I thought I’d write a blog on the update on my van. Unfortunately, I did not get as much in grants as I was hoping for which was somewhat disheartening. It was my own fault because I just got a number in my head that was delusional. I was able to secure $5,300 in grants from the MS Foundationhttps://msfocus.org/ and the MS Hope Foundationhttp://www.mshopefoundation.org/. I was denied from the Chive Charity https://chivecharities.org/ and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society doesn’t do grants for a handicap van. I currently have my last grant application into Nova which is a grant program through Braunmobility https://novafunding.org/. I won’t get the answer on that until February 15. That is all I can do to secure grants. I’ve exhausted every avenue.

I had a successful fundraiser on Facebook but in all honesty in my delusion with the grants I asked for too little. I tried to start another one https://www.facebook.com/donate/2368666296695229/?fundraiser_source=external_url but it never gathered momentum. My GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/6c89ruo?pc=ot_co_dashboard_a&rcid=2254e204b047470c80387c2667d05345 also never got enough views and momentum.

I am at the point with my multiple sclerosis where I need to be in a wheelchair when I leave the house. I can’t take apart and put together my portable scooter by myself. Today I had to cancel my plans because my aid called out. My main elevator is out and the portable scooter is in the condo so I can get down to the other elevator. I wouldn’t even be able to break down the scooter to leave the condo and go anywhere. The handicap van brings me freedom and independence.

So here I am and unfortunately I didn’t even cover the cost of the van conversion let alone any part of the van. However I am working with the dealer to consider my options. We are looking at used vans and trying to see both what I can afford and what works best for my needs. Hopefully I will get good news with this final grant and I can wrap this up by the end of February. I do know somehow my van is coming.