Her Mom Has To Literally Carry Her Out Of School Since Her Wheelchair Won’t Fit In Their Car And Now A Friend Is Trying To Help Get Them A Wheelchair-Accessible Van
New Hope, Pennsylvania. Joanne Schmidt has created a GoFundMe on behalf of her colleague and friend, Tara Nolan, to raise money for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Nolan has a seven-year-old daughter, Micah, who has Cerebral Palsy and various other health challenges, including Epilepsy. Micah is also nonverbal and unable to walk.
“During a recent Zoom session with Tara, she was apologizing for being a few minutes late to our meeting,” wrote Schmidt, “She went on to explain that she had picked her daughter up early from school and that the school was just dropping off her daughter’s wheelchair.”
At first, Schmidt was confused as to why Nolan did not just transport Micah’s wheelchair home when she picked her up.
“I soon learned that Tara doesn’t have a vehicle to transport Micah in that is wheelchair accessible. So when Tara has to pick up Micah from school early for medical or other appointments, she literally carries her to the car and leaves the wheelchair at school,” Schmidt said.
GoFundMe; pictured above is Micah
Each day, Micah’s wheelchair gets delivered home by the driver of the wheelchair-accessible bus. And, while carrying a seven-year-old may not sound very difficult to some, it is very draining for Nolan.
“Micah weighs just forty-four pounds, but because she cannot distribute her weight, it’s more like carrying a one hundred pound child,” wrote Schmidt.
Schmidt was also surprised that medical insurance does not offer aid to parents for wheelchair-accessible vehicles or for the replacement of adaptive strollers as children grow.
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“It is tough for Tara to ask for help, especially with financial resources. But, she realizes she has to make an exception for this critical need,” Schmidt said.
All donations raised through this GoFundMe will go towards providing Nolan and her daughter with their rightful access to appropriate transportation.
“I am her voice. I am her legs. There are no magical surgeries for her; it is all work,” Nolan said about her daughter Micah.
“She’s helped me to put into perspective all of the things I once took for granted: walking, talking, eating/swallowing, and more. I will move Heaven and Earth to provide her with a decent quality of life.”
So far, the fundraiser has garnered twenty thousand dollars of its seventy thousand dollar goal. And, the community has shown Nolan so much love.
“Tara- you are one of the strongest women I know. Your dedication to Micah is amazing,” wrote Mandi Sue Bleau, who donated two hundred and fifty dollars.
“We all need a little help now and then,” wrote Carol Dornisch, who donated fifty dollars.
If you would like to donate to the Nolan family or stay updated on their journey to wheelchair-accessible transportation, visit the GoFundMe link here.
More About:Human Interest
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