Handicapped PI resident hopes to win new van
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A local family is in the running for a new van, as part of National Mobility Awareness Month.
Winning a new vehicle would be a dream come true for Wendy Emery, of Presque Isle, since her family’s sole mode of transportation was recently damaged in an accident.
“My oldest son, Blake, who’s 20, was admitted to the hospital Friday for seizures. After leaving to take my daughter, Tori, to work, we were in an accident. Now our vehicle cannot be driven. So now this contest is even more important,” said Wendy Emery.
Despite the negative of damaging her van, she’s thankful no one was hurt, noting “Blake is home now, as well.”
Emery said she entered the contest, hoping to acquire a newer, handicap-accessible vehicle to transport her son, who was born with severe brain damage due to strokes he had between 20-29 weeks’ gestation.
“He has multiple diagnoses and is confined to a wheelchair. Blake is unable to walk or sit up on his own. He is also unable to talk but communicates by eye blinks, happy noises, laughs and cries to get his point across,” said his mother. “He has a personality that can light up a room.”
On the contest page featuring Blake, Emery said her son is “the strongest person I know. He shows me every day what real strength is. We were told he would not live to see his first birthday. Despite the scares we have had with many illnesses, he shows me time and time again his strong will to survive. He has proven more than one doctor wrong and I am sure he will continue to.”
She said Blake is smarter than people give him credit for and often is the first to laugh at another’s joke.
“He’s taught us unconditional love, understanding and patience. Without him, I wouldn’t be the person I am,” she said.
Whether cheering his sister on at pageants, dance recitals, chorus, band concerts or sporting events, or supporting his brother, Alex, at his sporting events, Blake is the one you’ll hear yelling the loudest, notes Emery.
“Blake is very social and has many medical appointments that are three-to-five hours away from our home. That is why I am entering him for this van. I am Blake’s full-time caregiver and at this time we do not have a handicap van to transport him due to the cost of a converted van. I have to transfer Blake from his wheelchair to a seat in our vehicle and prop him with pillows and blankets to help him sit up,” she said. “Then I have to take his wheelchair apart and fold it to fit in our vehicle. This is unsafe for both of us.”
“We have to stop to readjust often because he slides to an unsafe and uncomfortable position. A handicap van would greatly improve the quality of his life,” said Emery.
Emery said she’s not sure what model the winner will receive in the national competition, she just knows she’d be grateful to have something more suitable to transport her son.
“I’m a single mom and money is tight, so I can’t afford one on my own. Because I have to lift him, I have had multiple injuries to my arms and back. This van would not only help transport him safer but also help prevent me from being injured again,” she said.
She’s tried for some time to raise money to adapt her vehicle but with little luck.
“We’ve been raising money to convert our van for the past two years but have only raised a little over $2,000 out of the $19,000 we need. If we win this van, we will put the $2,000 we have raised towards a hoyer track lift we need for our house,” said Emery.
The NMAM contest, entitled “Life Moving Forward,” runs the entire month of May. As of Tuesday, May 12, Emery’s page had received over 3,720 votes. To cast your vote, visit www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/blake-emery-presque-isle-me/ or look for Wendy Emery on Facebook and follow the link she’s posted.
“Please share the link with others and ask them to vote for Blake. After last week’s accident, we really could use a new vehicle,” said Emery.
