Parker Needs a New Ride

Six years ago, Parker was diagnosed with a rare disease. Wilson's Disease took Parker's ability to play baseball, play violin, go on mission trips, and basically anything that requires movement, including speech. It did NOT, however, take away his positive spirit OR his faith in God. He puts a smile on the faces of people he knows and those he just meets by sharing his memes from his Facebook. He uses an iPad to communicate and so much more. When he was first diagnosed, in 2011, we already had a 1999 Toyota Sienna van. We didn't want to accept that Parker was going to need a wheelchair so we borrowed one for a while and the chair fit in the back of the van. After several months, his physical therapist helped us get one of his own, but it was still a manual chair that would fit in the back of the van after removing the 3rd row seats. After 5 years in the manual chair, we have accepted that he will be in a chair for possibly the rest of his life. The 1999 van is still with us, but won't accommodate a power chair because it's not a conversion van. Insurance has now bought him a power chair to give him a bit more indepence, and at 21, idependence is important! Our problem is, we can't use it until we get a conversion van, made to accommodate a 350 lb wheelchair. I never expected to be in this situation, having a handicapped son. No one does. But you do what you can for your kids, no matter what it takes. I'm asking for help in purchasing a conversion van so Parker can get out in the community and have more indepence by using his new power chair. He definitely deserves it. He's attending college and physical therapy. He loves to go to the movies and loves to entertain people. My goal is $30,000 which is the cost of converting a new van into a wheelchair accessible one. If something CRAZY happens, and we are blessed with more than that, it could be used as a down payment on the new van. Thank you so much for reading Parker's story. I hope this will be the first step in putting a HUGE smile on HIS face, as he does for so many others . You can read about Wilson's Disease at http://wilsonsdisease.org. Let the craziness begin!

Parker at a violin contest before Wilson's Disease.

Parker in his manual chair at physical therapy. Notice the iPad on his lap. He doesn't go anywhere without it.

In the hospital for 2 weeks after bad reaction to Botox injections for dystonia in his muscles.

Parker at first base. This was his usual position. Sometimes center field. His team won the league championship at age 12, when they were the Marlins. He played baseball in Farragut since he was 5. It was soooo much fun! Our van used to have lots of baseball field dirt in it.

Parker, his older brother Austin, and me. They put up a swing for me for Mother's Day. I think he was probably 12 at the time. My boys are my pride and joy.