Alice Nichols
My name is Olivia. I am 19 years old, and I live with muscular dystrophy.
Little by little, this disease has taken away my ability to move. Today, I cannot walk, get out of bed on my own, or do even the simplest daily tasks. My wheelchair and my bed are where I spend almost my entire life.
But there is one person who has never left my side.
My mom.
She has devoted her entire life to taking care of me. Every morning she lifts me out of bed and into my wheelchair. She helps me bathe, get dressed, eat, and takes care of all my daily needs. She is the one who takes me to every doctor’s appointment, every medical exam, and every treatment. She is with me every hour of every day.
She isn’t just my mother.
She is my caregiver, my strength, my best friend, and the reason I keep smiling through all of this.
The hardest part is knowing how much she has sacrificed for me.
Because I depend on her for absolutely everything, she cannot have a job. She has spent nearly two decades caring for me 24 hours a day. While others are able to build careers and plan their futures, my mom spends every day lifting me, helping me change positions, caring for our home, arranging my treatments, and making sure I have everything I need.
She has given me her entire life without ever asking for anything in return.
But love doesn’t pay the bills.
Today we are struggling just to cover our basic household expenses. Watching my mom worry about how we will make it through another month breaks my heart, because I know she already carries more than anyone should.
The wheelchair I use today is the same one I have had for 18 years.
It has worn out over time and no longer provides the support and safety my body needs. As my muscular dystrophy progresses, sitting for long periods becomes more painful, and transferring me becomes harder for my mom. A new wheelchair would not only improve my comfort—it would make my daily life safer and reduce the physical strain on the woman who cares for me every single day.
We also desperately need an accessible van.
For many people, transportation is something they never think about. For us, every hospital visit, every medical appointment, and every treatment is a major challenge. My mom has to struggle every time she moves me because we don’t have a vehicle designed for someone in my condition.
An accessible van would change our lives. It would allow me to travel safely and make every trip much easier for my mom, who has carried this responsibility almost entirely on her own for 19 years.
Muscular dystrophy is a progressive disease. My muscles continue to weaken, and my dependence grows with each passing year. I cannot change that reality, but I still hope for a life with a little more comfort, dignity, and less suffering for my mother.
I am not asking for luxury.
I am asking for the chance to make life a little easier for the woman who has sacrificed everything for me, and for the opportunity to continue receiving the medical care I need.
If you can donate or simply share my story, you will be helping not only me, but also the incredible mother who has never stopped fighting for her daughter.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
May God bless you and your family.
