Get Anne a Van!

If you know Anne Kelly-Keehnen, you know she has been a paraplegic for 40 years, but that it hasn’t slowed her down at all. If you don’t know Anne, she is a devoted mother, grandmother, sister and friend to all. Anne is a pillar of service and strength to her hometown of Nacogdoches, Texas. There, over the years, she has served as a teacher, a counselor, a Girl Scout leader, a camp counselor, and an original founder of the women's shelter. Anne is in constant service to her community.

On April 10, 2023, all this changed when Anne suddenly experienced chest pains, shortness of breath, and dropping blood pressure. She was rushed to the local hospital. There she was diagnosed with severe heart failure, with her heart only functioning at 5%. Anne was placed on life support and airlifted to a hospital with a renowned cardiac care center.

The cardiac surgeon told her family it was a miracle that Anne arrived at the hospital alive. From that point onward, every procedure was incredibly risky and she could have taken a turn for the worse at any moment. Within two days, all of her children and siblings arrived from all over the country and the world to be at her bedside.

A heart pump was placed into Anne’s heart and she remained on life support for over a week. Her heart slowly regained strength and the heart pump was able to be removed. A few days later she was able to breathe without the ventilator and eventually speak again. She recently was moved from ICU to a regular hospital unit, and soon she will soon be able to start rehabilitation.

Even after rehab, Anne will not be able to return to her old way of getting around, ie transferring herself bodily from wheelchair to car seat and back again several times a day.

To regain her vibrant, independent life, what Anne needs is an electric wheelchair and a specialized van that will allow her to roll straight into her vehicle and drive it. This van is ideal, but it is expensive. There will also be other medical costs as she recovers.

All of us who love Anne are reaching out for help for this astonishing, passionate, and energetic woman who is ready to get back to living her life, loving her family and friends, and serving her beloved Nacogdoches.

We thank you in advance for your generous support of Anne in her recovery. The goal of $50,000 is a lofty one, but with your help it is achievable. Anne has touched so many lives, and we are hoping that lots of people will want to do the same for her so she can continue living her special life of goodness and service to others.

Please spread the word to your families and friends, in particular anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing Anne.