Help Bev get a wheelchair mobility van
Donation protected
- Hi I'm trying to raise enough money for a used wheelchair van so that my mom can get to her doctors and other necessary appointments without wondering if she is able to get there. She has been back and forth to the local hospital via ambulance, for several different medical issues since 2019. In Dec 2021 mom took a fall, the ER diagnosis was COVID-19, an ESBL infection and her 15yr old knee replacement came dislocated so she could no longer stand up and ended up bedridden with a hoyer lift. The day before she was released in January, we lost my brother, so we had to hire a medical transportation company for $500. to be able to get her to his services in March. A couple days later, I came home from the store to find covered in vomit, violently shaking. Mom was diagnosed with a gallbladder infection, bowel blockage, and after a colonoscopy, a mass was found which was colon cancer, requiring her to having her left sigmoid removed. Finally after several weeks in the hospital, she returned home once again in April with nursing in place for PT, OT, and skilled nursing. There were several trips back n forth again for antibiotic resistant infections, gallstones, delirium, and sepsis during that time. Then last October she wanted to have her knee fixed that would require an elected revision surgery, which her PC wouldn't authorize, so stuck in bed she stayed. Then several more trips to the ER through December. Then , on March 4th she fell out of bed.... when she arrived at the ER, she had another ESBL infection, a gallbladder infection, and her dislocated knee was severing the artery that pumped blood to her foot.The ER doc recommended hospice care and said they could only amputate because they weren't equipped to handle the procedure she needed, I immediately requested they transfer her an Ortho surgeon at BID Milton, where I had taken her when she was still mobile. On March 14 mom had a total knee replacement, and 4 days later had surgery to put a bile bag in place, because her gallbladder was infected for so long it enlarged and adhered itself to her large intestine, liver, and stomach. On March 24, mom was sent to a nursing home for skilled nursing and rehab for physical therapy, within 36 hours she was violently vomiting and was sent BACK to the ER, norovirus... after a week, brought home for in home PT. After 5 NON consecutive visits, the therapist closed her case due to reaching her max. So I started outpatient PT, but because she had a severe fungus on her toenail, she couldn't wear sneakers, therefore hindering PT. So, off to the podiatrist... meanwhile, she had been taken off her psychiatric meds because of interactions with the medications she had in the hospital. Without refills, AND learning her geriatric psychiatrist passed in January, she'd been without meds. We can get her to the hospital by ambulance, but that's the only place. We had a transportation company for the rest, but mom has missed several appointments from different ones showing up too late to make it to the appointment, cancelling without notice, and after the last trip, tested positive for COVID-19. When I called to cancel for THEIR safety, THAT'S when I was informed that 3 of the drivers had it! She has since had what I believe is the shingles , though I'm not sure, and without transportation, she can't be treated properly. I've thought of financing, but she's 88, her odds of needing it for 5 more years... and a lease requires 30% down. I'm taking care of her by myself at home, with her bed in my kitchen because there's a housing shortage and she can't climb stairs, trying to keep my promise to not put her in a nursing home. She's on a fixed income, no retirement, no life insurance proceeds, no car, no assets what so ever, she doesn't even have her own room because we rent a duplex. So I'm asking for your help to get a wheelchair van for my mom to get to her much needed medical and mental health appointments, that will be paid forward to another in need. No amount is too small to help reach my goal and give mom some peace of mind, and a little enjoyment outside of home in her final years. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this!
Organizer
Brenda Pacheco
Organizer
South Yarmouth, MA