Free Makendric Johns
Donation protected
Meet Makendric Johns. He is a 13 year old student at Boles Junior High. He lives with his mother, sister, and aunt. He suffers from Cerebral Palsy, Severe Global Developmental Delay, Nystagmus (eyes), and Hypotonia (Oral & Gross Motor). Despite everthing that Mak has been through, he is full of excitement for life, love, and craves adventure. He is bright, loving, funny, sweet, and authentic.
While every child is special, Mak's character and sweet heart really does justice to the term "special" that is so often used for kids with challenges like his. He really is very special! He loves people, loves hugs, and loves going "byebye" in the van. In fact, although Mak is non-verbal, this is the one thing he can and does say...."byebyebye". He loves to get out and see the world. With your help, I hope to help make that happen.
I was in a meeting with Tessa Johns, Makendric’s mother, when I first was drawn to their situation. She came in and began to discuss her difficulties with getting there, but gracefully turned the conversation into thanking everyone for being there and sharing appreciation for Mak’s teachers. Through some probing questions, I discovered how real their daily struggle is. Because of all the appointments, specialists, therapist, and calls from school, she couldn't hold down a job anymore….and got really good at getting fired for just caring for her son's needs.
The next afternoon, as I was standing outside monitoring students, she pulled up and had to park her van away from the curb in the handicap parking spot in order to get Mak out. Not caring about her situation, people behind her in their cars were honking impatiently. Doggedly, she pulled his wheelchair out of the back of the van and wheeled it around to the side door and then lifted him out of the van and went to put him in the wheelchair. Seeing her struggle, I offered to assist, but she said “It’s okay…I got it.” I got the impression that she probably felt like….’It’s not like you can follow me everywhere and help’.
I know from experience that it is not sustainable for her to continue to lift him as he keeps growing towards adulthood. I remember watching my father lift my mother in her last years and the toll it took on his body. It has to be exhausting for her to want to go to school, to the grocery store, to go out to eat, to go anywhere. I knew right then that I had to do something to improve their situation….to enable his family to be able to go places.. to free her from one of many burdens.....to free Mak.
Their 14 year old van is on it's last leg and is not worth putting in a lift, even if she had the money. They need reliable, safe transportation at a minimum. Money is hard to come by when you are forced to be a stay-at-home mom. All of the money raised will be used to buy a van with a lift, and warrantees to cover both. This will not be cheap, but with your help, I would like to make this happen. Hopefully, we can set them up with it near the start of school or early fall. Please help us reach our goal and give this family the freedom to travel safely!
No matter the donation, every little bit helps. Please help me...free Mak.
While every child is special, Mak's character and sweet heart really does justice to the term "special" that is so often used for kids with challenges like his. He really is very special! He loves people, loves hugs, and loves going "byebye" in the van. In fact, although Mak is non-verbal, this is the one thing he can and does say...."byebyebye". He loves to get out and see the world. With your help, I hope to help make that happen.
I was in a meeting with Tessa Johns, Makendric’s mother, when I first was drawn to their situation. She came in and began to discuss her difficulties with getting there, but gracefully turned the conversation into thanking everyone for being there and sharing appreciation for Mak’s teachers. Through some probing questions, I discovered how real their daily struggle is. Because of all the appointments, specialists, therapist, and calls from school, she couldn't hold down a job anymore….and got really good at getting fired for just caring for her son's needs.
The next afternoon, as I was standing outside monitoring students, she pulled up and had to park her van away from the curb in the handicap parking spot in order to get Mak out. Not caring about her situation, people behind her in their cars were honking impatiently. Doggedly, she pulled his wheelchair out of the back of the van and wheeled it around to the side door and then lifted him out of the van and went to put him in the wheelchair. Seeing her struggle, I offered to assist, but she said “It’s okay…I got it.” I got the impression that she probably felt like….’It’s not like you can follow me everywhere and help’.
I know from experience that it is not sustainable for her to continue to lift him as he keeps growing towards adulthood. I remember watching my father lift my mother in her last years and the toll it took on his body. It has to be exhausting for her to want to go to school, to the grocery store, to go out to eat, to go anywhere. I knew right then that I had to do something to improve their situation….to enable his family to be able to go places.. to free her from one of many burdens.....to free Mak.
Their 14 year old van is on it's last leg and is not worth putting in a lift, even if she had the money. They need reliable, safe transportation at a minimum. Money is hard to come by when you are forced to be a stay-at-home mom. All of the money raised will be used to buy a van with a lift, and warrantees to cover both. This will not be cheap, but with your help, I would like to make this happen. Hopefully, we can set them up with it near the start of school or early fall. Please help us reach our goal and give this family the freedom to travel safely!
No matter the donation, every little bit helps. Please help me...free Mak.
Organizer
Scott Gutkowski
Organizer
Arlington, TX
