My son Bentley is only 12 years old, but he has already faced more medical challenges than most adults ever will. He lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disorder that makes his joints fragile and his body slower to heal. On top of this, he has bilateral tibial torsion (his leg bones twist inward), Tourette syndrome, autism, vertigo, and spinal stenosis, to mention a few.

Because of the severity of his tibial torsion, Bentley struggles with pain, balance, and mobility. Long-distance walking and even standing for more than a few minutes are already difficult. His orthopedic surgeon explained that without surgery, Bentley could eventually lose his ability to walk.

The surgery he needs is called a bilateral proximal femur external derotational osteotomy with fixation and a bilateral distal tibial internal derotation osteotomy with fixation. In simple terms, this means surgeons will carefully cut and realign both his upper leg bones and lower leg bones, then secure them with metal plates so his legs can straighten and function properly.

It is a major surgery—and with Ehlers-Danlos, the risks are even higher—his tissue fragility results in slower healing and an increased likelihood of complications. Even so, his doctors believe this is Bentley’s best chance to keep his mobility and independence.

The recovery will be long: six weeks in a wheelchair, followed by months of physical therapy to learn to walk again. But Bentley is brave, and he still dreams about being able to move freely without constant pain.

We are raising funds to help cover his recovery and ongoing care. Anything you can give—whether it’s a donation, a share, or a kind word—will mean the world to Bentley and to our family.

Thank you for helping us fight for his future.