SIDNEY — Danielle Thurber, of Sidney, is sick and tired of being pushed around.
It came as “whim — kind of whirl-whim” said Thurber, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2003 at the age of 31, to “take a chance” and ask for help to purchase a new easier-to-use wheelchair by setting up a GoFundMe account online less than a week ago.
A few years ago, Thurber began keeping a push-style wheelchair in her car after finally succumbing to the fact that she needed one if traveling any distance, but came to realize she needed something better to get back into life. Always seeking ways to improve her life, Thurber said her husband Darryl, a Sidney city councilman, sent her a link about a new type of wheelchair designed to allow increased mobility and navigation.
It was information about the GRIT Freedom Chair, which was designed by MIT students on the premise of a mountain bike to allow those with disabilities to go virtually anywhere: sandy beaches, parks, or even rugged hiking trails.
Funds are tight living with MS. The disease is expensive from medications, regular doctor visits, travel and her inability to work. A new wheelchair was an added expense that Thurber didn’t want to “burden” her husband with who constantly “gives, gives, gives.” She wanted to do it on her own, but it was a hefty cost.
The total cost of the GRIT Freedom Chair including a seat cushion and shipping is $3,044.95. So Thurber set up the account and hit send. Sharing the fundraiser link on Facebook meant everyone would become aware, and she wasn’t sure anyone would care.
“I was scared and very anxious,” said Thurber. “Darryl and I are such private people. A lot of people didn’t even know my story — and I didn’t want to sound needy.”
Within 19 hours of that Monday evening decision, a total 17 people donated the full amount of money for the chair. One anonymous donation came in the amount of $2,000.
“I was amazed. I’m still in shock and so overwhelmed,” Thurber said, who is originally from New Hampshire, of the generosity and amazment of the $2,0000 donation. “I think I set a record …. And to see people from back in New Hampshire I didn’t even know I touched say I am ‘such an inspiration,’ I can’t even believe it … And the donations are still coming in.”
The first couple of years after admitting she needed to use a wheelchair, Thurber said she had given up on life and rarely got out of bed or left the house. She was on high doses of muscle relaxers and pain medication and living like “a zombie.” Then after the death of her brother, she realized that she wanted to “start living again” and made the choice to wean herself off of the high doses of Vicodin.
Six months ago, she started using her wheelchair by herself with finger-less gloves at Walmart. Thurber said this is a difficult task over the large space and knew she needed something better. Now a grandmother of a brand-new 7-week-old grandson, she is ready to regain her freedom with her new chair.
“This will open up a whole new world for me — a whole outdoor world. When I first saw (information about) the chair, I got really excited,” Thurber said.
Tawawa Park is the first place Thurber plans to explore after being held back by a cane and her old wheelchair for so many years.
In 2009, Thurber had a surgically placed medicine pump on her side. She no longer has the large doses of medicine put into her body. She said that in 10 months she needs to have surgery again because the batteries in her pump will die. She plans to use the extra money left over after the upgrades to her chair to go toward travel back and forth to her doctor in Dayton and unpaid medical bills.
“I always wanted to help people and have a purpose and I never thought I would find it, but now maybe that my story is out there in Sidney, maybe people who were too afraid to ask for help will go ahead and ask — you never know,” Thurber said.
She is excited her wheelchair will ship mid-July and believes doing good comes full circle. Thurber said Thursdays at Tim Hortons is “Thirsty Thursday,” when coffee is a $1. After someone bought her coffee for her — making her realize how good it makes you feel — she and her husband now love to buy the coffee for the car behind them.
“‘See, I told you being nice to people pays,’” Thurber recalled saying to her husband. “You never know what you say or do and how it will affect others. You have to be kind with everyone.”
