Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle for Taelor

Taelor was diagnosed as a Manifesting Carrier of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy September 2014, at the age of 8. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. DMD is caused by an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. Symptom onset is in early childhood, usually between ages 3 and 5. The disease primarily affects boys, but in rare cases it can affect girls. Taelor is one of the "rare" cases.

The symptoms of DMD are: Muscle weakness which can begin as early as age 3, first affecting the muscles of the hips, pelvic area, thighs and shoulders, and later the skeletal (voluntary) muscles in the arms, legs and trunk. The calves often are enlarged. By the early teens, the heart and respiratory muscles also are affected.

We raised money for her electric wheelchair in 2017, that you see in the photo. We were beyond blessed and grateful for the out-pour of people willing to help Taelor gain the freedom and independence she deserved. Taelor has lost the ability to walk, or even stand on her own. She is now 100% dependent on her wheelchair. Which is why we are here again.

We are hoping to raise enough money to afford a safe, reliable and long-lasting vehicle that we will be able to transport Taelor in - while in her wheelchair and in 3 years have transformed into the vehicle she will be driving!!!
We have been using a patched, upwards of 150lb. hitch trailer, over the past year and half - only when absolutely necessary - but it is on its last leg and involves a fairly difficult process to install and use. 
Not to mention, Taelor is now close to 100 lbs. and 5'3," at 13 years old, and is becoming more and more difficult to lift and move, especially for me as her Mother that does most of the transporting. At times, we decide to forego the process of taking her electric chair, and take her manual chair to push her in, wherever we go. Her arms are too weak to push herself around in her manual chair anymore, so besides taking away her independence, it makes it especially tricky when their are carts or anything else involved that require pushing, as well. (which I usually have to have since I have 2 children under 4.) I fear that one of these days, one of us are going to get injured in the lifting and moving process, and/or the trailer hitch is going to finally completely break and her chair, that everyone worked so hard for, will be the expense.

If we had a vehicle where Taelor could independently drive into the vehicle and be strapped down, it would be safer, easier and would make Taelor's life so much more exciting and independent. I want her to experience everything she can, while she can. She deserves that much.

I am not usually one to even request assistance like this, but the results of  the power of prayer and requests for assistance for her wheelchair has proven to me that sometimes people just have to ask for help. And this is an instance of that. I have a full-time job and between 4 daughters and one with a terminal illness that brings on extra, undetermined expenses, I just can't seem to get ahead in order to afford a safe, reliable vehicle for Taelor's transport in her chair and hopefully will be able to be transformed into the vehicle she will drive in 3 more years!!!!  We would be so grateful and blessed to have your support in, once again, bringing safety and independence for Taelor.

Thank you for your time!