Help our Cheerleader get a wheelchair, Lift & more

Update 11/19/2023-

We have been asked by our friends and family to keep this fundraiser open and going, to possibly find help with funding for some of the other medical items, medications and modifications that sis needs to help her live her life to the fullest and set her up for college next year :-)

We have 2 big expenses that we are trying to find funding for.

Having our wheelchair-accessible van modified for her to drive independently and getting a Mobile Lift with Sure Hands system, for us to use at her college next year, so she can live on campus. A mobile lift is a huge need!

At this time we will add a new goal amount that would cover the van modifications, we are waiting on a quote for the mobile lift and sure hands system.

Having our wheelchair-accessible van fully modified to get our girl behind the wheel of our accessible van.

We are happy and excited to share that Ceci has been cleared by our Occupational Therapist to continue her behind-the-wheel driving with me and dad and after she earns more hours she can take her driver's license test. This is a huge step to making her independent!!!!! We are so proud of her.

She'll use hand controls to drive and we are working with Nu-Motion in Moline to get the van modified with her needs.

This is the quote we have received.

Until we can find funding this is on hold. They are trying to get insurance to pay for it, but we have not heard anything since it was applied for back in September and the thought is it won't be approved :-( Nothing we have not heard before but it's sooo frustrating to have to fight for anything and everything.

As always we are thankful for any help you can offer. Whether it be a donation, prayer, share or resource :-D

Keep everyone updated as we always do.

Much love and hugs,

Alexis, Ceci and our special family

OCTOBER UPDATE- WE DID IT!!!! Ceci's brand new RGK Wheelchair has been ordered and is being custom-made as we speak. Her new Wheelchair will be here in 12-16 weeks. It's coming from the UK and will be made to her measurements and needs. We got it ordered the week of 10-23. We can not wait to show you all the unboxing!!!

Thank you for making this happen for sis. We would have never been able to make this dream come true without your love and support.

#Teamcecistrong

The RGK Octane is the wheelchair of dreams At least for our girl.

It would be perfect for cheerleading and getting around college campuses when she graduates high school in 2024.

Her goal after graduating high school is to attend college and study to become a Child Life Specialist or Pediatric counselor, to help children that go through similar medical battles such as what she has gone through her entire life.

She also hopes to continue her love for Cheerleading in College and try out for the team.

We have been exploring a lot of options to get her into a better fitting, reliable, safe, lightweight, chair for cheerleading- now and hopefully in college and when she can't use her power chair and this is the chair we keep coming back to.

We won't be able to use insurance since they paid for the manual chair 2 years ago that doesn't fit Sis at all and we have had continuous issues with it, so this momma is going to have to look for grants, organizations, and others- that would like to help our girl grow in sports and life opportunities

The biggest difference between the Octane Sub 4 and Ceci's current manual wheelchair (which is huge! for her and does not fit her needs) is the weight.

Her current manual wheelchair comes in at around 48 lbs while the Octane sub 4 is only...................8.8 lbs. Yep! Under 10lbs

Huge Difference when it comes to having the endurance to push yourself! It weighs around the same as a baby.

Mind-blowing!!!

The other big difference is that this will NOT be a premade wheelchair. Nope!

RGK takes pride in building wheelchairs that fit perfectly for the user.

So all the measurements are taken and then they build the wheelchair from the ground up based on what the user needs.

I must be honest. After 18 years of helping sis get wheelchairs and fighting our butts off for every single wheelchair that she has ever had, I never knew a wheelchair could be customized to the user in such a way!

We were always told- ummm they do not have this measurement size so we will just order up and see how it works. And of course, once ordered your stuck with what you got.

I am still a bit peeved about the entirety of the manual wheelchair Ceci currently has. That is less than 2 years old and probably only had about 6 months of use, since the continued issues from the start and it being in and out of the shop for so long.

I knew from the first time that she sat in that chair that it did not fit her and was not good for her to use. But going over the assessment and measuring, for the new chair really opened my eyes to how big of a mistake this chair is for Ceci.

I mean the measurements are not an inch off here and there, I am talking about several inches off everywhere!

On her current manual chair-her feet do not touch the footplate, her knees can not bend, her backrest is too high, her seat width is too wide (so wide we can not get her up and down ramps), the seat is too thick so her hands do not fall where they should on her hand rails and I could go on and on.

It's upsetting, and I know several of our loving and caring family here have reached out to ask which company it was, that caused so much heartache for our girl. At this time I have chosen not to say. It was a HUGE mistake on their part but it can't be changed. So we are looking forward instead of back and hopefully with help from our wonderful family here and all around the world we can make this right for Ceci and get her a chair to do much better.

This new chair will allow her to be much more active in her everyday tasks, not have to rely on her power wheelchair all the time, give her the ability to pursue college cheerleading, make her last year high school cheering so much better, allow her more of a social life since she would be able to ride in her friend's cars by just throwing this very lightweight chair in the trunk, and so much more!

The possibilities are truly endless.

I get so excited talking about it!!! So does sis The things that bring us joy ❤

So here is the news everyone has been waiting on.

We have an official Price on this state-of-the-art Wheelchair. We have included the official estimate in these pictures.

The official price is: $8,403.60 this includes everything that Ceci needs and the shipping from the UK.

We have added a little more here to account for the fees here.

Our wonderful and kind representative Jacob, was kind enough to take not 15% off, but a total of 20% off the price so almost an additional $2,000 was removed to help our girl get this quicker and to this price.

We are very thankful for this kindness, Thank you so much Jacob! It helps tremendously.

We have been trying to come up with the best way to set up a fundraiser for this, for Ceci since Insurances will not cover it.

So we are fundraising here or you can make direct payments to the company we are working with:

Here is the information:

How iRoll Sports

3300 S. Dixie Hwy, Suite 1-771

West Palm Beach, FL 33405

Payable to: How I Roll Sports

The Quote # is

Q-4398

For Cecilia Padilla Order

You can also make a direct over-the-phone donation by contacting the company at:

1-888-304-7655

Shoot us a message and we will track the donations from our side as well.

Once we can come up with a little over half, the company is willing to submit the order to begin creating Ceci’s one-of-a-kind wheelchair, and the other half would be due at the time of delivery.

I am going to spend most of this week and next week looking for help from organizations that may be willing to donate for Ceci’s wheelchair.

You guys gave me some great leads last week, so hopefully we can make this happen in the next few months for sis.

I have been praying on this need for our girl, as I know many of you have as well.

The power of prayer is strong, and I know with your help we can make this happen!

If you guys have any additional ideas on fudnraising please let me know, or if you have any questions.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Lots of love and hugs,

Alexis and Cecilia Marie and our special family

~Spina Bifida Fighters and Survivor~

www.facebook.com/teamcecistrong