Sharon My Life: HandicapVan

Showing posts with label HandicapVan. Show all posts

Friday, November 9, 2018

Watching Dave walk again!!!

Dave's sister Ann and brother in law Gary with us.

So we were recently honored to be speaking at Stand with HPP Pittsburgh and Dave's sister and brother in law joined us for the meeting. They arrived early for lunch and Dave decided to show them a few new things he could do since starting treatment and a lot of physical therapy over 2 and 1/2 years. So he got up and began to walk around with his cane and they were so surprised his sister asked if she could take a video. Well she did and during the video Dave began to exceed her expectations and you can hear the tears of pure joy in the background. Lots of hard work in pt, treatment that took tons of things coming together to create, manufacture, bring to market and eventually Dave to take, lots of faith and courage on his and our part to walk out this journey, as well as friends family and an hpp community cheering us on and praying for us one step at a time. So this is a bit of the story behind the video. Dave has worked so hard and has new walking stills but for longer distances he will still need his power chair as this is a treatment and not a cure. We need the van by winter. So if you would like to help us please click this link. It's tax deductible and they also participate in employee matched gifts. Please share with your friends who may be looking for end of the year tax deductions. Thank you all for your love and support! We feel it! <3

Unless otherwise stated, all words and photos on this blog are my own. If you use a photo, please link back to this site to provide credit. Under no circumstances, should the text of this blog be copied and re-posted elsewhere unless you have permission from me to do so. Please note, hurtful or offensive anonymous comments will be blocked.

Friday, October 12, 2018

URGENT! Dave and the Handicap Van

Have you ever run a marathon? If you haven’t have you ever had to persevere through challenging circumstances for an extended period of time? Well that has been Daves’s life with hypophosphatasia (hpp). Hpp is not a 50 yard dash, it’s a marathon. You have to train with physical therapy, do exercises, take breaks, rest, get good nutrition, medical care, tests, medicine, procedures, even surgeries sometimes, and start it all over again. At times it can be very exhausting and discouraging. Rare diseases are like that in that they are challenging, stretching, and life long.

A recent accomplishment in physical therapy for Dave!!!

We have been very encouraged with the treatment and physical therapy Dave has been receiving. It has helped him to be able to travel and share his hpp story with others who also have hpp, their loved ones, and care givers. Sharing your story can be encouraging to others that they are not alone, someone else understands my struggles, if Dave can live a fulfilling life I can too! Everyone has challenges in life, one of Daves happens to be hpp.

A recent opportunity for Dave to share his hpp story with others to bring hope, education, and connection.

Another marathon we have been running has been raising money for a new handicapped van purchase.The grant we applied for had too many applicants and they could not help us. We would like to thank Chive Charities for even accepting our application for consideration and we are thankful for all the can help they have provided others with rare diseases, veterans, first responders, and special education this year!

Dave's current van that needs replace by this winter.

Here’s the run down of where we are at now: Through Daves Help Hope Live account we have raised $ 6,926. Through Daves Stable account we have raised $9,250. Our goal is to raise $75000 by winter to purchase a new handicapped van with all the features Dave requires. Thanks to all who have helped us so far! Please consider, like, share, and give. Gifts to Help Hope Live are tax deductible and they also participate in companies matching gifts. Time is running out so whatever funds we raise will be used to purchase a new or used van by winter!

One possibility for a new van for Dave.

Last, but certainly not least, hpp awareness day is Oct 30. If you know of someone who is fracturing bones and they don’t know why ask their doctor to check their alp. It’s a routine blood test most people have had. If it’s low alp it might be hpp. To help us fight hpp please consider a gift to www.SoftBones.org.

Do you break bones often? What’s your alp? Is it hpp?

Friday, June 15, 2018

David Talkington and Van update

Dave in our current van "Captain Cave Man" aka "Goldie"

Well this spring came with lots of weather and changes. Dave is working hard in physical therapy for neck range of motion and it seems to be working. We are thankful he has this opportunity and that he is making such great progress.

