By Angie Ward
Apr 13, 2021
23-year-old Decatur, GA resident Jordyn Engelberg was in a car wreck five years ago and sustained a traumatic brain injury. She is in a wheelchair and requires 24/7 care. Her van was equipped with a wheelchair lift so her parents can get her to and from doctor’s appointments, outpatient therapies, and the ER if necessary. But recently that van was stolen out of a handicapped parking spot in their gated apartment complex and now Jordyn and her family need our help.
Jordyn's mom Ruth wrote: “Jordyn is my 23-year-old daughter that sustained a traumatic brain injury in a car wreck when she was 18. She hasn’t recovered to a state of being able to walk, talk, or care for herself. She relies on her family and caregivers for all of her activities of daily living. One of the things we need to do that is transportation. She’s had a wheelchair lift van for the past four years which has allowed us to get her to doctor’s appointments, outpatient therapies, the ER when necessary, and out and about for stimulation and pleasure activities. With this van, we’ve been able to take her to the botanical gardens, local festivals, concerts, art museums, and to see family and friends. We even use it just to pop over to a restaurant, park, or to wander around retail shops. It’s become part of giving her the best quality of life we can offer her. Without this van, we’ll need to hire transportation just to go the 10 miles for needed and scheduled outpatient care. The loss of this van isn’t about losing a thing. It’s about losing the added mobility which has provided her better health and a better life.”