After Car Stolen, Tenino Father and Amputee Needs a Miracle

Emily Progin, PR and Communications Coordinator

Release: Immediate

AFTER CAR STOLEN, TENINO FATHER AND AMPUTEE NEEDS A MIRACLE

$3,000 for Truck Repairs Will Allow Marvin to Pick Up a Donated Wheelchair

TENINO, Wash.—63-year-old father of eight Marvin Bruce Phillips needs a miracle. Living with a double amputation and ongoing medical challenges, Marvin’s family has endured another unexpected blow: their car was stolen out of their driveway in April. Marvin has the opportunity to receive a free motorized wheelchair donated by a veteran’s family—but he can’t make the 90-mile journey without an accessible vehicle. Repairs on his family’s non-running truck will cost around $3,000. Marvin is fundraising through the trusted national nonprofit Help Hope Live.

On July 1, 2015, Marvin experienced a trucking accident that would forever change his life. A tractor trailer rollover in the Tacoma, Washington shipyards left him with significant physical injuries. Following multiple surgeries, doctors were forced to amputate his right leg above the knee. Marvin has experienced sixteen surgeries in all since the accident.

Marvin is a loving husband and father of six sons and two daughters ranging in age from six to 40. Before his trucking accident, he was a dedicated youth mentor, baseball coach, and volunteer who assisted the homeless population and senior citizens in Tenino at every opportunity. He served as a youth pastor with Portland Rescue Mission and worked with the Nelson Foundation. He’s been living in Tenino for more than seven years.

Marvin’s accident put a hold on many aspects of his life, including volunteering and engaging fully with his community and his kids. Lack of accessible transportation and challenges finding a consistent caregiver have left him unable to be the father and community member that he wants to be. “I have had a very hard time getting to appointments and commitments,” explained Marvin. “I want to be able to get back into the community.

Marvin deals with many out-of-pocket medical and related expenses to stay connected to his community and family. Among them is the ongoing and high cost of mobility devices. That’s why he and his family were humbled and overwhelmed when they heard that a local veteran’s family would be donating an $8,800 motorized wheelchair to Marvin.

The problem: it’s located 90 miles away from Marvin’s home in Tenino.

In April, when their car was stolen, Marvin and his family’s world shrank. They will need to address the battery and fuel system in their accessible truck, which is currently non-operational, before they can make the trip to pick up the life-changing wheelchair for Marvin.

Marvin is fundraising for the $3,000 they will need to make these repairs through the trusted medical fundraising nonprofit Help Hope Live.

Donations can be made at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/20518/

Donations have already played a key role in Marvin’s life, covering medical expenses that insurance won’t cover. Funds raised can only be used to cover verified medical and related expenses, including the cost of the truck repairs to get Marvin back on the road.

Unlike a GoFundMe campaign, donations to Help Hope Live are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and all funds raised will be managed by the nonprofit to cover verified medical and related expenses. Help Hope Live verifies medical and financial need for every patient.

Help Hope Live is a national nonprofit that specializes in engaging communities in secure, tax-deductible fundraising campaigns for people who need a transplant or are affected by a catastrophic injury or illness. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live have raised over $172 million to pay patient expenses. ###

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Written by Emily Progin