GENESEE COUNTY/LeRoy family in need of a van for wheelchair bound son

Pictured- left-right-Jesse, Mom/Jodi, Timothy, Brandon and Zoe (Submitted photo)

Timothy Silvernail Jr., 24, of LeRoy, NY is wheelchair bound and cannot stand, walk or care for himself. His family says he is mostly homebound without any way to transport him from place to place.

The Silvernail’s van stopped working about a year ago.

“We had a van that quit on us and financially we have not been able to buy another vehicle and at this point he is too big(130lbs) for us to be lifting in and out of a car or truck and it’s unsafe for him to travel this way,” says his mom, Jodi Silvernail.

Timothy had spinal meningitis as a baby and has been disabled since about 5 weeks old. He suffers from a seizure disorder and is blind with non-verbal mental delays, along with liver and kidney disease. Timothy’s mom says he only had 5% chance to live, she said he beat those odds but was left disabled with a long list of health issues.

“Five years ago, we almost lost him again. He spent three months in the hospital before he could come back home, now we face even more challenges.”

He now has stage 3 kidney disease, stage 3 liver disease and an immune disorder. A 24 hour a day aide assists with his daily routine of bathing, eating and changing.

“We have been without a vehicle for almost a year, it was a regular van. At this point, even if we have to go with another regular van it would be safer than car or a truck. I don’t know if we will ever meet a goal for a handicap van. It’s sad that people that are disabled have such a hard time getting the things that they need.”

(Submitted photo of Jodi(mom) and Timothy)

Jodi would like to take Timothy out of the house to experience the world, possibly taking him to a park or travel, currently he is trapped in his home with no easy way to leave.

“I’ve raised him and got everything he’s ever needed myself, I’ve never asked for help, but this is one thing that I really need the help with.”

Sometimes Jodi’s sister is available to help.

“She has a van, but it’s very hard for us lifting him in and out, then lifting his chair in and out, so it makes for a hard day.”

As far as medical appointments, Jodi says most of the time a van is not available.

Timothy’s appointments are mostly in Rochester.

“It’s hit or miss if there is a van available to take him, most of the medical transport vehicles are cars and he cannot ride in a car, there is no way to get him in and out.” Jodi says only once in last six years was a handicap van available to transport Timothy and his ARC Aide and mom together.

(Submitted photo)

“He sees a lot of specialists at Strong Hospital and the surrounding area, his primary doctor is in LeRoy. He leaves the house only for medical appointments as we have no safe way to get him out and it’s so unfair to him not to be able to go to parks or stores, we can’t even take him on a vacation he’s never been on one.”

Jodi says she and her family rarely go to family get togethers because it’s too difficult.

“It would be nice to let him have some fun in life outside of our home. I want to be able to give him happy moments before I can’t any longer.”

Link to GoFundMe page for Timothy Silvernail below:

Fundraiser by Jodi Silvernail : Handicap van disabled young man (gofundme.com)

(Submitted photo)

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