Teaneck, NJ – As a little girl, I expected that my life would go smoothly, happily. I expected to have a better life than my immigrant parents who came to America after their entire families were exterminated by Hitler. I expected to have a great job, husband, and kids, whom I would raise in good health. I did not expect to have four children with muscular dystrophy.

Tziporah, now 21, began falling often at 11. She was diagnosed with CMT, a type of muscular dystrophy. Currently, she can barely walk. Tzvi, 18, was the next one to start falling; his degeneration, as he is male, came quicker. He hasn�t walked for 4 years, confined to a motorized chair. Rivka, 23, called from her gap year, crying, because she had started falling too. She currently walks with a pronounced waddle, and falls frequently. Racheli, 15, started falling in first grade. She is currently confined to a motorized chair at school, and only walks at home, short distances, slowly, if my husband or I hold her hands, as one would with a toddler.

We all endure hellish struggles just to get through each day. Besides their walking/falling issues, those that still walk cannot transfer to a chair, toilet, or their own beds unassisted.They have enormous difficulty getting in and out of cars. My son, at 5�9, and about 165 pounds is the most difficult to transport because my husband and I can barely lift him in and and out of our car.

I recently went to the neighborhood movies, where my son and his friends were coincidentally going to catch a different movie at the same time. On a bitterly cold night, ice and snow everywhere, my son and I left simultaneously, he in his scooter, I in my car. I drove parallel to him as long as I could. When I had to turn down the next street. I cried , knowing that my son was out in the frozen night, and would be for another 20 minutes, while I, his mother, GOING TO THE SAME PLACE couldn�t take him.

We rarely travel as a family, as we cannot maneuver everyone into the van; my son rarely goes anywhere- malls with friends, baseball or basketball games he loves, because we can�t lift him. Medical expenses prevent us from affording a ramp-van. Winning one would improve all our lives.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR ESTHER HERZFELD

As a community we can work together to win this van for the Herzfeld family. Click here to read more about Mrs. Herzfeld�s difficult reality and to vote, and then share this link with your friends via email, Facebook and Twitter. �If everyone votes EVERY DAY from today through May 31st, we can make this happen for Mrs. Herzfeld, a true hero.