The Fuentes-Chacon Family

In 2006, Christopher's Community directed our assistance to the Fuentes-Chacon family. Like other Tampa Bay parents, Kim and Rudy Fuentes keep very busy raising their three boys, Caeser, Jonathan, and Matthew Chacon. In addition to the hectic daily routine any such family has, however, the Fuentes-Chacons are also contending with an increasingly complicated family life brought about by Caeser and Jonathan's condition, limb girdle muscular dystrophy.

Christopher’s Community’s mission is to assist families in dealing with the stresses a situation like this causes. In this case, being able to transport both boys had become a problem that we felt we could assist with. Both Caeser and his brother Jonathan have power wheelchairs that they depend on for mobility. The power chairs also give the boys a measure of independence they don‚t experience using manual wheelchairs, because they do not have the strength to propel themselves without assistance. While the chairs are a blessing on one hand, unfortunately, the family had no means of transporting both heavy power wheelchairs, so any family outings required "Plan B". To take Caeser and Jonathan out of the house, Kim had to carry them from their power chairs to the family minivan, where she kept their manual wheel chairs. Upon arrival at their destination, she had to unload and unfold the manual chairs, then lift the boys out and seat them. Kim and her youngest son, Matthew then pushed the boys in their chairs. At the end of what would be a routine trip for most people, Kim and her boys were all exhausted.

Christopher Rhoades became aware of the family’s transportation challenge when he saw them at MDA summer camp. The camp, provided for generously by MDA, is the highlight of the year for many kids with muscular dystrophy. Wheelchair transport of Caeser and Jonathan's power chairs to camp was out of the question because of the prohibitive cost, so the Chacon boys had to rely on their camp counselors to wheel them around all week in their manual chairs. Christopher recognized the impact having their power chairs could have on the boys‚ independence outside their home, and brought their situation to the attention of Christopher’s Community.

Thanks to the generosity of all who participated in Fall Into Margaritaville, 2006, Christopher's Community was able to purchase a wheelchair-accessible mini-van for the Fuentes-Chacon family. As you can see from the smiles on their faces, Caeser and Jonathan were thrilled with their new wheels! Look out MDA summer campers, the Chacon boys will be in their powerchairs and ready to move!