Support Chance's box wheelchair & therapy costs

Many of you have noticed - and we have acknowledged – Chance is growing rapidly. He's grown 8-10 inches over the past 2+ years when we placed the order for his last box wheelchair. In case you need to see the comparison, here's a photo of him in 2021 vs. 2023.

We're beginning this fundraiser to help support the costs associated with his box wheelchair and additional needs that will support him as he continues to grow. Nearly 13 years ago when we first learned of his diagnosis - I recall one of our biggest fears were the financial costs associated with raising a child with a disability. But I was reminded then, and have been reminded throughout our journey - that God always provides. So many of you asked back then what you could do to support him - and remind us often along this journey that if we need support for him to let you know - so we're pausing to set up this fundraiser knowing his needs this year will be excessive due to how much he's growing. Here's an opportunity to support us.

If you've connected to this fundraiser and have never heard Chance's story – we'll share a glimpse so you understand why he needs support. He was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in Feb 2011 and endured his first surgery at just 4 hours old. Twelve+ years later he's endured 23 surgeries and countless medical and therapy appointments. At birth, his spina bifida was an opening in his lower back that caused nerve damage which impacts his ability to walk. Chance is partially paralyzed. We work hard to keep him active and in therapy so that he is able to stay healthy and strong, however, he still uses a chair for longer distances and he's that active and outgoing of a kid that the chairs covered by insurances just don't last, often break and are more frustrating for him. Due to how insurance has changed in recent years - the insurance covered chairs offer even less and he's said pretty clearly to us just how much he prefers the box chairs which always fit him perfectly and become an extension of him.

If you're wondering why this chair isn't covered by insurance, it's because it's specialized and custom fit to Chance. In 2018 was when Chance first began using a box wheelchair - and we saw a huge improvement in his confidence, independence – and it gave him the ability to explore the world more freely. As he grows, we do still order a chair through insurance, however, that chair is one that is always a secondary in case there are any challenges with his current box chair...because truthfully, the chairs approved by insurance are never going to sustain just how active Chance is in his chair - they almost always fall apart and have issues. They are also heavier, more klunky and frustrate us in comparison to his box. His box chair – it has become like an extension of his body that helps him navigate the world as freely as he wishes. Of course it also allows him to be a daredevil in it! ;) All too often the public feels they need to pity a person in a wheelchair - but when people see Chance in his chair they realize that chair gives him so much freedom to be the outgoing and active kid he was meant to be.

Chance has been able to do so much with his current box chair – it's been the equipment that's carried him through wcmx and to/from various sports. It's helped him in and of therapies, surgeries and helped him navigate his first year of middle school. We LOVE this chair, but the reality is - he's growing and barely fitting in this chair. Due his spina bifida, he's growing 3 years ahead of schedule – and far more rapidly than we anticipated. At most, his current chair may last him a little longer - but we all shake our head when we load up because he barely fits in the width and his legs are hanging off just so much longer. We recently consulted to prepare to order his next box chair - and he is growing more excited.

This fundraiser will be to support his current needs that exceed our expected annual coverage for all that is not covered by insurance or for equipment that will support him in his adaptive sports as he grows. We've been fundraising to support his physical therapy needs since he was 3 and have seen the positive impact it has on helping him. Due to his growth, we realize we growth may bring bigger physical challenges so it's that much more important we do therapy with his intensive PT team at Believe more often this year. This year we'll also explore spinal stimulation as a possible way to help with his back pain and engage the nerves that aren't fully functional which we hope will help with some muscular imbalances that are impacting him.

Below we'll share a few facts and list costs we anticipate in the near future that we're hopeful will help you see why we're fundraising to meet his needs:

Alternative ways to support Chance's needs:

Any support offered will help this kid as he continues to grow and help ease the stress that comes with so many disability + medical related expenses. We'll continue to post updates to show the impact you all are helping make in his life on the following social sites - we'd love to have you connect so you can see how your support will help our boy:

Thank you all in advance for any support you can offer - if you're unable to give we hope you'll consider sharing to help us meet our goal to support Chance.