My name is Jennifer. I am a Christian and I am happily married to my husband of ten years. We have a little girl that is seven years old. She is my Little Miracle.
I am in a wheelchair because I got hit by a car when I was three. My husband doesn't work because he spends all of his time taking care of me and our daughter.
The reason that I am writing this letter is to find help to buy a wheelchair van with a lift.
It would help my husband a lot since he carries my electric wheelchair in our car all the time and it hurts his back as he is getting older. It breaks my heart to watch my husband struggle and carry my heavy wheelchair in our car in the pouring rain with a painful back. I know it hurts him even though he won't tell me. He just doesn't want me to get worried or stressed about it.
Sometimes his friends will call him to hang out with them, but then he tells them he can't because he doesn't want me to be stuck at home alone without being able to go anywhere. He would love to go to a Deaf Men Conference to learn more about God's Word but he doesn't want me to be stuck at home alone without being able to go anywhere.
My mom, sisters and friends cannot pick me up and bring me along to an outing with them because my electric wheelchair is too heavy for them.
That is why I need a van with a lift.
I want my husband to go and to be able to do things with his friends without worrying about me.
I want to spend time with my family and friends and to be able to go to women bible studies in my church.
I would love to do things with my Little Miracle such as taking her to her dance classes and her soccer games, to take her shopping, and do all the things that mothers and daughters get to do together.
That's my dream.
I don't want to be a burden anymore, and I want to live life to the fullest with my family.
I need your help.
Here is the story of how my husband and I met...
In April of 2001, I met my husband through a deaf Christian chat room. We talked for a few weeks. I told him that I was in a wheelchair and I wondered if it bothered him. He said, "No way, your personality comes first." I also told him that I wouldn't be able to have any children because of my health. He said that it didn't matter as long as we had each other. I was relieved to hear him to say that.
We really liked each other but then somehow, we lost touch. I hadn't heard from him for five months. During at that time, I had thought about him a lot and wondered how he was doing. One night in November, I was cleaning out my instant messenger and I saw his screen name on my buddy list. I wondered to myself whether I should delete his screen name or not since he hadn't been online for five months but something in my heart told me not to delete him. I left his name on my list.
The very next morning, I saw him come online for the very first time in all those months and he IMed me! I was so excited to hear from him! We caught up on everything from five months ago. Then he asked me to be his girlfriend and I said YES!
During December of 2001, he came to see me for the very first time. I was so nervous! When he saw me, he hugged me and kissed me. He opened his jacket and there were three beautiful red roses hiding in his jacket. He handed them to me and I thought that was so sweet of him. We dated for two months and then we decided to get married. Things have been wonderful for us ever since and we have been married for ten years. And guess what?? We were blessed with a beautiful daughter.
Here is why I need your help...
My husband Ed and I worry about our finances. Our situation is unlike most others. Many people have some means of making money. Since I have a permanent disability and am completely dependent on my husband for 24 hour care, it is almost an impossible situation for us to be employed somewhere. We lived on a fixed income of $1,000 every month. We pay $380 for rent, then there are utility bills and other household bills. It leaves us barely any money for other basic needs such as clothes, shoes and even entertainment. Our financial hardship has caused me to suffer from overwhelming stress that brings me migraines and stomach problems. My husband suffers from high blood pressure.
Our daughter is getting older and her needs are changing. That has been our worry lately. Kaitlyn is an understanding, mature child, especially for her age. Like all parents, Ed and I want the best for our child. We would love to be able to take her to places like Disneyland. We would also love to be able to take her to visit our relatives in a different state.
My husband is getting older and his back is getting worse. It is becoming harder for him to carry my electric wheelchair. I need a wheelchair van so I can be free to go places, and it would help my husband so much. It would free his hands to talk in sign language as well.
Thank you for reading my story.
Love, Jennifer
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