New Jersey family seeks funds for special van for disabled twins

Gabriel and Noah Maltese were dealt a tough hand in life; the 6-year-old twins from Toms River were born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. That has made things tough on their family, too.

The boys use a wheelchair, so the family needs a modified van for transport. According to a GoFundMe page set up by the family, the routine now is:

Every day we carry our children to my vehicle where I drive them to school, take out the wheelchairs that they have in the back of my van put them together and wheel them into school. When the bus drops them off at the end of the day my husband carries them back into the house disassembles the wheelchairs and puts them back into my car for the routine to happen again the following day.

As the boys get older and heavier, getting them in and out of the van is becoming increasingly difficult. A modified van would also give the family a private space to change the boys when they are out in public.

The mother, Marisa, looked into buying a modified vehicle, but the price for one starts at $78,000, which she says the family can’t afford. She looked into having the family vehicle modified with help from the state, but her car has too many miles on it to qualify.

The family has started a GoFundMe drive to raise the money for the van, or for at least the down payment.

She writes that asking for help isn’t easy:

I am an extremely prideful person for anyone that knows me. I work very hard to take care of my family so this does make me feel uncomfortable to ask for help but at this point I need to do what I have to do to be able to help my boys try to live as much of a normal life as I possibly can, and for myself and my husband to be able to transport our children.

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These are the best hiking spots in New Jersey

A trip to New Jersey doesn't have to be all about the beach. Our state has some incredible trails, waterfalls, and lakes to enjoy.

From the Pine Barrens to the Appalachian Trail to the hidden gems of New Jersey, you have plenty of options for a great hike. Hiking is such a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature, plus it's a great workout.

Before you go out on the trails and explore some of our listeners' suggestions, I have some tips on hiking etiquette from the American Hiking Society.

If you are going downhill and run into an uphill hiker, step to the side and give the uphill hiker space. A hiker going uphill has the right of way unless they stop to catch their breath.

Always stay on the trail, you may see side paths, unless they are marked as an official trail, steer clear of them. By going off-trail you may cause damage to the ecosystems around the trail, the plants, and wildlife that live there.

You also do not want to disturb the wildlife you encounter, just keep your distance from the wildlife and continue hiking.

Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. Hikers should also yield to horses, but I’m not sure how many horses you will encounter on the trails in New Jersey.

If you are thinking of bringing your dog on your hike, they should be leashed, and make sure to clean up all pet waste.

Lastly, be mindful of the weather, if the trail is too muddy, it's probably best to save your hike for another day.

I asked our listeners for their suggestions of the best hiking spots in New Jersey, check out their suggestions:

Filed Under: Toms River