How to Raise $10,000

I finally have some useful responses to my inquiries regarding the BrainPort Oral Device. Up until now, the responses have been rather pointless.  My doctors here in the United States have not responded at all but the other doctors who were doing the research have all responded (with results still pending here in the US with FDA approval presumably eventually following).  They have all invited me to make appointments to see them although none are using the device itself.

I had to ask.  "I would love to make an appointment to use the BrainPort."  

"Oh.  I'm sorry.  We are not using it but we have these nifty little door prizes called physical therapy exercises that we believe will help."

"But I'm already doing physical therapy exercises that help."

"Ours are magic physical therapy exercises that work miracles."

Okay. To be honest, the above isn't verbatim.  I did have to explain that I have worked with doctors at two hospitals, including Emory's Dizziness & Balance Disorder Clinic.  Of course, these doctors in other parts of the United States were more interested in seeing me as a patient than they were in referring me to any research on the BrainPort here in the US and I guess their faith in my doctors is not as strong as my own.

Not that mine is oh-so-strong as I sit here pondering why none of the doctors who have actually worked directly with me have bothered to respond to my emails.  (Yes, that is intentionally plural because I have emailed each doctor more than once.)

But back to my positive response.  Here is what I know:

• A company in Canada is going to be buying the item from Wicab.
• The company's name is Lifemark.
• They have several clinics in Canada where one can go for training.
• There are 2-3 days of training, twice a day, each costing $160 Canadian.
• After the training you sign a release form and take the device home to use for a month.
• You use the form for 20 minutes a day, twice a day.
• After 60 days, if you feel it is beneficial, you buy the device outright:  $10,000 US
• Or, you can rent it at $600 per month if you are unsure.
• If Lifemark does take over the product then the cost will be about half the quoted price.

This puts me in a position of finally being able to do something more, perhaps something that will take me to the next level of being cured.  And while I am perfectly willing to wait to see how the wheels of corporate buying and selling move in Canada by comparison to the US, I should also try to think of ways I can raise $10,000.  I can create my own marathons, do fund raising drives, sell cupcakes from my front yard, accept donations, dare to dream.  

By the time I find a way to raise the money and actually begin raising money perhaps the cost will have come down as a result of the buy out having happened.  If so, that would be great.  In the meantime, I need to brainstorm and am accepting reasonable suggestions.  

Any thoughts?

Any ideas?

What would you be willing to do if you knew that there is an answer that would make it possible for you to go to action movies again and drive a car and go to Renaissance festivals and concerts without having to worry about getting sick because of the camera zooms or the cars weaving in and out of traffic or the crowds moving around or the lights and noise or . . .

The world is not vertigo friendly and I can be a part of the world again.  I just need to raise some money somehow.