My sister, Alaina, and her husband, Mike, are the kind of people that you meet and you instantly know that they are just kinder and more generous people than most of us. Not only are they foster parents, but they are specifically foster parents for medically fragile children and/or sibling groups. Alaina and Mike have opened their hearts and home to J, a medically fragile foster child that needs a tracheotomy ventilator and feeding tube to live. J is not easy, he has a list of medications and an entire care routine just to keep him alive. J has been with their family for the past two and a half years. Before joining their family, J had never left the hospital and wasn’t expected to survive long. With the love and care of Alaina, Mike, and their daughter Lindy, J has flourished in ways no one thought possible. He now lights up the room with his crooked little smirk, especially when he sees his favorite things like Bluey, Mylar balloons, or hears music. J’s bond with Lindy is especially strong, and their family has become his safe haven.

As J has grown, his medical needs have made transportation a major challenge. He’s now too large and heavy for Alaina and Mike to lift on their own, and their current van cannot safely accommodate both J and Lindy if it were converted for wheelchair access. This means a single adult cannot drive both children at once, making everyday activities and appointments extremely difficult. Despite reaching out to DFACS and the Court for help, the family has not received any resources for J’s transportation needs. They love J as their own and dream of adopting him, but doing so would mean losing the limited support they currently receive.

A wheelchair accessible van would be life-changing for J and his family, allowing them to travel safely together and giving J the freedom to experience more of the world outside their home. Your support will help provide the reliable transportation they desperately need, ensuring J can continue to thrive with the family that loves him.

They also continue to provide a loving a nurturing home for other foster children while they have J. I can’t imagine doing all of this. They are certainly better people than I am.

I can’t imagine their day to day life. Just trying to keep this child alive every day. I can’t imagine the struggle of not being able to care for him the way he needs and the programs designed to help care for him aren’t helping with such a crucial need. I can’t get my sister a van. And they wouldn’t do this for themselves. But I can spread the word. Please help them get the van that J needs. His medical needs are taken care of, but they won’t be able to do this for much longer. Any amount helps. Thank you for reading this and thank you for helping.