I Need A Ride

You can guess that Jakari has a lot of doctor's appointments to keep up with. We go to see pulmonary, neurology, cardiology, and gastroenterology doctors at Duke as well as keep up with ENT and regular pediatrics in Durham.

Traveling with Jakari is no joke. We have to bring all the equipment he needs everywhere we go. This means that besides the ventilator (and several oxygen tanks), we carry the suction machine, the oxygen saturation monitor, an Ambu bag (in case the vent stops working), an extra tracheostomy tube, and all the supplies we need to work everything. We also bring medications for emergencies. This is in addition to all the stuff every baby needs-diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes.

Carrying all this stuff requires more than your average stroller. Recently, Jakari was given a special stroller designed for disabled kids that has a heavy-duty shelf underneath we can park the vent and oxygen on. It is super-strong and totally adjustable so we should be able to use it for a long time.

It also requires a roomy ride. Just for a doctor's visit, we need room for two people, all the stuff (including the stroller) and a carseat for Jakari to be in while we ride. His brother Jerias is still in a carseat too, and JoEl is practically as big as a grownup. Family trips have been a virtual one-car impossibility-until they became an actual impossibility.

About a month ago, the car got totalled in an accident.

The insurance settlement leaves several thousand dollars of the financing uncovered, and that makes getting approved for a new car loan even more difficult.

What we really need is a reliable, efficient minivan. This way, all of Jakari's stuff (including the nurse!) can fit easily and the other kids can too. Duke is 45 minutes away-and there are several appointments every month, besides all the daily driving and things the other boys need.

If there's any way you can help, we'd sure appreciate it.