Many of you know my friend Mari Hamburger. I met her in 1981 when we both worked as Respiratory Therapists at Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings, NE. On July 4, 1990 Mari’s life changed dramatically when she was hit by a motor vehicle and suffered a C5-C6 spinal cord injury. Before the accident, Mari played piano and sang in a local band on weekends. Mari had previously earned her B.A. degree and teaching certificate from Kearney State College and hoped to get a position teaching high school music.
She has been wheelchair dependent ever since however, in every other way, Mari is one of the most independent people I know. She has lived on her own for the past 23 years and with her positive attitude and a lot of determination, she is living a full and active life. She has endured several difficult situations during that time; including many of her own health issues mostly injury-related, as well as her dad’s illness and death and the more recent loss of her only sister to lung cancer in May 2012.
Mari was fortunate enough to own and operate a van that was equipped with modifications that allowed her to drive and continue her independence. She paid for the van through a loan obtained 14 years ago. Like many older vehicles the costs of maintenance were beginning to become a big issue. On October 28, 2013, Mari struck a deer that ran in front of her vehicle as she was driving home. Mari was not injured, but the insurance company declared the van a total loss. The age, mileage and condition of the van made the insurance payout significantly less than will be required to buy a new van that is similarly equipped.
Along with many others in this economy, Mari’s financial situation is tenuous. Her income is derived solely from social security and long term disability payments which barely cover her other medical and living expenses. In order to help Mari maintain her independence and to purchase another vehicle, a fundraising campaign has been established with HelpHOPELive, a non-profit organization that has been assisting people for more than 30 years with transplantation related costs and since 2000, victims of spinal cord and other catastrophic injuries. All contributions are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Midwest/West Spinal Cord Injury Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for injury-related expenses only. Please consider an end-of-year tax-deductible donation to help Mari continue to live independently by contributing to her HelpHOPELive campaign. Your donation is greatly appreciated.
Credit card contributions may be made by clicking the “Donate Now” button or:
Make checks payable to:
HelpHOPELive
Note in memo section:
In honor of Mari Hamburger
Please send to:
HelpHOPELive
2 Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087
Thanks for helping,
Charlotte McReynolds (Cell: 480-206-5605, Charlotte@youraz.com)
