on someone was not the life I wanted for myself and that it was impacting my quality of life. For several years though, there wasn't really any assistive technology that met my needs in order for me to achieve my goal of becoming more independent and self reliant.

Finally, last November, I had the opportunity to trial an assistive technology device known as the JACO (see the trial below) which is a device that compensates for the lack of strength and motor control in my upper extremities, similar to the way my wheelchair compensates for the lack of strength and motor control in my lower extremities.

 

Today, at twenty-four years old, I am still going strong, but there is one thing missing that is important to me now more than ever and that is my ability to become as independent as I can be. I currently cannot provide for myself because my condition took away my ability to do so. While my life is far from horrible and I am thankful for what I have and whom I have in my life, life is too short and that as a human being, I am entitled have independence and autonomy just like someone in absence of a disability. I will never be 100% independent, but if I can increase my quality of life even by relying on assistive technology, I will be even better.

People who know me know that I never like to ask for help for anything especially when it comes to financial resources, but I am asking you kindly to please donate, even if it is just one dollar. Your donations will go a long way in helping me get this device so I can attain and retain my independence and autonomy that I am entitled to.

"No gesture is to small when done with gratitude." - Oprah

#ForBranden

Thank You!