For someone with a disability, a wheelchair-accessible van is far more than a vehicle. It is how I get to medical appointments. It is how I manage my health. It is how I stay connected to the world and maintain my dignity.
My primary doctor is in Mansfield, and I also have other doctors in Arlington. A full round trip for my medical appointments can total over 50 miles, which makes dependable transportation absolutely essential. Without reliable transportation, getting to these appointments becomes stressful and uncertain.
Several years ago, when I had no reliable way to get where I needed to go, I turned to Help Hope Live (HHL). Through this incredible organization and the generosity of donors, I was able to raise funds toward purchasing a used accessible van. Around that same time, a friend told me his brother was selling a 2005 Dodge Caravan with a ramp. With the support of Help Hope Live and the kindness of anonymous donors, I was able to purchase the van for about $7,000.
That van became my lifeline.
For the past four years, it has carried me to medical appointments in Mansfield and Arlington and allowed me to live with independence. I have done everything I can to keep it running, investing in repairs year after year. Unfortunately, the van is now failing in ways that are no longer safe or sustainable.
The passenger-side door opens automatically but will not close. My attendant—who has faithfully cared for me for 13 years—has had surgery on both shoulders. Closing that heavy door causes her pain every single time. She also must manually secure my wheelchair whenever we travel, placing even more strain on her body.
The ramp is a folding ramp, and it is very heavy. At times it will stop deploying automatically, which creates stressful and unsafe situations. When equipment does not function properly, it is not just inconvenient—it is frightening. My safety depends on that ramp working correctly every time.
I am now at a critical and urgent point. I need a newer wheelchair-accessible van, ideally 2015–2020, under $10,000, and if possible equipped with an EZ Lock system. Without reliable transportation, I risk missing essential medical care and losing the independence I have fought so hard to maintain.
I am returning to Help Hope Live because this organization gave me hope once before—and I believe, with your help, it can do so again. Time truly matters. Every donation brings me closer to safe, dependable transportation and protects both my health and the well-being of my caregiver.
If you are able to donate today, please know your support has an immediate and life-changing impact. If you are unable to give, sharing my story could help me reach someone who can. Please share on your social media platforms.
With your help, I won’t just be raising funds for a van — I’ll be holding on to my independence, my safety, and my ability to keep living my life with dignity.
Family and friends of Mike Wyss are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Illness.
Mike has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.
For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.
Thank you for your support!
