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Hello, World! Meet Christian Baldwin!
Christian is an energetic, fun, adventurous soul. He loves to go to Adventure Faires and get involved in the fun. He is always up for a new experience.
Unfortunately, Christian's opportunities for adventure are limited. Christian has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a muscle wasting disease that is fatal. The average life expectancy for boys with DMD is 21. There is no cure for DMD. So I have made it my life's mission to pack as many experiences and as much living into the life we have.
The purpose of this fundraiser is to help pay for a wheelchair accessible van so that I can take Christian on as many adventures as possible (and other boring things like school and doctors' appointments).
I do currently have a lift on the back of my van, but as Christian grows, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to lift him from the wheelchair to the van and then from the van to the wheelchair when we reach our destination.
Your donation will help Christian continue on to more adventures!
UPDATE #1
A friend encouraged me to share this Facebook post of mine from a few days ago. I have edited it a bit, but the bulk of the post is the same.
Please know that I was reluctant to share this because I didn't want people to think it am complaining. My motivation was more to shed some light on our situation and why a wheelchair accessible vehicle is a necessity.
How was your day?
I'm sorry if I seem whiney and negative. I'm not sharing this for sympathy, but rather for enlightenment.
12 hour day driving by myself to pick Christian up from camp and bring him home. Emotional camp deal. Wonderful stories and smiles and maybe a few tears. Christian had a wonderful time! But time to go.
Lift Christian's 100 +lbs out of wheelchair and into van. Strap wheelchair to lift (nice and tight and securely). On the road home.
Stopped at icee place. Unstrap wheelchair from lift. Can't loosen one strap because I cinched it too tightly and now can't maneuver to loosen. Cut strap. Thank God I brought an extra for some unknown reason. Lift Christian's 100+ lbs out of van to wheelchair. Maneuver wheelchair over terrible road. Get icee. Christian drops icee. Get second icee. I have to pee, this place has no bathroom. I'll hold it. Christian finishes half of icee. Go back to van. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from wheelchair to van. Strap wheelchair to lift nice and tight and securely (but not so much that I can't undo later) Back on the road for an hour.
Finally can't hold it any longer and have to stop to pee. Christian has to pee, too. Maneuver wheelchair into tight fit for a bathroom. Take care of business. Might as well eat while we're there at the nice restaurant. Had a great meal and time with Christian.
Done eating head back to van. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from wheelchair to van, wheelchair loaded and strapped to the lift, ready to go. Nope. Christian informs me that he has to go to the bathroom. Number 1? That's easy, (mind you, easy is a relative term) unsnap pants and pee in a urinal, toss pee, swish urinal with water, wrap urinal in plastic bag and put back in backpack. But, nope, he has to poop. Okay, (don't show exasperation. I should have thought to ask before we left the restaurant, right? Come on, Baldwin! Parenting 101!)) Lower lift, uncinch tightly cinched tiedowns, lift Christian's 100+ lbs out of van and back into wheelchair. Go back into restaurant and maneuver wheelchair into tight fit for a bathroom. Lift Christian's 100+ lbs from wheelchair to toilet. Wipe him. Redress him. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs back into wheelchair. Go back to van. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from wheelchair to van. Strap wheelchair back onto lift tightly and securely.
Back on the road. Drive through Taco Bell to get dinner for Wyatt and Sol. Smooth sailing right on to home.
Back at home, thank God! Unstrap wheelchair from lift for the last time today (thank God!) Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from van to wheelchair for the last time today (thank God!)
Get into the house and chill for five minutes. Ask Wyatt how he's feeling. He's in pain because he just had braces put on yesterday. There's nothing I can do but give him ibuprofen. I feel guilty because he is totally neglected. No time to worry about that though because, guess what, Christian has to go to the bathroom. Number 2 again. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from wheelchair to toilet. Wipe him. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from toilet back to wheelchair. Redress him.
Chill for about five minutes. Tell Sol all about the day and my frustrations. I would help you but I can't because of my hand. I understand, there's nothing to be done.
Get Christian his tablet. Get Christian his headphones. Pick up tablet that dropped.
