I know your program gets alot of requests & I pray this comes by your desk, I want to share an amazing young lady veteran who would be so humbled, and blessed by a vehicle, here's a portion of her story:
This is part of Amber's story in an article she wrote, that is currently encouraging and helping other veterans that have gone through, and are going through what she has survived. In the military circles this is referred to as the "Amber letter". A tool of encouragement. Here's just a portion:
"After five surgeries to remove the joint, two bones, and damaged tissue in my right foot, I was diagnosed with causalgia; a disorder that developed as a result of nerve damage from what happened to me in the Army. The best description I've read on the pain that comes with causalgia is "imagine someone replaced your blood with gasoline, set it on fire, and then kept the fire burning 24/7. For the past seven years, in my mind's eye I've viewed myself in three different ways: who I was, who I wanted to be, and who I am. I have been guilty of assigning my anger and disappointment in myself to everyone around me. I couldn't take their love, support, encouragement at face value. In my mind, I told myself that deep down they thought I was a failure and a burden. I overcompensated to the point that I really was just hurting myself instead of making things better." At the conclusion of Amber's letter that is used to help veterans in sharing her coping strategies she writes, " I was aware of the physical pain, but it wasn't at the forefront of my thoughts; this pain is not and should not be an excuse to make my life more difficult than it truly is. Thank you and God Bless, Amber"
Amber, has helped so many people, as anonymous person sharing her pain, (she now suffers RSD/CRPS, she still is an encouragement to others, and literally saving lives. She doesn't know that I am writing this, but I know it is something that has been mentioned by her, and her twin sister, who helps care for her. She needs a car that is equipped to drive with her left foot, or with everything on the steering wheel. Due to the injury in her right foot from the Army, she is unable to drive with her right foot/leg at all. So for 7 yrs, going on 8 she hasn't been able to drive. She use to drive me around, this has been tough. This happened in the Army when she was only 20, and has been mostly homebound. She tried for awhile but was unable to drive with her right foot/leg. We couldn't afford to buy her a vehicle. She has to rely on her twin sister & myself, & classmate, who works full time, and can't always be there. A car would allow her to attend school, volunteer, and work part-time, and reach the others that she helps in her writing. Get to appointments & physical therapy. It would truly lift her spirits to be able to go to her appointments, and work towards better treatments for those who suffer from chronic pain. She has so much she wants to do, but unable to do without a vehicle. It would bless her & her twin sister, for Amber to have a car in order to gain back some of the independence she lost after the injury in the Army.
She so deserves a good thing to happen in her life. She has given so much, and asked for nothing. I want to see Amber "reap some of her blessings". I ask if you could help us, in making 2010 a better one for her. She is my daughter, and my mother died recently, and the family can't afford to buy a car. This Cars4Christmas program would truly be a huge blessing to her & her twin sister. Amber would be able to get out there, & do as you & she are doing, "making a difference". Please feel free to call me. She has no knowledge that I've written, and I want this to be a surprise if she is considered. We have all military documentation, as well as her published letter that is shared at Walter Reed & other medical rehabilitation centers for returning injured veterans.
Thank you for the opportunity to share. We are praying that you will be able to help Amber with a car, which will truly change her life. . I really need the consideration of help with Cars4Christmas for Amber. This would truly, save her life, as she saves other lives!!!
Happy Holiday & Blessings to you , Karen R. Griffin (Amber's mom)
Amber will recceive a car with hand controls to drive.