Help Save 10yo Stryder's Van

This is the story of a boy named Stryder and his faithful service dog Keebler. The two of them are inseparable. Sadly, they are about to lose the only car they own. Stryder has a long and complicated list of medical issues he has dealt with his whole life. It consists of multiple genetic abnormalities, connective tissue disorder, history of Chiari Malformation, Cranial Cervical Instability, and a complicated cardiac condition. Stryder also has Landau-Kleffner Syndrome and has constant seizures. The Cranial Cervical Instability along with several bulging discs, requires him to wear a neck brace 24hours a day to prevent further damage and blackouts from the vertebra hitting his spinal cord. Though not an official diagnosis yet, the doctors believe he also has ROHHAD disease (Rapid Onset Obesity, with Hypothalamic Dysfunction, Hypoventilation and Autonomic Dysregulation). ROHHAD is a very rare disease with a short life expectancy and no cure. Currently there are only 100 cases worldwide.

In spite of so many challenges, Stryder is an amazingly typical 10-year-old boy. He likes video games, riding his scooter, and playing baseball and basketball when he’s able to. Right now, his body can only handle about 5 min of activity before it over heats and he has to stop. He loves school and everybody at school loves him. From the teachers, bus drivers, nurses and lunch ladies to all the kids who fight for the chance to sit by him or go with him to PE. But his best friend in the entire world is his dog Keebler.

Working tirelessly behind the scenes of this amazing kid, is Stryders mom Angela. Angela is a single mom fighting everyday just to keep Stryder functioning at a baseline level and out of the hospital. He requires IV fluids twice a day, frequent monitoring of his vital signs, medications, nighttime monitoring of his oxygen levels, daily communication and appointments with multiple doctors and specialists, plus all the additional everyday mom duties. She never sleeps a full night because of Stryders monitors constantly alarming and needing to check on him. Yet every morning she is up and smiling, dressed beautifully and ready to face the challenges of the day as she fights to keep her son alive.

Right now, Stryder and his mom are about to lose their only source of transportation. Because Angela is unable to work due to all of the care Stryder requires each day and a sudden decrease in their monthly income, they can no longer afford the monthly payments on their 2013 minivan.  This van is a necessity for them in caring for Stryder. He has frequent doctors’ appointments and also has to travel to Portland to see specialists, sometimes as often as twice a week. The van has a lift on the back to transport his wheelchair and works well for Stryder to maneuver in while wearing his chest and neck brace and leg supports. Currently the remaining balance owed is $11,500. With your help I am hoping we can save Stryders van and alleviate this burden from Angela. If more than enough is raised, it will used to buy a ramp that attaches to the van. This ramp would allow them to place the wheelchair inside of the van instead of it sitting on the outside when they travel. Motorized wheelchairs are extremely expensive and when they travel to Portland in the winter that wheelchair is being exposed to all the snow and rain.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read Stryder’s story and I ask that you might consider donating and/or sharing Stryders GoFundMe story so we can help this family. To learn more about Stryder or ROHHAD please follow the links below.

http://www.rohhadassociation.com/?page_id=389
Facebook: Stryder’s Story