Chill for about 5 minutes. Then it's time to tend to Sol's burn. Change his bandages. His neck hurts, could I please rub it for him? Of course, Love.
Christian has to go to the bathroom again. Number 2 AGAIN. Okay, sweetheart (show no frustration). Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from wheelchair to toilet. Wipe him. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from toilet back to wheelchair. Redress him.
Christian is hungry. Make him soup. Do you want milk? No. Okay. Chill for two minutes. Christian wants milk. I asked you if you wanted milk and you said no. No I didn't, I said yes. Whatever. Get Christian his milk.
Get Christian his dolphin pillow. Plug in Christian's headphone charger. Headphones don't work! It's the end of the world! Managed to fix the problem by some miraculous Devine intervention, I'm sure.
This life is hell. This life is heaven. Today was more hell than heaven.
UPDATE #2
I have received a few questions from people asking something along these lines "didn't they already do a fundraiser for that kid?" so I feel compelled to clarify.
It is true, Christian’s father recently held a very successful fundraising campaign for the same purpose and was able to raise enough money with which he will purchase a vehicle, however, he has rejected the notion of allowing Christian access to this vehicle during the five days a week that Christian is in his my care.
While I disagree with his decision, there is only one course of positive action to be taken and that is to find a way to help my son Christian with his EVERY DAY transportation needs.
How will you know the difference between the two campaigns? I am Christian's mother, so searching for my name (Allyson Baldwin) as the creator of the campaign is one way.
Also, there is a marked difference in appearances in these two campaigns. In his father's campaign you will see professionally done photographs of Christian, his father and brother. In my campaign you will see the funny, crazy, zany side of Christian's life. You will see Christian caught in the act of having fun! His hair will not be perfectly combed and he will not be dressed in stylish clothes, but he will have a big, genuine smile on his face because he is out on an adventure.
Thank you for helping provide a way for me to continue to take Christian to school, to doctor's appointments and on even more adventures!
Read a Previous Update
Help spread the word!
446 shares on Facebook


Christian is an energetic, fun, adventurous soul. He loves to go to Adventure Faires and get involved in the fun. He is always up for a new experience.
Unfortunately, Christian's opportunities for adventure are limited. Christian has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a muscle wasting disease that is fatal. The average life expectancy for boys with DMD is 21. There is no cure for DMD. So I have made it my life's mission to pack as many experiences and as much living into the life we have.
The purpose of this fundraiser is to help pay for a wheelchair accessible van so that I can take Christian on as many adventures as possible (and other boring things like school and doctors' appointments).
I do currently have a lift on the back of my van, but as Christian grows, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to lift him from the wheelchair to the van and then from the van to the wheelchair when we reach our destination.
Your donation will help Christian continue on to more adventures!
UPDATE #1
A friend encouraged me to share this Facebook post of mine from a few days ago. I have edited it a bit, but the bulk of the post is the same.
Please know that I was reluctant to share this because I didn't want people to think it am complaining. My motivation was more to shed some light on our situation and why a wheelchair accessible vehicle is a necessity.
How was your day?
I'm sorry if I seem whiney and negative. I'm not sharing this for sympathy, but rather for enlightenment.
12 hour day driving by myself to pick Christian up from camp and bring him home. Emotional camp deal. Wonderful stories and smiles and maybe a few tears. Christian had a wonderful time! But time to go.
Lift Christian's 100 +lbs out of wheelchair and into van. Strap wheelchair to lift (nice and tight and securely). On the road home.
Stopped at icee place. Unstrap wheelchair from lift. Can't loosen one strap because I cinched it too tightly and now can't maneuver to loosen. Cut strap. Thank God I brought an extra for some unknown reason. Lift Christian's 100+ lbs out of van to wheelchair. Maneuver wheelchair over terrible road. Get icee. Christian drops icee. Get second icee. I have to pee, this place has no bathroom. I'll hold it. Christian finishes half of icee. Go back to van. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from wheelchair to van. Strap wheelchair to lift nice and tight and securely (but not so much that I can't undo later) Back on the road for an hour.
