Just out., June 15, 2007, Page 18, Image 18

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northwest
Georgena's Journey Continues
Coping with multiple sclerosis is a group effort
by Megan Peura
eorgena Moran is learning how to depend
on others. Since being diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis in 1998, she has made
an extraordinary journey and has learned
to adapt to her ever-changing condition.
The debilitating disease has left her in a motor­
ized wheelchair that, according to Moran, doesn’t
prevent her from being independent and complet­
ing the projects she undertakes. With the help of
friends, she has turned her w-^xiworking shop into
a place that is accessible and easy to use. Moran,
who is a lesbian, has learned she doesn’t have to
work alone.
“I design the project, and they cut the wood for
me," said Moran. “1 love to create birdhouses and
boxes. With their help, I can still do it.”
One struggle Moran has had to face is learning
that she cannot do everything by herself. “I am no
longer able to feed and clothe myself some days,"
she said. Friends are on call to help. Even though
Moran’s independence is a priority, she has learned
to look at herself in a different way.
“I have had to change the image I have of
myself and learn not to let my ego get in the way,”
she said. “The disease has changed my view of what
it means to be independent.”
Once active in the community, Moran has not
let go of her desire to help others. She talks to
disabled youth about ways to maintain their inde­
pendence. She has found that those very youth
often empower her.
“They have such a unique way of doing things.
They make things happen and have such an abili­
ty to stay open to the possibilities," she said.
Moran has combined her passion for helping
people and the outdoors. “One day I wanted to go
hiking and looked on the Internet to see what
would be the most accessible for my chair and
found not a single Web site that gave some sort of
rating,” she said.
Moran stumbled upon the Universal Trail
Access Process, which rates trails according to how
accessible they are. She soon became involved with
training people how to use this system and formed
a group called Walk n’ Roll. She now sits on a com­
mittee with Portland Parks, Columbia Scenic Area
and Oregon State Parks to help create a Web site
to rate the trails in the metro area.
Moran’s biggest challenge is finding a way to
stay in her house and not have to move to a care
facility.
This wish is one of two goals for Georgena’s
Journey, an organization that raises money on her
behalf. A second fund, Keep Georgena in Her
Home, has been set up so that alterations can be
made to her house.
Moran has reached a point that she will need
a full-time caregiver. She wants to convert her
garage into a space where the caregiver can live.
The campaign aims to raise $50,000 to cover the
costs of the project. “The plumbing alone is esti­
mated to cost $ 15,000,” friend Anne Bletcher said.
The second goal of Georgena’s Journey is to
help cover Moran’s ongoing medical costs. In 2002,
supporters of Georgena’s Journey began raising
money for her to enter an experimental study at the
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in
Seattle. According to Bletcher, the dates of the
Georgena Moran's multiple sclerosis has helped
study were changed several times, and eventually her appreciate her independence.
Moran was disqualified because she was no longer
able to walk. The $69,000 raised helped pay for her
then someone would be there and ask if I could do
alternative medical costs that the Oregon Health
it with them.”
Plan does not cover.
Even though Moran is learning new ways to
Georgena’s Journey continues to build a base of adapt to her condition, she also says it has helped
volunteers to assist Moran with home and yard
her. “Before the disease, 1 would do everything
maintenance. Friends have set up an account at
myself. Now I can’t. It has increased the quality of
my life, and that’s what is important.” ©
U.S. Bank to donate money to the fund.
Contributions can also be sent through the Web
For more information about GEORGENA^S JOURNEY
site. Donations are tax-deductible if checks are
written to St. Vincent de Paul with “For Georgena’s
visit www.georgenasjoumey.org .
Journey” written on the memo line.
“The biggest resource is the people who believe
M egan P eura enjoys studying mass media
in me,” said Moran. “There are some days when
communications, watching reruns of Dark Shadows
I didn’t think I would be able to do anything, but
and eating chop suey.
“Be the change you wish to see in
the world.”
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