Family and friends of Kaylie Hammond are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a Catastrophic Illness. Kaylie has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.
Kaylie is a joyful and resilient nine-year-old who brings light to everyone around her. She loves listening to her friends talk, enjoys music, and especially treasures snuggles with those who love her.
Kaylie was born with several complex medical conditions, including hemimegalencephaly, polymicrogyria, and hydrocephalus. She has also been diagnosed with epilepsy and visual impairment. Genetic testing later revealed a PIK3CA gene mutation, which may be the underlying cause of her overgrowth, as well as features consistent with MCAP (Megalencephaly-Capillary Malformation) and CLOVES syndromes.
Despite these challenges, Kaylie’s spirit continues to shine. Our family is committed to ensuring that her medical diagnoses never define who she is or limit what she can achieve. We focus on supporting her abilities, celebrating her joys, and providing her with every opportunity to experience the world in comfort and love.
Kaylie requires a wheelchair-accessible van to meet her ongoing medical and mobility needs. Our family travels approximately six hours each way for her specialized medical care. To make the most of these trips, we typically coordinate multiple appointments during each visit, which often necessitates staying several days away from home.
Traveling with Kaylie involves pack lots of medical supplies to ensure her comfort and safety. Her adaptive stroller occupies more than half of the cargo space in our current vehicle. Once all necessary items are loaded, there is very limited room remaining for other passengers, including her younger brother, who likes to tag along when ever he can
A wheelchair-accessible van would greatly improve both safety and efficiency during travel. Allowing Kaylie to remain in her adaptive stroller while in the vehicle would free up valuable space, simplify loading and unloading, and reduce physical strain on caregivers. Additionally, it would provide protection from weather conditions—currently, when it rains, both Kaylie and her equipment are exposed to the elements during transfer, which creates additional challenges and discomfort for everyone involved.
This vehicle modification would significantly enhance our ability to transport Kaylie safely, support her medical care, and improve her overall quality of life. It would allow us to focus more fully on what truly matters—giving Kaylie the best possible care and the chance to continue experiencing the world
