Hello, my name is Amanda , and I’m asking for your help today. Most of you may already know my son Zachary Gardner, And know how hard he has fought to be here and all the struggles we have all been through for him and with him. But For those of you who don’t know Zachary .. let me tell you a little about him.. Diagnosed at 3 yrs old with a progressive neuromuscular genetic disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2.

Zack has had a hard time lately health related. March of 2025 he caught COVID, The infection led to severe pneumonia and respiratory failure, and he was placed on a ventilator. He spent 40 days in the hospital and 30 of those were in the ICU. Zack was put on a ventilator for 12 days hoping he would be able to heal some… but he ended up having a tracheostomy and being ventilator dependent 24 hrs a day. Since this event, he has had to have 4 visits to the hospital including being here now (November 29th, 2025)

His stepfather, Matt Huskins, and I are caring for him full-time, along with the constant love and support of his sister, Zoie, who tries to keep friends and family updated on Facebook for everyone who wants to follow Zack’s journey. And help from home health nurses, Traci, who has been with him for a long time Has been so much help.

Zachary will be 30 years old on December 27th, 2025.

Since then, Zack has been ventilator-dependent 24/7, and he now requires constant, round-the-clock care. Because he can no longer move enough to use a switch or call out, we must keep eyes on him at all times to ensure he’s safe. There are new devices and software that could help him communicate and alert us when he needs something — but before we can move forward with that, our first focus is on getting him stable and managing his pain with the help of his new primary doctor and palliative care team.

Over these months, I (Amanda/mother) spent nearly all my time by Zack’s side. Between the long hospital stays and his daily care, I’ve missed so much work that I’ve fallen behind on bills and can’t afford some of the things he urgently needs. His hospital bed, which he uses every day, needs to be repaired, and we’re hoping to eventually purchase a van that will allow us to safely transport him to appointments, holiday visits, and maybe even an occasional drive just to lift his spirits.

We’ve always tried to handle life’s challenges on our own, but this time it’s been overwhelming — emotionally, physically, and financially. Asking for help doesn’t come easy for me, but right now, we truly need it.

We don’t know how much time Zack will have here with us, but our goal is to make his quality of life as full, safe, and comfortable as possible. He has such a bright, loving spirit and continues to inspire us every day with his strength and courage to fight.

Any amount you can give — or even just sharing this page — means more than words can say. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for caring, for praying, and for helping us keep Zack’s light shining.

— Amanda & Matt Huskins, and Family