NoBo is Back

Just because Matthew has limitations doesn’t mean we also stop living life. We love to travel — at least that is what my husband I and kept telling ourselves. Summer of 2017, we traveled to the Philippines, then summer of 2018, we traveled to Europe. It was fun, but very challenging and exhausting. We felt like after each vacation, we needed a vacation to regroup.

My husband is an outdoor-kind-of-a person and wants to recruit us on his fishing, noodling and hunting expeditions. With Matthew’s limitations, we thought we can’t do these things without bringing pieces of “our home routine” into it … hence, the birth of camping. I know, I know, you all are thinking — camping with a camper is not camping! I totally agree. We’ve got to experience being one with nature to fully get the maximum adventure — but trust me when I say, for us, it can’t be done any other way. If we don’t have the camper, it would be like — put the tent, roll on it for few minutes, pack your things and drive home.

When we first brought the camper home, we did not know how Matthew would react to it. We slept on it the first night … in our driveway … with just electricity and a portable bucket as our overnight homemade bathroom. The next night, after we pick him up from the daycare, he preferred to stay in the camper. Our house is just adjacent so we didn’t mind sleeping in it — every — night! Our NoBo became a place of “therapy” for Matthew. Seeing Matthew loving the little enclosure of a home, Mike and I pondered as to what we can do with the camper on its 1^st year.

This summer, we are embarking on an idea to travel with a purpose. We are doing a cross country camper campaign to spread Angelman Syndrome Awareness within the United States. In preparation, we have reached out to several companies — shared our story, poured out our advocacy and our need to spread awareness of this rare neuro-genetic disorder. We’ve had so many generous donors who have sponsored materials and labor, ranging from solar panel, leveling kit, a generator, chairs, mattresses, gadgetries we need in the camper and gas gift certificates. Our family is in awe of the outpouring sponsorships we’ve received from many companies.

One specific company is Camperland OK, located in Tulsa. We can’t thank them enough for their great work upgrading our camper. The video below is Matthew’s reaction seeing the NoBo for the 1^st time after being in the shop for nearly a month. Thank you Camperland of OK for making this little Angel happy!!!