BIG NEWS - Van purchased!!!
Thank you!
Thanks to contributions from over 200 people, Kathy was able to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle. The vehicle has been a tremendous help by allowing Kathy to utilize a power chair outside her home.
She says, "The van has meant freedom for me. Without it, I was completely reliant on someone to transport not only me, but a heavy, multi-part manual chair. The manual chair is rougher on me physically, and requires someone to push it. The van allows me complete independence in getting around!
"There were so many people who were under absolutely no obligation to give who made this possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart; your sacrifice has led to significant improvement in my quality of life!"
Thanks to contributions from over 200 people, Kathy was able to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle. The vehicle has been a tremendous help by allowing Kathy to utilize a power chair outside her home.
She says, "The van has meant freedom for me. Without it, I was completely reliant on someone to transport not only me, but a heavy, multi-part manual chair. The manual chair is rougher on me physically, and requires someone to push it. The van allows me complete independence in getting around!
"There were so many people who were under absolutely no obligation to give who made this possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart; your sacrifice has led to significant improvement in my quality of life!"
ABOUT KATHY |
Kathy is a positive, upbeat person who is gifted with helping others build relationships, encouraging strong connections with God and with one another. She has dedicated her life to serving God and serving others and she frequently reaches out to offer help, encouragement, counsel, and friendship to anyone with a need.
Kathy is selfless, humble, compassionate, caring, and eager to share. She will do whatever it takes to make people feel welcome, included, and loved, doing many things behind the scenes to support the people and activities she cares about. She is the type of person who would (and has) stop to help an elderly stranger shovel her driveway, quietly and anonymously clean bathrooms for a ministry, and invite those without family to holiday dinners.
Until serious medical conditions grounded her, Kathy was an active person who enjoyed participating in just about any team sport, including football, volleyball, and basketball and individual activities such as hiking, kayaking, walking, and enjoying the outdoors. She continues to be creative and enjoys videography, social media and graphic design. She had joined a choir and was learning to play the drums.
Kathy first began experiencing symptoms in 2012. In December 2018, her condition worsened and over the following months, Kathy was diagnosed with an alphabet soup of conditions, most significantly Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension and Dysautonomia.
In the most simplistic terms, Kathy’s cerebrospinal fluid (brain and spinal fluid) is leaking out of her spinal cord and her nervous system is unable to regulate essential body functions properly.
Kathy now cannot do many of the things that most of us take for granted. The effects on her body from these conditions are diverse, pervasive and extremely debilitating. From a very active, vigorous life, Kathy is now forced to remain primarily in a horizontal position, as that is the position in which her body is able to regulate most effectively.
Despite her limitations, Kathy continues to maintain and build connections. She attends church weekly, and goes to Bible study, a small group, and a women’s group – all virtually. She hopes that if her health improves enough, she will be able to help kids with physical disabilities to become involved in sports and other activities, something she had a vested interest in prior to her own disability.
YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT KATHY'S JOURNEY!
Kathy needs the support of her community. To donate, click here.