Earlier this month we started a new season in life. We were honored to be sharing our hpp (hypophosphatasia) story of hope with others in the hpp community. Our heart is to encourage others that life with hpp is worth living even though there are some adjustments and bumps in the road to negotiate at times that are different from other's life challenges. I can't tell you how encouraging it is to share your story with others and listen to others share theirs. This is something we can do to give back to the community that has given so much to cheer us on and we are honored to do so!

Photo Credit- Yudelkis Exposito Ledesma

Many of you have asked for an update on the van and the fundraising for the new one. Since our last update Worth While Life had a bowling fundraiser and raised $7000 that they deposited in Dave's Stable account for the van! We also received an anonymous check for $2500 this week for the van to the Stable account!!! We are so thankful for the love and kindness that has been poured out toward us! It has been truly humbling. The Help Hope Live account has grown to over $6030 as of today!!! Words can not express how thankful we are to the many family, friends, and others we have not met yet that have given towards this project. Another thing you can do is share our story or consider a fundraiser to help us reach our goal. Just contact me if you are interested.

So thankful for our family and how supportive they are! Sign by Kim Justice of Simply Sisters

Our latest step is to apply for a grant to help with the van since, as you can see, this is a large project. We finally found a grant that could fit but it takes months for them to process to see if Dave qualifies. We were able to submit this application yesterday and couldn't be more excited. In the meantime we continue to share the Help Hope Live website for any who would like to donate financially and follow our progress. It is tax deductible, which is a huge bonus! They also do matching funds through participating companies.The website also has info for sending checks as well if that is what you prefer. We appreciate all who are praying, sending positive thoughts, and cheering us on in this marathon project that we pray will soon be accomplished as our other van is getting pretty tired. We are thankful for our old van but our season with it is coming to an end soon and we are looking forward to the huge blessing that our new van will be.

Dave driving to his next destination! This is a great new season for us!

June 2018

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Dave's Van Vision!!!

This Honda Odyssey is a possibility for Dave to consider.

Recently we went to Columbus Mobility Specialist to check out some of their vans and get some more information about options for Dave. When you are shopping for a handicap van you need to decide on a make and model of van and then what adaptations you want to have made on the van. We have spent hours and hours looking online but it was time to look in person. There is a lot to learn and we so appreciate the journey we are on. My Dad went along with us to help us with the mechanics end and we felt like it was time for us to start getting our hands on the product to see what feels right to us.

Here is one we looked at.

The salesman showing us a handicap accessible van.

This model seemed to be higher off the ground for a handicap minivan than the others we have looked at. There was plenty of room to enter with the wheelchair and turn around which was very nice. There was no carpet on the floor but had the rubberized flooring instead. It also had key fob entry and a bench back seat.

Dave and Dad pondering this possibility.

This was a good stop on our journey and we look forward to the next one as we search for Daves handicap van. Our goal of $65000 was confirmed again at this dealership. We are currently at $5780. Many thanks to our family and friend for helping to grow our Help Hope Live Fund to help us purchase that new van soon! If you would like to give or help with a fundraiser please connect through this link.

HelpHopeLive David D Talkington Fund for Van and Unpaid Medical Bills

Friday, March 31, 2017

Spring!!!! We made it!!!!

Photo Credit: Rachel Talkington

Ah Spring you have finally arrived!!! We have longed to see you come and give way to summer!

We live in the state of Ohio, in the United States, and a few years ago winter became much more difficult after my husband broke two femurs in 6 months! Although the snow is white and beautiful and the ice can be pretty from the inside of the house it came to have another side for us. Weather changes meant increased pain with my husbands HPP, overall fatigue, and discomfort. Riding that roller coaster is not fun nor is it seen as something to look forward to. I have realized in the last few years in February I would start thinking "come on March". If we can just get to March I believe we will make it. Well we did it again.

Photo Credit: Rachel Talkington

Surprisingly this winter we didn't have to shovel as much snow and put out as much salt and calcium to melt the ice off the deck, ramp, and driveway for safety for Dave. For this we are very grateful. This year was improved also due to medical treatment as well for Dave and that was a blessing as it did help decrease some of his pain and increase his mobility.

