Our lives changed forever when my mom, Dorothy, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in January 2020. By late 2020, my mom lost most function in her legs and could no longer walk or stand, which made her solely dependent on a power wheelchair. In addition to limited mobility, her speech is extremely impaired and she heavily relies on a text-to-speech app on her phone to communicate. Most of her independence has been taken away from her and she does not have a spouse or other children to help, so she depends on me (her only child) as her primary caregiver to support her daily needs. 

Not only has ALS stripped away my mom's freedom to do many of the things she loves, but it has also put a huge financial strain on the both of us due to expensive medical supplies/equipment, wheelchair van rentals, and in-home caregiving support - all of which is not covered by insurance. Our greatest need for financial support is to raise enough money to purchase our own wheelchair van. My mom rarely gets to leave the house except for doctor's visits. Getting a van would be life changing for my mom to get out of the house for her mental health, more independence to run errands, and a tool to spend more time with me/family/friends doing the things we used to do before she got sick, like going shopping or to the movies. 

It's always been my mom and I against the world. She sacrificed so much to raise me on her own and it would be my honor to help her live an even more fulfilling life by being able to get out of the house whenever she wants to or in case of an emergency. This will help her regain so much of her independence, sense of adventure, and joy. I really appreciate anyone who considers helping us reach our goal!