Help Us Secure a Wheelchair Van for Bobbi: A Family's Urgent Need

Dear Family & Friends,

We are reaching out to you with a heartfelt request for help. Our daughter, Bobbi, is a bright light in our family, but she faces enormous challenges every day due to a rare condition known as Acardi Syndrome. This disorder, which affects only girls, has left Bobbi nonverbal, legally blind, quadriplegic, and suffering from uncontrolled seizures among many other medical complications. Despite these challenges, Bobbi has taught us so much about unconditional love and the true meaning of family.

Bobbi is only 4 years old, with the developmental capacity of about a 3-month-old. When she first came to our home 3 ½ years ago, her life was fading. However, with the love and care of our large blended family—composed of biological, adopted, foster children, and a grandson we are raising—Bobbi has blossomed in ways we never imagined. Her smiles, her presence, and her spirit have become an integral part of our lives.

Unfortunately, our ability to provide Bobbi with the care she needs is now at risk. The only vehicle we own that can accommodate Bobbi, her wheelchair, and our other children broke down just over two weeks ago. The van—a 12-passenger vehicle—broke down on the side of the interstate as we were returning from a trip to Texas Children’s Hospital. Despite spending $2,000 in repairs and towing fees, the mechanic advised us not to put any more money into it, leaving us without reliable transportation for Bobbi.

Bobbi’s needs are unique and challenging. She is getting bigger, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to lift her into a car seat. Her wheelchair, which is essential for her mobility, has to be taken apart and manually loaded into the trunk each time we travel. This process is becoming more difficult and unsustainable as she grows.

Our hope and prayer is to purchase a used wheelchair-accessible van that would make transporting Bobbi safer and easier, allowing her to continue participating fully in our family’s activities. We’ve found a 2015 Ram Promaster Wheelchair Accessible Van with only 22,000 miles on it, which would be perfect for her needs. However, we need your help to make this purchase a reality.

We typically don’t ask for help, but this situation has put us in a place where we must reach out to our community. Bobbi deserves to be with her family, experiencing life alongside her siblings, and we don’t want transportation to be the barrier that prevents her from doing so.

Would you consider helping us reach our goal to purchase this van? Any contribution, no matter the size, would make a significant difference in Bobbi’s life and ours. Your support will ensure that Bobbi can continue to be with us in all our family adventures, surrounded by the love and care she so richly deserves.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for considering how you might help. Your generosity and kindness mean the world to us.

With heartfelt thanks,

Joe Dougharty and Family

This campaign is unpublished.

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