Near death, man goes on “awareness” journey across nation from wheelchair

Posted: 6/11/2009 at 10:23 AM

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So I have to talk about this guy David Whittaker. He’s a disabled homeless vet who’s in need of a heart-transplant from the Valdosta, Florida-area. Since he’s not high up on the heart recipient list (which means he‘s probably going to be die soon), he’s decided to drive his wheelchair from Florida to Washington state VIA THE FREEWAY and other busy roads.

And “Why?” you may be asking. Well, it’s not a Bucket List goal, but neither is it for something I can fully understand. That’s the problem I have with this whole thing. Ok, so he’s going to drive 5,000 miles, while dodging cars, to prove to doctors that he’s healthy enough to receive a heart (I think). Or is he doing this to bring awareness to the injustice of them not thinking he‘s a good heart recipient? But despite all of that: Why of WHY must you drive on these busy roads, David? Ug. Are you trying to make everyone in wheelchairs look like road rage-inducing jack holes?

Anyways, if you watch the local TV news clip in which David is interviewed here, you’ll see that he’s pretty vague as to his reasons for this 5,000+ mile Survivor: Wheelchair On The Freeway idiotness, other than he wants to “leave a legacy” or something like that.

I’ve been doing this power wheelchair thing for awhile you guys and I must say, sitting in a chair while you hit a joystick is NOT the biggest cardio workout in the world. Maybe to prove to doctors he’s healthy enough to get a heart he should do a few pull-ups? Or maybe, I dunno, do some wheelchair tae-bo or something? Ok, I’ve said enough. These have been my thoughts for the day.

- Need help? Disabled American Vets organization

- Some great articles for disabled veterans on Disaboom

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- 14 year old girl survives 118 days without heart thanks to a special machine

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afo49guy wrote on Jun 11, 2009 at 7:12 PM
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Tiffiny I am sickened by the whole idea.It seems like he`s trying to commit suicide by unsuspecting driver. the words Post Traumatic Stress Disorder come to mind.I suspect that wahtever his motives may be, no good is going to come from it. ollie
stef wrote on Jun 15, 2009 at 6:07 AM
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Driving on a busy highway in a powerchair WILL get your heartrate up, I tell ya. Way better then Tae-bo. If you can survive that rush... you deserve a heart. I get the symbolism. Doctors denying him a heart kinda puts him in the fast lane towards certain death.
David Michael Whittaker wrote on Jun 15, 2009 at 4:06 PM
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afo49guy, I have no desire to commit suicide and I'm sorry this seems such a sick thing for you. Perhaps you should find something worth while to have such a passion for. We have heros of this country sleeping under bridges and in doorways or in boxes every night of the year. Well to put an end to that is my passion but if you want to call it sick Hey who am I to judge you as you have me. I will ask that God will bless you and soften your heart. Be Blessed David
David Michael Whittaker wrote on Jun 15, 2009 at 4:09 PM
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afo49guy, I have no desire to commit suicide and I'm sorry this seems such a sick thing for you. Perhaps you should find something worth while to have such a passion for. We have heros of this country sleeping under bridges and in doorways or in boxes every night of the year. Well to put an end to that is my passion but if you want to call it sick Hey who am I to judge you as you have me. I will ask that God will bless you and soften your heart. Be Blessed David
Tiffiny wrote on Jun 16, 2009 at 11:07 PM
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David, why ARE you doing this really? Maybe you can take this opportunity to explain your trek better.
afo49guy wrote on Jun 17, 2009 at 9:28 PM
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David Whittaker, thank you for your concern about the state of my heart.I can assure you it has already been "softened" by living with congestive heart failure,cardio-myopathy and other disabling conditions for the last six years. I am concerned for you, for your safety and your abiltity to survive as long as you are able to. I wish you well. I just question the wisdom of your riding in an electric wheelchair on hectic ,busy highways.I doubt that doing so will get you what you need and deserve, a heart transplant. When I said I was sickened, I was referring to what I think may be almost inevitalble- your being killed by some driver on one of those hectic highways Imagining your being crushed by a tractor trailor did unpleasnt things to my stomach.I plead guilty to to your charge of being pasionate about desiring to prevent needless suffering for anyone,anyplace, anytime. I certainly think our veterans deserve all the help we can give them, but it seems to me this just isn`t the best way to go about it. If you feel the need to condemn me as being hard-hearted and In need of your prayers because I am concerned that you may be killed in an accident on the busy roadways, by all means feel free to pray for me.Thank you, people praying for me is something I value. And if I pray, in return, that God grants you the wisdom and grace to find a safer means to achieve your goal, then I guess I`ll just have to live with the crushing burden of your disapproval, won`t I? Please be careful out on the roadways, okay?
Woody Lassitor wrote on Jun 18, 2009 at 8:55 AM
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Keep on truckin', David. I'll keep an eye out for ya. If you make it to central Texas, drop a line.
Abe Munder, the Wheeled Wonder wrote on Jun 18, 2009 at 11:26 AM
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I see it. If they've written you off already, what better way to publicize your situation and perhaps provoke change? That said, I worry about you, dude. I'll pray, and Godspeed. -- Abe
Gypsy wrote on Jun 18, 2009 at 4:35 PM
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Hey David! Yo Bro - RIGHT FREEKIN ON BABY! Honors n Props dude... (you think that LEO will be hassellin you on the shoulder of the HWY... 45mph minimums and whatnot?) Dude - I TOO had / have a "DREAM".. I want to 'engineer' a "TOWBE" a tow behing generator for my Quantum 6000, to keep the batteries charged up while "on the run"... a 12 mie round trip capacity meens that I rarely ever really "travel" past our community mailboxes... "GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN" well... I'd be on a cross country trip brother - have my ETX125 telescope in a little trailer, an emergency umberlla ready to pop... Score me a Travel Channel Documentary Special: "GYPSY the Wheelchair Astronomer - Cross Country; 20 miles a day at 6mph"! (I'd a picked rural routes tho - better company and alot better scenery) BE SAFE, yo... I built and rode Custom V-Twins Motorcycles for YEARS Hombre - and those "CAGES" out there don't see THOSE all that often... YOU BEWARE the "LEFT TURNING ASSASINS"! Peace and BEST WISHES!!! gpz
David Michael Whittaker wrote on Jun 21, 2009 at 12:19 PM
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PLEASE CALL ME 877-214-8387

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