Hugely positive couple have difficulty just getting around

Sarah van der Kley and Martin Good.

You know how sometimes in life you have those moments when you really appreciate how lucky you are?

I had one of those last week when we had the pleasure of meeting and chatting to a lovely Hawke's Bay couple.

Brendan and Julia met 10 years ago and have had anything but an easy marriage.

Brendan, who works part-time five days a week, has Becker muscular dystrophy while Julia has multiple sclerosis. Over the years, their mobility has declined.

Julia is now in a power chair and, while Brendan is able to get around by putting his manual chair in his van (not an easy feat), the vehicle cannot carry Julia's chair.

As if this wasn't enough, Julia was diagnosed with breast cancer only six months after their wedding and spent the next year having surgery, chemo and radiotherapy.

Julia and Brendan long for the freedom to be able to go out together on a date in their own vehicle, with the privacy that most married couples are able to enjoy without restriction. But they can't.

They have secured $12,000 from the Lotteries Commission but, unfortunately, need another $18,000 or so to get even a second-hand, older van that could accommodate both their wheelchairs.

What struck me most when meeting and chatting to this couple is how incredibly positive they are. Julia particularly has quite a wicked sense of humour and, even though her body is failing her, her mind is strong and she loves to joke around.

Being confined to a wheelchair with little control over your muscles can't be easy at all but Julia goes about every day with the kind of positivity that I, for one, can definitely learn from. Like Julia says, life is what you make it.

If you think you can help them with a small donation, please head to their Give a Little page and search "disability van".

You can read all about their story and, if you're anything like me, feel pretty inspired and appreciative about the life you've got.

We saw Julia, Brendan and care worker Penny to the door after interviewing them last week and, afterwards, Martin and I stood inside and looked at the lift.

Usually we would just jump in there but, after meeting these two special people, we chose to take the stairs instead. How lucky are we that we have that choice.