Help TJ and Our Family Overcome Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

It took a long time to find the courage and humility to create this GoFundMe page. Like most working-class people, I have pride, self-respect, and dignity. I’ve worked hard my entire career and always thought I made a good living for a working man. But lately, my family has been facing challenges that are simply too heavy to shoulder alone.

My name is Steve, and I’m a feeder driver for UPS. I have two boys, ages 16 and 14. My oldest, TJ, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy—a rare and devastating muscle-wasting disease that affects roughly one in 3,500 boys worldwide. It’s progressive and, heartbreakingly, still has no cure.

TJ is bright, kind, and full of life. He keeps his spirits up, makes us laugh, and faces every day with incredible courage. But Duchenne has taken a great toll on his body. He’s lost almost all movement in his limbs and relies on a power chair to get around. He can no longer feed himself, and his scoliosis has become so severe that his spine is twisted almost sideways.

The medical expenses are overwhelming. While my insurance helps, I’m the only income for our family. TJ’s mother is his full-time caretaker—a role she fulfills with love and strength—but it leaves her unable to work outside the home. Living in New Jersey is expensive, and the costs keep rising.

One of our biggest needs right now is a wheelchair-accessible van. Ours is a 2005 model that’s completely worn out. The doors barely work, and the ramp no longer operates automatically—it has to be pulled out by hand. We’re in our 50s, and while I stay in good shape, it’s getting harder, especially for his mother, who still lifts and moves him multiple times a day.

We also face upcoming medical procedures, including a likely spinal fusion surgery and possibly stem cell treatments that could help extend TJ’s quality of life. On top of that, we need to make home accessibility upgrades—like installing a ceiling lift to safely move him from bed to his chair and to the bathroom.

I never imagined asking for help like this, but we’ve reached a point where we simply can’t do it alone. We’re reaching out to our UPS Teamster brothers and sisters, our friends, family, and the community for support.

Your donations will go toward:

A reliable wheelchair-accessible van

Medical expenses and upcoming surgeries

Home accessibility modifications (like a ceiling lift)

We are deeply grateful for any help—financial, spiritual, or simply sharing our story. We’ll post updates as we move forward on TJ’s journey.

Please keep TJ and our family in your prayers.

Thank you for helping us stay strong, hopeful, and moving forward.

With gratitude,

Steve and Family