 |
| Organ Transplant Assistance |
|
$9,650 |
| 9 individuals who are candidates for or have received organ transplants were assisted with a variety of medically related expenses |
|
| Wheelchair Athletics/Recreation |
|
$23,812 |
| 58 wheelchair athletes were provided sport equipment and supplies, referees for games, and travel to wheelchair sporting events and adaptive water skiing |
|
| Client/Wheelchair Transportation |
|
$15,049 |
| 2165 rides were provided for individuals with disabilities for transportation to jobs, shopping, and community activities |
|
| Medications/Supplies |
|
$13,083 |
| approximately 483 prescriptions for a variety of medications were provided to clients |
|
| Medical Equipment |
|
$60,186 |
| 92 items of equipment, including wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, ramps, and van lifts were provided and 319 items of equipment were provided on a short term loan basis |
|
| Medical Travel |
|
$50,249 |
| funds were provided for 2136 trips to medical facilities where clients were referred by their physicians |
|
| Attendant Care |
|
$134,054 |
| personal attendant care assistance was provided for 10 clients |
|
| Other (Insurance/Misc.) |
|
$92,115 |
| approximately 59 insurance premiums, medical costs, and miscellaneous expenses associated with various disabilities were provided to clients. Blood pressure screenings were provided to 258 Individuals |
|
| Closed Captioning |
|
$10,360 |
| Funds were provided for closed captioning services for hearing impaired individuals |
|
| Independent Living Skills |
|
$178,681 |
| 44 people with a serious mental illness were provided assistance allowing them to live outside an institutional setting |
|
| Supportive Housing Program |
|
$43,060 |
| provided permanent housing and supportive assistance to 4 individuals who in the past have been unable to sustain permanent housing due to the severity of their disabilities |
|
| Crisis Residential Program |
|
$190,000 |
| provided short term crisis stabilization for 34 persons with a serious mental illness or chemical dependency issues who live independently and are experiencing relapse symptoms that do not require hospitalization or need additional stabilization time following a hospitalization and long term housing for 9 persons with serious mental illness who are in need of supportive services |
|
| Assistive Technology |
|
$336, 823 |
| increased access to assistive technology in North Dakota by engaging in activities that raised awareness and disseminated information 6979, provided training and assessments 289, demonstrated assistive technology devices to individuals of all ages with disabilities and those experiencing the effects of aging throughout the state 140, and provided information/collaboration with agencies 24 |
|
| Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program |
|
$116,164 |
| provided telecommunications services for 338 residents of North Dakota who are communications impaired |
|
| Assistive Technology Safety Services |
|
$135,376 |
| provided assistive technology safety services and devices specific to in-home safety for 1163 older individuals |
|
| Loan Library Equipment Program |
|
$106,543 |
| provided equipment for trial use for 232 residents of North Dakota |
|
| Alternative Financial Loan Program |
|
$141,501 |
| Provided loans to help North Dakotans with disabilities purchase assistive technology to improve their independence and quality of life |
|
| Vocational Rehabilitation Client Assistance |
|
$29,642 |
| 74 clients eligible for services through vocational rehabilitation were assisted with a variety of services including travel, supplies and miscellaneous expenses |
|
| Information/Referral/Public Awareness |
|
$781,297 |
| information about agencies and referrals to services for a variety of disabling conditions, along with public awareness including our web site and newsletter were provided to approximately 108426 individuals |
|
| Advocacy Services |
|
$303,838 |
| assisted people to secure services to which they are entitled. Consulted with a variety of groups to assist them in providing appropriate services and facilities |
|
| Grants to Organizations |
|
$323,060 |
| Grants given to other organizations that assist disabled people. |
|
|
| Total Client Assistance |
|
$3,094,543 |
|
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At age 9, Jason Lemon was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, also known as Juvenile Diabetes. According to Jason, “Things were pretty hard from the start.” Jason spent four weeks in the hospital adjusting to the disease and learning to care for himself. Although Jason struggled with his disease during his adolescence, he eventually accepted his diabetes. Jason married his high school sweetheart and had two children and was looking forward to settling down to lead a quiet life in Minot, ND.
