Help Payten Get the Van She Needs
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I had the pleasure of meeting Payten Merrill and her amazing family a week ago. Sweet Payten has grown out of her wheelchair and is in dire need of a bigger vehicle to accommodate a new wheelchair and her supplies. I setup this GoFundMe account to help raise funds to get the Merrill’s a new wheelchair accessible vehicle. Any donations will immediately help Payten and her family.
Thank You & With Love,
Tessa
Here's Kim's Story about her daughter, Payten...
We are The Merrill Family! My name is Kimberly Merrill and my husband's name is Joseph Merrill. Joseph and I have been married for 15 years and we have 5 children, Zachary (14), Makenna (11), Payten (8), Emmett (5), and Avery (2). Our daughter Payten, suffers from a rare genetic disease called Coffin Siris Syndrome. Only about 100 people in the entire world have this disease and there is no cure. CSS causes a multitude of issues ranging from cognitive, medical and physical complications. Due to these complications, CSS is a life limiting disease. CSS has caused Payten to be extremely cognitively delayed, developmentally delayed and medically fragile. She may be the average or slightly above average size of a typical 8-year-old, but cognitively and developmentally she is that of an infant.
Payten is an incredible 8-year-old girl who has completely defied all odds. Though she has had to endure so much in her short lifespan, she still smiles! She is the little girl who can light up an entire room by just being there. Her smile and laughter are infectious. She has taught our family how to live and live well!
The first year of Payten's life was spent in a hospital room, where Joseph and I continuously prayed for a miracle and the miracle of time was granted to us. Since then, we have strived to give Payten the best quality of life possible. Through doing so, we have learned that Payten loves music and dancing! She enjoys going for walks and swinging at the park. She loves bowling and holding people's hands! She enjoys rollercoaster rides at Disneyland and playing in the sand at the beach! She loves riding the bus to school and tasting ice cream! She just happens to have the unfortunate disadvantage of having a broken mind and body due to Coffin Siris Syndrome.
Payten is not able to walk and is dependent upon Joseph and me to meet her every need. As Payten continues to grow, Joseph and my ability to lift her in and out of our vehicle decreases and it is becoming less and less safe for us to lift her and her wheelchair.
Unfortunately, our insurance company will not help cover the cost of a wheelchair accessible van.
Even though Joseph works 65+ hours a week, our personal finances do not allow for such a purchase without significant help from others.
We are asking for funds to buy the van we need to transport Payten.
For more information you can visit https://PaytensCorner.org
Thank You & With Love,
Tessa
Here's Kim's Story about her daughter, Payten...
We are The Merrill Family! My name is Kimberly Merrill and my husband's name is Joseph Merrill. Joseph and I have been married for 15 years and we have 5 children, Zachary (14), Makenna (11), Payten (8), Emmett (5), and Avery (2). Our daughter Payten, suffers from a rare genetic disease called Coffin Siris Syndrome. Only about 100 people in the entire world have this disease and there is no cure. CSS causes a multitude of issues ranging from cognitive, medical and physical complications. Due to these complications, CSS is a life limiting disease. CSS has caused Payten to be extremely cognitively delayed, developmentally delayed and medically fragile. She may be the average or slightly above average size of a typical 8-year-old, but cognitively and developmentally she is that of an infant.
Payten is an incredible 8-year-old girl who has completely defied all odds. Though she has had to endure so much in her short lifespan, she still smiles! She is the little girl who can light up an entire room by just being there. Her smile and laughter are infectious. She has taught our family how to live and live well!
The first year of Payten's life was spent in a hospital room, where Joseph and I continuously prayed for a miracle and the miracle of time was granted to us. Since then, we have strived to give Payten the best quality of life possible. Through doing so, we have learned that Payten loves music and dancing! She enjoys going for walks and swinging at the park. She loves bowling and holding people's hands! She enjoys rollercoaster rides at Disneyland and playing in the sand at the beach! She loves riding the bus to school and tasting ice cream! She just happens to have the unfortunate disadvantage of having a broken mind and body due to Coffin Siris Syndrome.
Payten is not able to walk and is dependent upon Joseph and me to meet her every need. As Payten continues to grow, Joseph and my ability to lift her in and out of our vehicle decreases and it is becoming less and less safe for us to lift her and her wheelchair.
Unfortunately, our insurance company will not help cover the cost of a wheelchair accessible van.
Even though Joseph works 65+ hours a week, our personal finances do not allow for such a purchase without significant help from others.
We are asking for funds to buy the van we need to transport Payten.
For more information you can visit https://PaytensCorner.org
Organizer and beneficiary
Tessa Brewer Hartwig
Organizer
Queen Creek, AZ
Kimberly Merrill
Beneficiary
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