Help Our Dad Defeat ALS

Hi, my name is Joshua Freeman and I am writing this on behalf of  my brothers, Justyn, John III, Brian and I. November 18, 2014 our father was diagnosed with ALS. He has always taught us that helping others is something that we should do and he did that by example.  He and my mom often helped others, even when it meant sacrifices for our family.  He has rarely asked for help, even when needed.  This is a time, when he needs it and so we are asking for him.

Since being diagnosed it has been difficult for our father to travel in comfort. The illness has left him unable to walk or move his arms/hands.  In an effort to help him regain as much independent mobility as possible he was able to get a motorized power chair which is quite large to suit his 6'4" frame.  Because of the size and weight of the chair, combined with his weight, we have not been able to find an affordable, older model used van for transportation making simple outings to the doctor a major effort.  There are a few newer models which can work however, they are quite expensive.  He has been unable to work for about the last two years and my mother left work to be his caregiver last year.  With neither of them working, the van is virtually impossible for them to purchase.

The money we are hoping to raise for our father will be used to buy an adaptive side entry mini van that will allow our father to pull his power chair into the van needing very little assistance.  Currently he is unable to travel with his power chair and we are forced to pick him up and place him in and lift him out of the car.  Soon our mother will once again be his sole caregiver since, I have graduated and will be entering the workforce, my younger brother will be going off to college and my older brother is already out of the home and taking care of his family.  It will be extremely difficult and dangerous for our mother to get him in and out of the car.   

We would like to purchase a van as soon as we can so that he can again feel some since of independence and to make daily transportation as safe as possible.

This horrible disease has taken so much from my dad and it has been very difficult to witness him gradually loosing his independence.  I can't express to you how much it would mean to him and to us to see him regain just this little bit.  To be able to get out of the house again without needing to be picked up  and placed in the car or worrying that we are going to hurt ourselves in doing so, would mean the world to him and to us.

To those who donate, there are no words to express the gratitude that we feel.  You're contribution will change our lives and we will never forget how you all opened your hearts to us.