Photo Credit:Rachel Talkington

We also received notice that another year of treatment has been approved for Dave and that is something we fought long and hard for last winter. This winter it was pretty seamless, is was wonderful to have breakthrough in an areas that before seemed like as cold and harsh as a winters wind. Like night and day! Soooo grateful!!!

Photo Credit:Rachel Talkington

For those who have asked you can access the update on Dave through his HopeHelpLive link. Thanks to all who have helped us with that project!

Saturday, December 24, 2016

David Needs Your Help to Get a Handicap Van!

12/2016
Some call it faith, some call it positive thoughts, and some call it positive confession but I am here to tell you we are getting a new Handicap van. How? Well let me tell you about our options.

This is a possibility for David's new handicap van.

First of all our current handicap accessible van is a sweet tan colored Dodge named Goldie. Goldie came to us in 2009 when we desperately needed her. The year prior to this my husband Dave had broken both of his femurs within 6 months of each other. After this occurred he had to be in a power wheelchair all the time and we needed a way to transport that chair wherever he needed to go. Unfortunately, there are no government programs for those who are on Social Security disability to transport a power wheelchair when people need to go to other places than their home. I know it's hard for some of you to believe, but it's true and it can keep those who are disabled home-bound for months at a time.Family and friends prayed with us and looked for a handicap van, and eventually we found a used one with low milage on it. Goldie was given to us after many months of friends and family fixing it up to where the mini vans ramp would deploy properly and a new seat was put in for Dave so he could turn, transfer, and drive. We didn't complain or push for the van to be finished sooner during that time, we just prayed and trusted God had a plan and indeed He did.

Goldie (AKA Captain Caveman), our current handicap van.

Fast forward to the last few years where friends, family, our pastor, and mechanic have begun to encourage us to look for a new van. They would point this out in different ways like, "You know the van won't last forever," and "you're going to need to replace that some day." This was very kind of them, honestly, but we don't have the money to purchase one and finding an affordable van that has all of the necessities that meet my husband needs is nearly impossible. While I have looked into it, I've not been able to find grant money for one either and if you know of grant money, a program, or someone who is giving away a handicap van please contact me at sharonnmylife@gmail.com. We need the van to meet some necessary qualifications for my husband David's needs and of course pass our mechanics inspection.

As a result of our search, however, we've found a few ways we may be able to get the help we need. If you would like to help us acquire a handicap van and meet any other medical bills for David we have set up a HelpHopeLive campaign. HelpHOPELive is a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. You can give through this link to help David and to top it all off it's tax deductible. If you work for a company that does matched giving HelpHopeLive can receive that as well for David! All checks should be made out to HelpHopeLive with the memo section noting "In Honor of David D. Talkington".

Visit this link to donate or mail to:

HelpHOPELive

2 Radnor Corporate Center

100 Matsonford Road
Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087

The other possibility we have found in this process that could help us buy a handicap van is called a Stable account . Stable accounts are tax free savings plans for disability related expenses where you can save and invest without losing needs based benefits. The cool thing is that we have opened one up for my husband and we, our family, friends, and even companies can contribute to help us get the van or other things that my husband may need but would not be covered by our income or other programs. We have started the account out with $50 ourselves. My husband can receive up to $14,000 a year in this account. We would appreciate it if you would consider giving toward that goal by Dec 31,2016! Then early in 2017 our goal is to raise another $14,000 in this account. That sounds like a lot of money but the new handicap vans we have been looking at that would suit my husband's needs average about $60,000. Do I believe in miracles? Yes I do!

My husband David Talkington. <3

Please consider giving into my husbands Stable account. If you do give please respond to the email we have sent you from Stable or send me your email address to sharonnmylife@gmail.com so I can send you the link. The gifts to Stable accounts are not tax deductible and are not compatible with matching gifts from employers. Thank you so much for reading this, considering it, and praying that this need will be met. I will update with another post when we receive the van or when the Stable account reaches $14,000 for the calendar year. Please feel free to share this blog post!

Copyright SHARONNMYLIFE INC 2016 | all rights reserved

Pages