Van 4 Zoe!

Meet my granddaughter, Zoe; a 7-year-old girl with an infectious laugh, who loves movies, music & chocolate. When Zoe was a baby, she did not cry to be fed or changed. She did not meet normal babyhood milestones like crawling, walking or talking. After numerous doctors & tests, Zoe was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a genetic mutation on the X chromosome. Incurable, it primarily affects girls. Most do not walk or talk, and have limited hand coordination as well as other medical issues. Zoe also suffers from seizures which is an ongoing challenge. Medications, Physical & Speech therapy along with nutritional support help manage symptoms and help Zoe have a better quality of life. Zoe receives all of these treatments regularly.

Zoe is in 2nd grade, is very smart and has a great sense of humor. She has an Eyegaze computer program, similar to what Stephan Hawking used, with which she can pick out words and letters with her eyes to communicate & do her schoolwork.

Jill & Shawn are Zoe's mommy & daddy. Both are teachers; Jill works full-time while Shawn works part-time so he can be Zoe's caregiver. Zoe also has a little sister, Maddy, so it is a very busy household.

Zoe is getting bigger & heavier by the week. It has become increasingly difficult to get her in & out of a car seat as well as moving her wheelchair in & out of the car. (Watch the video below-The Struggle is Real!) The family dreams of getting a wheelchair-accessible van to manage these issues. It would make life just a little less difficult, especially as Zoe continues to grow. We are hoping to get enough donations to put a healthy down payment on a van to prevent a financial burden on this sweet family. A brand new minivan with a full conversion costs about $75,000!

#Van4Zoe  #TeamZoe

Meet Zoe

The Struggle is Real