Help the Grant Family fix their Wheelchair Accessible Van

Hi friends,

My name is Michelle Short, and I’m reaching out not just as a friend—but as a fellow special needs parent who deeply understands the everyday challenges families like ours face.

The Grant Family needs our support! Jason and Amber have two adult children with significant special needs. Luke and Matthew have been and continue to be such a gift and joy to our community. They have gone through so many challenges in their journey and are facing the most challenging season yet. In the past two years, Jason has had 6 eye surgeries, while Luke (who has Autism, epilepsy and an autoimmune condition), has had multiple seizures and Matthew (Matty) is facing his greatest hardships yet. Matthew brings sunshine wherever he goes and is a light. However, he needs the extensive care and support of his parents to do life! His health has become much more unstable since August and Jason and Amber are facing very difficult days.

11 years ago, they were blessed with a van that served Matty's needs at the time. It has been such a gift! It did not, however, have an electric lift. Matthew has doubled in size and has become significantly more fragile. The cares that Jason and Amber give to Matty on a daily basis, is hospital level intensive care. Luke requires 24 hr supervision as well. When Jason is unable to help lift due to surgeries, Amber has to transport Matty without him. They have been team lifting him in his wheelchair into the van because the fold out ramp they have is too steep. That was workable UNTIL recently, their van's transmission failed. It also needs new rotors. It has 120K miles on it and isn't meeting their needs anymore.

They are also in the middle of a move and are adapting the bathroom for Matthew's showering needs. Jason is a remodeler and doing all the labor, but it's a big cost. The home they have been in was creating extra hardships on their health and has increased Luke's seizure frequency as well as affected Matty's lungs.

We are hoping to raise money to get them a new(ish) wheelchair accessible van so that they do not have to worry about this during this challenging season of their life and focus on caring for their boys. They need transportation independence and the physical help that an electric lift provides.

It would also be amazing if we can help take care of the accessible shower costs and some of the surprise needs that arise with moving and having special needs children.