Jason’s quiet life was soon to be disrupted by a series of medical problems. During a routine eye exam, Jason’s doctor discovered blood behind both his retinas. Five major surgeries were performed to treat the eye disorders, but in 2003, Jason was declared legally blind in his right eye. Six days later, Jason suffered a gall bladder attack resulting in his gall bladder being removed.
Medical challenges would continue for Jason. In 2007, Jason was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney failure. Jason endured procedures and surgeries to enhance the delivery of kidney dialysis. His kidneys continued to fail.
Later, Jason was sent to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN to be evaluated for placement on a kidney transplant list. Almost a year later, Jason was placed on a double transplant list. Jason needed a kidney and a pancreas. While the news was devastating, Jason remained optimistic. Jason said, “By this time I had already been doing some looking on my own for a living donor for a kidney.” Good news finally came for Jason as his sister, Lisa, was a perfect match! Following the successfully transplant on March 21, 2008, Jason said, “It was like the difference between night and day. It was crazy how much energy I had and how good I felt.”
Six months later, Jason was put back on the transplant list for a pancreas. Jason was told the wait for a pancreas is often as long as two years. For Jason the worst part of waiting was to know you are waiting for someone else to die so you can have a new organ.
The call he had been waiting for came January 12, 2009, at 4:20 pm. There was a pancreas for him. Jason had been on the waiting list for six long months. The family rushed to the airport and arrived in Rochester that evening. The surgery was performed the following morning. The pancreas transplant was a success. Jason stayed in Rochester for three weeks before returning home.
Jason has not had to take insulin shots since January 2009. “Everything is finally getting back to normal for the first time in my life”, Jason said about his remarkable journey.
NDAD provided assistance to Jason for his medical travel costs and prescription medication expenses. Jason is extremely appreciative of everything NDAD has done for him and his family. Jason said, “Everyone at NDAD is wonderful and very caring. Thanks, NDAD.”
DeLaine McGurran of Grand Forks has lived for most of her life with congenital hip disease. Having endured pain and surgery since childhood, McGurran says she has a very high pain tolerance. But the pain she experienced in January 2010 was different. “It felt like an axe cutting into my muscle with every step.” McGurran was initially misdiagnosed with a sciatic nerve injury. After a month of severe pain that did not improve, she went to the emergency room for an x-ray and was referred to Valley Bone and Joint for an MRI. In March, Valley Bone and Joint made the correct diagnosis – hip dysplasia. The condition occurs when the ball of the femur does not fit properly into the hip joint, and is associated with the hip dislocation, disabling arthritis, and severe pain of congenital hip disease. She was referred to Mayo Clinic for total hip replacements. The surgeries took place in June 2010 and October 2010.
McGurran’s mother happens to be an acquaintance of NDAD ambassador, Mike Gibbens. When Mike encouraged McGurran’s mother to talk to her daughter about NDAD’s services, McGurran applied for assistance. NDAD helped McGurran with medical travel expenses and loaned her the equipment she needed after her surgeries, such as accessible bathroom equipment. McGurran especially appreciates having been able to borrow equipment that she only needed temporarily. “I got to use them, but I didn’t have to buy them.”
Now something of a real-life Bionic Woman, McGurran laughs when describing how her titanium hip replacements set off metal detectors. “I started carrying an X-ray in my purse” she said. Although she has a more difficult time running or walking long distances, neither congenital hip disease nor hip replacement surgeries have slowed McGurran down. When asked how her disability affects her daily life, she responded quite simply, “I haven’t let it.” She works full time at the University of North Dakota’s Children’s Center. “Limitation is not a word I’m familiar with,” she said, “my family never let me think of myself as being disabled or challenged.” Her family has been supportive in other ways, too. Her sister Julie supplied the transportation to Rochester for both surgeries and check-ups that followed, and her “plumber brothers” Kevin and Terry installed a hand-held shower device. DeLaine stayed at her mother’s apartment for six weeks after each of her surgeries. As part of her post-operative treatment, McGurran needed to wear special supportive socks to prevent deadly blood clots in her legs. McGurran’s mother assisted her daily with putting on and removing the socks. “She was a godsend” McGurran said.
McGurran describes NDAD’s staff as friendly, efficient, and informative. She said that completing paperwork for the application process was well worth it. McGurran’s advice to people with disabilities is to take advantage of any services they can get. “The services are there for a reason, take advantage of them.”
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