Although Rose’s family does have a wheelchair-accessible van, it is 20 years old and rapidly failing. In the extreme Arizona heat, the air conditioning can no longer keep up when temperatures exceed 100. Rose is left overheating, drenched in sweat, and at risk during even short trips. Even more frightening, the van’s locking system has become unreliable — Rose has been locked inside the back of the van twice, with no safe way to remove her wheelchair. On one occasion, she had to be removed through a side door without her chair.

Recently, a local garage ran a community competition offering free vehicle repairs, and Rose’s family was selected. After a full inspection, the mechanics were honest and compassionate — the repairs required were too extensive and costly to safely take on. The cost would exceed the value of the van, and attempting repairs would likely cause ongoing and escalating failures. Multiple mechanics have since confirmed the same thing: the van is at the end of its life.

Rose’s mom is doing everything she possibly can. She is working tirelessly to save — even taking on a second job — while also providing around-the-clock care for a child with complex medical needs. Despite her determination, the cost of a reliable wheelchair-accessible van is simply out of reach without help. As a fellow FOXG1 parent, I am deeply concerned not only for Rose’s safety, but for the wellbeing of the entire family. Caregiver burnout is a very real and serious risk in families living with FOXG1. When parents are forced to juggle unsafe transportation, extreme heat, financial strain, and multiple jobs, the toll becomes overwhelming — and no family should have to carry that alone. This situation is now urgent. This fundraiser is not about convenience or upgrades — it is about safety, dignity, and sustainability.