My name is Landry Stahl and I use a wheelchair due to an autoimmune condition called ankylosing spondylitis. This condition impairs how my body tolerates walking and standing, due to chronic pain and fatigue. My wheelchair has given me back so much, allowing me to go back to college to pursue my dream of becoming a high school teacher, and to work as a long term substitute at a local high school while I finish my degree. Vocational Rehabilitation has purchased a new custom wheelchair for me, but unfortunately my current vehicle cannot transport it without disassembly, and due to my physical limitations, I am not able to handle this on my own.
Firstly, I am fundraising to purchase a new portable electric wheelchair as my old one is nearly four years old and is in rough shape. One of the tires recently fell off and I am having to use a loaner chair from one of my employers. This chair will be about $4000 with all needed accessories, and I am trying to obtain this before school starts, which is only 30 days away. This is an immediate, short term need that will allow me to be as successful as possible in my new career as a high school teacher.
I am also fundraising to help me purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle. This will help me in the long term, to be able to transition into use of a custom wheelchair. After consulting with occupational therapy, I am looking at purchasing a Chrysler Pacifica with an automatic side ramp. I am working with Vocational Rehabilitation for funding the ramp conversion, but I am responsible for the vehicle cost. Obviously, I do not expect to fully fund this, and will be covering the remainder of the cost after Vocational Rehabilitation’s part of the conversion via financing. I need to make sure that whatever I am financing will be something I can afford, which would be financing around $15,000 or less. What that means is that I am trying to fundraise to assist with the down payment for a vehicle that will meet my needs, so that I can finance the remainder affordably. However, the more I can raise, the more affordable the vehicle will be, so I have currently set the goal to $30,000 which is the approximate amount I would be responsible for.
Being able to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle will help me to maintain my independence including my pursuit of a teaching career as long as possible as I live with a degenerative condition. Thank you for reading my story, and I greatly appreciate any contributions.
—— Landry 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.
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