Happy Easter and Asking For Your Help

HAPPY EASTER to those celebrating today.

Easter Sunday holds different meanings to different people. Some think of the religious aspects, some think of the fun and games of Easter egg hunts, and some think of the gatherings of family and friends for food and fellowship.

While Easter holds many meanings for me, the fellowship of family and friends is especially important. I think all of us in blogdom have had our share of ups and downs lately, but I’m always in awe of how everyone gives support to each other.

Y’all have shown wonderful support to me by continuing to visit here even though I’ve been absent from visiting with you for the past few weeks. I hope you’ll show the same support to a friend of mine - a fellow member of the publishing community whose son has had a difficult time recently. A few minutes of your time today and for a few days to come could help make life much easier for her disabled son. Let me tell you a little about my friend, her son’s situation, and how easy it is for you to help make a difference.

I became acquainted with P.J. Nunn several years ago through her public relations company, BreakThrough Promotions, when I was working for a local newspaper and began doing book reviews. P.J. introduced me to a number of great authors long before I knew anything about blogs and blogdom.

P.J.’s son, Dave Jr., has had a long fight with a staph infection. Last January his kidneys failed and his right leg had to be amputated above the knee. Now that he is finally getting better and wants to get out and about, the family has no transportation that can carry him and his motorized wheelchair.  

However, the family has learned of a contest that can help and Dave has been nominated as a possible winner of a wheelchair equipped van. To help him reach this goal, all you have to do is go to http://www.nmeda.com/mobility-awareness-month/local-hero-contest and enter the last name Nunn in the search box. The site will direct you to Dave’s information where you can learn more about his condition and then cast your vote. Each person can vote once every 24 hours between now and when voting ends May 13. If you use Promo Code 994 one time, it changes your single vote to 5 votes. The voting process is simple and quick.

In my correspondence with P.J., she made an interesting point. This is what she had to say:

Probably the thing most people don't fully realize is how much we take for granted the ability to hop in the car and run to Wal-Mart or get a hair cut. I think that's been as hard for Dave as anything once he got past all the physical pain and medication in recovery. Now he thinks clearly and feels like himself even though he can't yet stand up and isn't quite ready to start the process of getting a prosthetic leg, he's hoping to have one by the end of the year. 
  
The thing that's hard is being so limited in where he can go. Medicaid transport takes him to and from dialysis 3 days a week and to his doctor appointments. There's a Community Transit he can ride during weekdays to get around town but you have to schedule appointments sometimes as much as a week ahead, then they drop you off. You call when you're ready for pickup but often have to wait as much as 2 hours for them to come get you and take you home. They don't run evenings or weekends so he's missed many birthday parties and outings because he has no transportation. 

To get to the place nearby where he gets his haircut, or to get to church on Sunday he has to navigate the highway in his motorized wheelchair because a long stretch of the road between here and there has no sidewalk. Of course that depends on the weather, too. Usually my husband walks along with him to be sure he makes it without incident. Nothing is simple. Fortunately, we live near a Sonic and a convenience store so he can just ride his chair there when he wants a soda or a snack. He never complains. 
  
We rented a wheelchair van from United Access (which is where we learned about this contest) to go to Arkansas for my dad's funeral last month and Dave said the van was like a whole new world opened up again. It really was wonderful not to have to time things exactly for a bus pickup, and to be able to just load up and go to my brother's house or out to dinner and not have to leave Dave behind or decline the invitation. I want that for him always. I want to see him able to do things with his brothers and his friends again. To go back to college and have a life. 

P.J. is right. We do sometimes forget how easy it is for us just to get in a car and go when we want to or need to. So on this Easter Sunday I’m asking that you take a few minutes today and each day until May 13 to vote for Dave and help him in his effort to win this wheelchair van so he can do the same. And if you feel inclined, please share this with your friends and encourage them to vote as well.

I thank you for stopping by today. I hope this day brings good health, great food and wonderful fellowship for you and your family. Have a fun day and if you’re Easter egg hunting, may you find the golden egg.