Help for Roberta's handicapped van
Donation protected
Our mom, Roberta, has always been a pillar in our family and community, and now due to a devastating disease, she needs our help.
Three years ago, Roberta developed a limp with no apparent reason. After a year of seeing specialists, she was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease, and finally recently was given the official diagnosis of ALS. There is no cure, no prevention or treatment, and the disease continues to progress. While 4 years ago, our parents were camping, going to amusement parks, walking miles a day, and playing baseball with their grandchildren, at this point, Roberta is not able to walk or use her hands. They have used their retirement savings to put a ramp into their house, they expanded their bathroom to make it wheelchair accessible, they have purchased a lift-friendly bed, and additional medical equipment. Unfortunately, medicare does not cover any of these expenses. Throughout all of this, Roberta rarely complains and they continue to be generous to others with what they have.
Arlen, our dad, has been the primary care giver, and has been lifting and moving Roberta to accommodate her needs, but this has become increasingly difficult for him. One of the biggest challenges is getting our mom in and out of the car safely, as it involves multiple transfers from difficult positions.
At this point, our parents are in immediate need for a wheelchair accessible van. This would allow for our mom to go safely from the house to the car, and to her appointments, without the risk of our dad dropping her, or injuring his own back.
For those of you who know Roberta, you know what a giving and wonderful person she is! For those of you who don't, I could write an endless list of her amazing "mom skills" (we're talking homemade popple birthday cakes, countless crafts, endless patience, attending every concert, play, track meet, baseball game--to name literally only a few of hundreds of her fabulous mom-abilities!). But her love and generosity don't end with the family.
(Roberta with her 5 grandchildren.)
From giving home-made "pear orchard dolls" to children in town, tailoring wedding dresses, volunteering at the library, nursery school, public school, and serving as Sunday School Superintendent (long after her own children were grown), to opening her backyard orchard for "fruit picking parties," and packaging boxes for the local food pantry--our mom has dedicated her life to helping others. Even now, with her physical limitations, she continues to volunteer on the Library Board, she sends out a stack of hand-written birthday cards every month, she opens her heart to the needs of others and she has an uplifting spirit. She has done all of this without any expectation of return, and she has taught us how to be giving, kind, loving, trustworthy, and thoughtful.
But now, we are humbly asking for help for her and our dad.
The donations you make will go toward funding this wheelchair-accessible van. We would be incredibly grateful for any help you can give to assist with this need. We are hoping they can get a van within a few weeks, as things have become even more difficult in the icy and snowy Central New York winter. If any additional funds are raised over what is needed for a van, they will be put toward home health care that insurance does not cover. Thank you for your time, generosity, your friendship, your support and for making a difference in our parents' lives!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
UPDATE: My dad was able to use the gofundme donations for a down payment on a wheelchair accessible van. He will use continued contribuations toward their monthly payments of the van, in-home services that insurance does not cover, and additional devices that assist my mom as her needs increase. Your help, your contribuations, cards, prayers, notes, visits, calls, shares are all valued tremendously by our parents. Thank you!
Warmly,
Roberta's children and children-in-law,
Eric, Kyle, Tara, Kate, Marnie and Mike
And her sister, sister-in-law, brothers, parents and grandchildren
Three years ago, Roberta developed a limp with no apparent reason. After a year of seeing specialists, she was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease, and finally recently was given the official diagnosis of ALS. There is no cure, no prevention or treatment, and the disease continues to progress. While 4 years ago, our parents were camping, going to amusement parks, walking miles a day, and playing baseball with their grandchildren, at this point, Roberta is not able to walk or use her hands. They have used their retirement savings to put a ramp into their house, they expanded their bathroom to make it wheelchair accessible, they have purchased a lift-friendly bed, and additional medical equipment. Unfortunately, medicare does not cover any of these expenses. Throughout all of this, Roberta rarely complains and they continue to be generous to others with what they have.
Arlen, our dad, has been the primary care giver, and has been lifting and moving Roberta to accommodate her needs, but this has become increasingly difficult for him. One of the biggest challenges is getting our mom in and out of the car safely, as it involves multiple transfers from difficult positions.
At this point, our parents are in immediate need for a wheelchair accessible van. This would allow for our mom to go safely from the house to the car, and to her appointments, without the risk of our dad dropping her, or injuring his own back.
For those of you who know Roberta, you know what a giving and wonderful person she is! For those of you who don't, I could write an endless list of her amazing "mom skills" (we're talking homemade popple birthday cakes, countless crafts, endless patience, attending every concert, play, track meet, baseball game--to name literally only a few of hundreds of her fabulous mom-abilities!). But her love and generosity don't end with the family.
(Roberta with her 5 grandchildren.)From giving home-made "pear orchard dolls" to children in town, tailoring wedding dresses, volunteering at the library, nursery school, public school, and serving as Sunday School Superintendent (long after her own children were grown), to opening her backyard orchard for "fruit picking parties," and packaging boxes for the local food pantry--our mom has dedicated her life to helping others. Even now, with her physical limitations, she continues to volunteer on the Library Board, she sends out a stack of hand-written birthday cards every month, she opens her heart to the needs of others and she has an uplifting spirit. She has done all of this without any expectation of return, and she has taught us how to be giving, kind, loving, trustworthy, and thoughtful.
But now, we are humbly asking for help for her and our dad.
The donations you make will go toward funding this wheelchair-accessible van. We would be incredibly grateful for any help you can give to assist with this need. We are hoping they can get a van within a few weeks, as things have become even more difficult in the icy and snowy Central New York winter. If any additional funds are raised over what is needed for a van, they will be put toward home health care that insurance does not cover. Thank you for your time, generosity, your friendship, your support and for making a difference in our parents' lives!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
UPDATE: My dad was able to use the gofundme donations for a down payment on a wheelchair accessible van. He will use continued contribuations toward their monthly payments of the van, in-home services that insurance does not cover, and additional devices that assist my mom as her needs increase. Your help, your contribuations, cards, prayers, notes, visits, calls, shares are all valued tremendously by our parents. Thank you!
Warmly,
Roberta's children and children-in-law,
Eric, Kyle, Tara, Kate, Marnie and Mike
And her sister, sister-in-law, brothers, parents and grandchildren
Organizer and beneficiary
Tara Meddaugh Bouteneff
Organizer
Fair Haven, NY
Arlen Meddaugh
Beneficiary