“If I’m honest, I have to tell you that I still read fairy tales and I like them best of all.” – Audrey Hepburn
Clarissa is a 21 year old living with Cerebral Palsy, a neurological disorder that generally develops prenatal and limits a person’s overall function and mobility. Individuals diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy live with the condition for the remainder of their lives and often experience difficulty with muscle coordination and control, reflexes, balance and posture, and may struggle with fine and/or gross motor skills.
Clarissa is a long-time client of Project MEND. We have had the privilege of serving her annually, under our Medical Equipment Reuse and Assistive Technology Financial Aid Programs, since she was 16 years old in 2013. Individuals living with Cerebral Palsy need a wide array of medical equipment and devices throughout their lifetime to truly thrive in their environments, but these items can often be costly.
While Clarissa and her family are insured, the company would not provide all the items she needed, and without help from the insurance, the cost of these items was prohibitive.
After being referred to Project MEND in 2013, we have provided several important, needed pieces of medical equipment and other technologies to Clarissa. She has received a power chair, customized sports wheelchair, trike, adaptive communication aid (i.e. tablet with specialized applications) and adjustments to her chair to accommodate her communication device.
Clarissa is now a young woman whose life has been directly improved by our services. She participates in activities with her peers, plays sports with friends, and thrives in her everyday life.
Her mother is a stay-at-home-mom and has become Clarissa’s strongest supporter and biggest advocate. We receive frequent updates on Clarissa’s life and get to experience these treasured moments. Most recently, Clarissa attended the “Night to Shine” Prom sponsored by The Tim Tebow Foundation at Community Bible Churchin the chair she received from Project MEND.
Every person deserves to be treated as the individual they are and we are proud to serve those in need!
EVERY MOMENT COUNTS
By placing the right piece(s) of equipment into the hands of a person who has no other means to acquire it, lives are transformed and valuable pieces of medical equipment are kept out of local landfills. What we do is simple, innovative, and unique: we provide refurbished medical equipment and other assistive technology devices to individuals who need it.
Place much needed equipment into the life of a person living with a disability today.
