Who we have helped
2008 Beneficiary, Ben Carpenter
2007 Beneficiary, Ryan Coton
2006 Beneficiaries, Caeser and Jonathan Chacon
2005 Beneficiary, Christopher Rhoades

Additional 2008 Beneficiaries
We are thrilled that we were also able to assist another family this year. Christopher’s Community purchased an adjustable shower chair for 16-year-old Anthony Silivan and his mother. Anthony has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and his mother was unable to give him a shower without arranging for outside help. The new shower chair allows her to safely shower him independently, and has made a tremendous difference in their daily lives.

How we got our start
The inspiration for the foundation is our friend’s son, Christopher, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. When he lost his ability to walk at the age of 15, he became fully dependent on a power wheelchair. Christopher could no longer ride in his family’s minivan, nor could he access the bathroom in his home. This necessitated expensive modifications to both home and vehicle to meet some very basic needs.

Christopher’s mother exhaustively researched funding resources to help with the financial burden these modifications created for their family and found that her son fell through the cracks. While they have achieved enormous strides in researching a cure for muscular dystrophy, the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association-Jerry Lewis Telethon) provides no financial assistance for such personal needs. Some government programs disqualified him because his stepfather earned more than the programs allowed. Another program, Florida’s Medicaid Waiver, does not include muscular dystrophy as one of the five medical diagnoses they cover. Health insurance denied requests to fund a lift system to get him from bed to wheelchair to bathroom. Christopher’s mom investigated grant opportunities, but found that most organizations will not make grants directly to individuals.

When we learned that in addition to dealing with the stresses of a chronic disease the family was also facing a growing financial burden we were stunned. We had always assumed that if a disabled child in our community needed equipment to enhance daily living, families could turn to sources like insurance or government to make it happen. We felt so blessed to be able to provide for our own families’ needs that we decided to reach out and help Christopher and others in our community in his situation.