Give Sutton the Freedom of the Outdoors!

We cannot express to you what a blessing it is to watch your children run and play independently. An effortless, and often easily overlooked component of childhood for others, is a challenge for kiddos in wheel chairs. It is especially difficult for those that live on farms, or desire to have any sort of active life outdoors beyond the home setting.

As our daughter, Sutton has grown older-- our list of options and opportunities to enhance her life outside of smooth flooring, especially activities outdoors --has dwindled away. Sutton has outgrown many of the riding toys we used to help her play with her siblings outside. She spends most of the time she gets outdoors confined to either her wheel chair not being able to move it) or a stationary chair. Her siblings and friends are able to move on-- but Sutton is often left.

Sutton is able to operate her manual wheelchair on smooth surfaces. We are really thankful that she is able to have this independence, and build upper body strength while doing it. However, any other substrates- grass, gravel, incline, mud, dirt, sand, mulch, pea gravel, heavy turf, wood chips -- force Sutton to be stranded on the sidelines of pretty much everything else in her life. What hurts is watching her willingly accept less-- while knowing and feeling very passionately, that she deserves much, much more.

We have struggled for a very long time with the decision to engage in looking for power chair options. It seems like a no-brainer-- people in wheelchairs should be able to easily get things to help them be active outside just like everybody else, right? Unfortunately, insurance does not cover equipment like the Trackchair, or any all-terrain wheelchairs really. These items are considered recreational, and not essential for daily life. The Action Trackchair Axis 30's start at $19,400.00.

We kept hoping that we would be able to keep making the most of the manual chair. But even with modifications, the reality that we are living, is that we have a daughter who desperately wants to be a part of what the other kids are doing-- being limited by the two very basic wheels she lives her life in.

Our dream and vision is a world for an out-of- the -house Sutton. A farm life for Sutton, with animals and nature. Less reliance on a digital world and more freedom, independence, quality of life and hands on experience in the real one -- outside. Less pushing, and struggling-- and more life using full throttle. We as parents would love for Sutton to be enjoy more of life's simple pleasures-- like "running" and playing outside, being able to explore our farm(s) with her siblings-- and doing things like showing livestock.

Bringing the Trak chair to our family will open many doors for Sutton and give her the freedom that every child deserves.

Please consider helping us achieve this goal for Sutton by donating to our cause.