MWC Family Hopes To Win Handicapped Accessible Van In Contest

If only a mother's love could solve everything. Unfortunately for 9-year-old Avagrace, it can't cure her progressive epilepsy, it can't control her relentless seizures.

"We had one day seizure free in the past four years," said her mother Virginia Spencer.

Medications aren't helping and right now their only option is hospice. And if all that isn't enough, last Tuesday the family lost just about everything in a house fire.

"The shell of the house is there, but everything inside was gone," said Virginia.

Looters even stole one of Avagrace's wheelchairs. Because activity makes her seizures worse, she spends about 90% of her time in a wheelchair. But the family's one vehicle is not handicapped accessible.

"I have to take care of her, I have to worry for her and the safest way for her to travel, doctor recommended, is for her to be in a wheelchair. Just wheel her in, lock the wheelchair in place and then I know she's safe if she's seizing," said Virginia.

Virginia points to scars on Avagrace's forehead where she hit her head on the window during a seizure before. Buying a van isn't financially feasible, especially now. But winning one is.

The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is giving away four vans through an on-line contest. Anyone can vote, the winners are chosen from the top 10 percent of vote getters.

Virginia is campaigning harder than any politician could.

"We really need to win the van, desperately," says Virginia.

Hoping a mother's love, and determination may be able to fix at least that.

To vote for Avagrace go here.

You can vote one time every day for every e-mail address or Facebook account.