Empower Derek's Journey Towards Independence

Hi! I am a friend of Derek's family and created this Go Fund Me to help in giving Derek the independence that he deserves, without his family feeling the financial strain.

Derek was born on August 16,2010 with a rare genetic condition hemimegalencephaly and hemihypertrophy localized in his cheek right leg, and right side of his brain. He was diagnosed with infantile spasms at 3 weeks old. They continued until he had a status seizure in November 2011 that lasted more than two hours. At that time, his family made the hard decision to have him undergo a hemispherectomy in January 2012. The amazing doctors at CHOP removed the entire right side of his brain to stop seizure activity. Since then he has not had one seizure. He is currently in 7th grade and is he becoming more and more independent ever day.

Currently, Derek gets around his house by walking on his knees, as we would walk on our legs. He is currently in a wheel chair that is mobilized by someone else. He would love to be able to move more independently, as he sees his friends and family. Although he is extremely patient, Derek wants the freedom to maneuver his own life within the community . Derek and his family would like for him to have his independence.

Currently, the insurance company will not pay for this chair as they call it a compact wheel chair and feel as though he would benefit from a motorized wheel chair. The chair that they are recommending would have to have changes made to the parents vehicle to accommodate it. This type of vehicle renovation costs thousands of dollars that the family does not have at this time. The chair that we are funding for would easily fit into a vehicle that does not need special accommodations because it folds like a regular wheelchair.

Please consider donating to this amazing young man who just wants to keep thriving on his own. Help him become more independent.

Thank you for your consideration and any contribution to his cause!