The Future of QuadLife

The LORD has been shaping my life for enough years for me to retire. As I look back, I can see His plan that gave me the gifts and opportunities along with the Holy Spirit to learn the Word and the love of Jesus Christ that prepared me for what I believe is His calling to help His people in a unique way.

            Because my father was self-employed, I was able to be on job sites since I was 6 years old. Within this environment I learned many Electrical, Mechanical and Business Management skills. My Grandfather was self-employed in his retail Fruit & Vegetable store. From him I learned the skill and value of communicating with customers, building trust and understanding of how to serve them better. With the opportunity to attend engineering school and meet many talented people, I started Electronic Design & Production within the family business. Although it took many years, from my mother I learned how the love of Jesus and following His teachings could transform your soul to understand the real purpose of Life.

When my brother became a C4 complete quadriplegic after an accident with his drag racing rail we looked for ways to allow him to use Windows 95 and the Internet. Tom started the QuadJoy Company in 1994. We assembled the first units with off-the-shelf components until his passing in August of 2001. Tom’s statement “Give me all the power I can have, so I can be less dependent on my caregivers and productive in my new life” had become the theme of QuadLife.  The QuadJoy 2 design was completed in 2002. See the “Our Story” at WWW.Quad.LIFE/about

Over the past 30 years the Street family has had the privilege to bond with many of our 2500 customers, getting to know their story and where life has taken them. I have discovered that as high as 90% of our customers / friends have the Holy Spirit in their heart, as this is how they have flourished after suffering a great adversity. I have also learned that many of them were well educated and continue to be productive.

In 2014 QuadJoy began working with the Veterans Administration as we designed and installed units that allowed the Veterans to be less dependent on their caregivers. This gave me the opportunity to work with Veterans that worked with and became friends with multiple Generals. I was amazed to learn of the compassion to care for the soldiers that became injured under their command. I have pondered these thoughts for years.

Recently through one of my many “connections” I was introduced to a person who’s “Calling” has been to establish a facility to recover “lost Veterans”; Veterans suffering from PTSD and addictions, many of which are homeless. My thought was could we combine our Callings

As I am now 70 years old, my final mission is to establish a care facility for a select group of my quadriplegic customers. I am looking for interested quadriplegics that would be willing to move to a Florida location that would be designed and built to accommodate their physical and entrepreneurial needs. Someone who is in need of good care or no longer has family to help them. Someone who when initially injured, considered suicide, but currently lives with the Holy Spirit of the Lord in their heart, someone who would be willing to coach a PTSD Veteran to know the Love of Christ. A Quadriplegic may not be able to walk, but if they could bond, share their trauma, and help a Veteran to understand how the Holy Spirit saved them, they could save lives. In exchange the Veterans could help care for the Quads, and see first-hand the trauma they were able to overcome. This symbiotic relationship would give each life a purpose.

My initial thought was for the facility to accommodate 6 to 10 quadriplegics and as many Veterans. In addition to rooms to house 6-10 other various people appropriately certified as needed. It would need a commercial kitchen to prepare food for all the residents. There would also be an area for exercise and physical therapy along with a pool that would be functional for both quads and Vets. Along with enough outside area with sidewalks and easy wheelchair access to the quadriplegic’s rooms. I envision this property to be 40-50 acres in size with the ability to grow food and raise live stock in addition to a couple horses. Equine therapy can also help PTSD. Tentatively there is an area called Buckingham near Fort Myers Florida with enough land adjacent to more than 350 acres of Lee County owned land that is a preserve with 7 miles of horse trails. This property is east of interstate 75 which is better for weathering hurricanes. There is a respected Hospital system within a few miles and a Fire department within a mile. I would like this facility to be structured as a Non-profit

Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keep your passion toward Him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let Him fill you with excitement as you serve Him   Romans 12:11 (TPT)

The LORD continues to remind me every week to stay on course through the sermons and lessons I encounter.