Finally can't hold it any longer and have to stop to pee. Christian has to pee, too. Maneuver wheelchair into tight fit for a bathroom. Take care of business. Might as well eat while we're there at the nice restaurant. Had a great meal and time with Christian.
Done eating head back to van. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from wheelchair to van, wheelchair loaded and strapped to the lift, ready to go. Nope. Christian informs me that he has to go to the bathroom. Number 1? That's easy, (mind you, easy is a relative term) unsnap pants and pee in a urinal, toss pee, swish urinal with water, wrap urinal in plastic bag and put back in backpack. But, nope, he has to poop. Okay, (don't show exasperation. I should have thought to ask before we left the restaurant, right? Come on, Baldwin! Parenting 101!)) Lower lift, uncinch tightly cinched tiedowns, lift Christian's 100+ lbs out of van and back into wheelchair. Go back into restaurant and maneuver wheelchair into tight fit for a bathroom. Lift Christian's 100+ lbs from wheelchair to toilet. Wipe him. Redress him. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs back into wheelchair. Go back to van. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from wheelchair to van. Strap wheelchair back onto lift tightly and securely.
Back on the road. Drive through Taco Bell to get dinner for Wyatt and Sol. Smooth sailing right on to home.
Back at home, thank God! Unstrap wheelchair from lift for the last time today (thank God!) Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from van to wheelchair for the last time today (thank God!)
Get into the house and chill for five minutes. Ask Wyatt how he's feeling. He's in pain because he just had braces put on yesterday. There's nothing I can do but give him ibuprofen. I feel guilty because he is totally neglected. No time to worry about that though because, guess what, Christian has to go to the bathroom. Number 2 again. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from wheelchair to toilet. Wipe him. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from toilet back to wheelchair. Redress him.
Chill for about five minutes. Tell Sol all about the day and my frustrations. I would help you but I can't because of my hand. I understand, there's nothing to be done.
Get Christian his tablet. Get Christian his headphones. Pick up tablet that dropped.
Chill for about 5 minutes. Then it's time to tend to Sol's burn. Change his bandages. His neck hurts, could I please rub it for him? Of course, Love.
Christian has to go to the bathroom again. Number 2 AGAIN. Okay, sweetheart (show no frustration). Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from wheelchair to toilet. Wipe him. Lift Christian's 100 +lbs from toilet back to wheelchair. Redress him.
Christian is hungry. Make him soup. Do you want milk? No. Okay. Chill for two minutes. Christian wants milk. I asked you if you wanted milk and you said no. No I didn't, I said yes. Whatever. Get Christian his milk.
Get Christian his dolphin pillow. Plug in Christian's headphone charger. Headphones don't work! It's the end of the world! Managed to fix the problem by some miraculous Devine intervention, I'm sure.
This life is hell. This life is heaven. Today was more hell than heaven.
UPDATE #2
I have received a few questions from people asking something along these lines "didn't they already do a fundraiser for that kid?" so I feel compelled to clarify.
It is true, Christian’s father recently held a very successful fundraising campaign for the same purpose and was able to raise enough money with which he will purchase a vehicle, however, he has rejected the notion of allowing Christian access to this vehicle during the five days a week that Christian is in his my care.
While I disagree with his decision, there is only one course of positive action to be taken and that is to find a way to help my son Christian with his EVERY DAY transportation needs.
How will you know the difference between the two campaigns? I am Christian's mother, so searching for my name (Allyson Baldwin) as the creator of the campaign is one way.
Also, there is a marked difference in appearances in these two campaigns. In his father's campaign you will see professionally done photographs of Christian, his father and brother. In my campaign you will see the funny, crazy, zany side of Christian's life. You will see Christian caught in the act of having fun! His hair will not be perfectly combed and he will not be dressed in stylish clothes, but he will have a big, genuine smile on his face because he is out on an adventure.
Thank you for helping provide a way for me to continue to take Christian to school, to doctor's appointments and on even more adventures!
Read a Previous Update
Help spread the word!
446 shares on Facebook