I have been disabled since birth with Spina Bifida. I am 45 years old. I have been married to my beautiful wife for five years and have a teenage stepdaughter. Since I have been disabled all my life, I have no military experience.

I worked until 2003. At that time, my kidneys began to fail and give me more problems than normal.

Because of the renal dysfunction, I had to stop working and go on disability. I have not been able to keep a full-time job since. I am in and out of the hospital so often that no employer will take much chance on me. My disability has not progressed (the spina bifida). My kidneys are stable at this point, but

I have to have a procedure done each month to make sure I stay stable.

In 2007, I was in an accident that totaled my van. My wife is the only person who is able to work in the household. She is also a caregiver for four people. In 2008, we purchased a new van that was not equipped for me to drive or even get into without my wife lifting me. Vocational Rehabilitation of North Carolina was supposed to help me get the needed modifications. After going back and forth for four months, the agency finally told me that they would pay for the modifications. That process has not been completed. After spending over $3000 of my own money to get the van up to the standards Vocational Rehab required, the state denied my request. The state agency cited their “rules” that the vehicle have fewer than 60, 000 miles on it and be fewer than 5 years old. This denial finally came in April 2011. My van had more miles than they wanted when we bought it. It was also older than the allotted 5 years.

My counselor knew this fact and the state knew this when I submitted estimates for repairs (which, as I said before, I had already paid for out of my own pocket). My wife and I cannot afford to purchase a new vehicle, new or used, Because of transportation issues, I cannot even look for part time work to help pay bills for the household. Public transportation is too expensive and the county transportation aid only takes reservations for services two weeks in advance. This not feasible due to the number of doctors’ appointments that I and my family have.

I have tried to look for money from several different sources. My church raised money for me, but that money would not purchase a vehicle I could drive. I worked part-time in 2005, but that job ended because I was told that there was not enough work to justify my position. I have looked for grants online and money from different disability organizations. Most of these organizations only help people with specific disabilities, and Spina Bifida is not one of those disabilities. I have written auto manufacturers. The manufacturers do not have programs to help people unless the individual purchases a brand new vehicle. I even contacted a local dealership that specializes in modifications for the disabled, but they cannot do all the modifications needed. I am more than willing to go to work part-time after the work is done, but I need the van to be able to find work.

I am looking for donations to help me purchase a new vehicle. Vocational Rehabilitation in my state has agreed to pay half of the cost of the vehicle plus all of the cost of any additional modifications. Most modified vehicles have a price tag of between $35000 and $60000, depending on the make and model of the van. I cannot secure loans, and the cost is prohibitive to my family.

I am not looking for funds to cover the entire cost of a vehicle. My hope is to raise $10000 by January 1 to help me purchase a vehicle.

I give many thanks to anyone who gives a donation. Any amount will be greatly