Help Get Noah A Wheelchair Accessible Van
Don protégé
Hi everyone!
On December 11th, Noah’s adoption was finalized! 2020 certainly threw us a lot of curveballs, but man oh man, are we over the moon to have him be officially ours!
As you may know, Noah has a condition called arthrogryposis. This affects his spine and limbs. His is classified as severe as other organ systems are significantly impacted; mainly, his lungs (which is why he has a trach and uses a ventilator). Noah’s legs (and arms) are in a permanently bent position. Thus, he navigates with a power wheelchair.
Since Noah came into our custody a year ago, Dave and I have been tackling a steep learning curve when it comes to wheelchairs and accessibility. (I also pause this to tell you our child, at age five, puts my parallel parking to SHAME!)
One of the biggest curveballs was how wildly expensive wheelchair accessible vans are. Noah’s chair is over 150 lbs. and is quite prohibitive to take about in our Honda. So, we usually pack him in the car and carry or stroll him wherever we go.
Noah is a very willful, spunky and independent kiddo. We are quickly approaching the time where his dignity, size and yearning for independence will render our temporary solution unusable.
An accessible van would allow Noah to be safely transported in his power chair and be able to navigate the public world independently. It would open up new experiences and include him in his surrounding community in a way that we just haven’t been able to— but very much want to—yet.
It took us four years of pretty relentless searching the foster care system to find Noah. He is a once-in-a-lifetime soul. Dave and I wake up every day and just can’t get over what absolute luck we have to call this boy our own. I still get goosebumps thinking about what magic this has all been!
In celebration of Noah’s adoption, we are raising funds for a wheelchair accessible van for him. It will be the icing on the cake for what has been an absolute magical, humbling experience of a building a family.
We extend our most sincere thanks for helping us achieve something we can’t our own. Wishing you and yours a joyful holiday season!
-Michaela & Dave
On December 11th, Noah’s adoption was finalized! 2020 certainly threw us a lot of curveballs, but man oh man, are we over the moon to have him be officially ours!
As you may know, Noah has a condition called arthrogryposis. This affects his spine and limbs. His is classified as severe as other organ systems are significantly impacted; mainly, his lungs (which is why he has a trach and uses a ventilator). Noah’s legs (and arms) are in a permanently bent position. Thus, he navigates with a power wheelchair.
Since Noah came into our custody a year ago, Dave and I have been tackling a steep learning curve when it comes to wheelchairs and accessibility. (I also pause this to tell you our child, at age five, puts my parallel parking to SHAME!)
One of the biggest curveballs was how wildly expensive wheelchair accessible vans are. Noah’s chair is over 150 lbs. and is quite prohibitive to take about in our Honda. So, we usually pack him in the car and carry or stroll him wherever we go.
Noah is a very willful, spunky and independent kiddo. We are quickly approaching the time where his dignity, size and yearning for independence will render our temporary solution unusable.
An accessible van would allow Noah to be safely transported in his power chair and be able to navigate the public world independently. It would open up new experiences and include him in his surrounding community in a way that we just haven’t been able to— but very much want to—yet.
It took us four years of pretty relentless searching the foster care system to find Noah. He is a once-in-a-lifetime soul. Dave and I wake up every day and just can’t get over what absolute luck we have to call this boy our own. I still get goosebumps thinking about what magic this has all been!
In celebration of Noah’s adoption, we are raising funds for a wheelchair accessible van for him. It will be the icing on the cake for what has been an absolute magical, humbling experience of a building a family.
We extend our most sincere thanks for helping us achieve something we can’t our own. Wishing you and yours a joyful holiday season!
-Michaela & Dave
Organisateur
Dave Robbins
Organisateur
Pittsburgh, PA