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Meet Ethan! Ethan is our teenage nephew who is charming and witty, enjoys spending time with his family and friends, loves Husker Football, John Deere tractors, mowers, and someday would like to work for and/or have his own lawn service company. He is also one of the bravest young men that we have ever had the honor of knowing.
Ethan is a fourteen year-old boy who was born at 26 ½ weeks. As a result of his prematurity, he has Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. As with most children with Cerebral Palsy, the need for orthopedic surgeries start when they are very young and will continue as Ethan grows into adulthood. Within the last year Ethan has undergone 3 major surgeries, which has now limited his ability to walk. As he gets older, he struggles daily with routine activities that most take for granted. He needs assistance with all activities of daily living. His family recently added a wheelchair lift in the garage, as well as a stair lift in the house, so he can get upstairs without tiring out. This past summer, Ethan received a power wheelchair, but it currently stays at school, as his family has no way to get it to and from school every day.
We have always admired Ethan's determination to walk and be independent. Throughout his life he has shown this through his perseverance and bravery throughout all of his surgeries and rehabilitation, which included many hours of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Ethan’s hard work and positive attitude towards life is to be admired. Therefore, we wanted to have a fundraiser to help raise money for a handicap accessible vehicle. The cost to convert a vehicle into a handicapped accessible one is $25,000.00. This increased mobility will allow Ethan the ability to use his power wheelchair independently at home, the community, and participate in school and social activities with his friends.
All teenagers need to have a sense of independence to help encourage self-esteem, happiness, and a sense of worthiness. Thank you for helping to make this possible for Ethan!
The Larson & Petersen Family
Ethan is a fourteen year-old boy who was born at 26 ½ weeks. As a result of his prematurity, he has Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. As with most children with Cerebral Palsy, the need for orthopedic surgeries start when they are very young and will continue as Ethan grows into adulthood. Within the last year Ethan has undergone 3 major surgeries, which has now limited his ability to walk. As he gets older, he struggles daily with routine activities that most take for granted. He needs assistance with all activities of daily living. His family recently added a wheelchair lift in the garage, as well as a stair lift in the house, so he can get upstairs without tiring out. This past summer, Ethan received a power wheelchair, but it currently stays at school, as his family has no way to get it to and from school every day.
We have always admired Ethan's determination to walk and be independent. Throughout his life he has shown this through his perseverance and bravery throughout all of his surgeries and rehabilitation, which included many hours of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Ethan’s hard work and positive attitude towards life is to be admired. Therefore, we wanted to have a fundraiser to help raise money for a handicap accessible vehicle. The cost to convert a vehicle into a handicapped accessible one is $25,000.00. This increased mobility will allow Ethan the ability to use his power wheelchair independently at home, the community, and participate in school and social activities with his friends.
All teenagers need to have a sense of independence to help encourage self-esteem, happiness, and a sense of worthiness. Thank you for helping to make this possible for Ethan!
The Larson & Petersen Family