Carter Rodgers

Carter Needs Your Help!

Carter Rodgers is seven years-old, and an average second grader who is cognitively bright, has a great sense of humor, and is mainstreamed in a regular education classroom setting. Carter has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, a lifelong and permanent condition caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture. Carter was born premature at 35-weeks via emergency C-section. As a result, he suffered a stroke in the womb that caused him to have a grade-1 brain bleed. When Carter turned 1, he was unable to sit up, crawl, stand, and walk. When Carter was only 3 years-old, he received a manual wheelchair that helped with his mobility. Now that he is turning 7 and growing larger, his needs are changing and he is outgrowing his wheelchair. In addition, he needs to be transported in his chair, and Carter would greatly benefit from a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Despite the high cost of a new vehicle, Carter is in great need of a wheelchair accessible vehicle, to help him not only gain access to medical appointments, outings with his friends and school, but to gain the independence he truly deserves.

Carters’ loving and supportive parents transfer him daily from his wheelchair into his car seat. There are several limitations using a manual wheelchair, and the power wheelchair along with a new van will potentially provide Carter the independence he needs to move around freely. Whether in school, on the playground, and even at home, a new wheelchair will allow Carter to interact and keep up with his friends at school and move freely from his bedroom to the living room on his own. As Carter grows older, a power wheelchair will provide more independence, and greater freedom both physically and emotionally for Carter. The wheelchair accessible van will allow him to be transported more easily to and from school, therapy and medical appointments, and the activities that Carter enjoys on a daily basis. Additionally, he would no longer need to be lifted and transferred to and from his chair every time he leaves him home.

Carter is a healthy and happy seven year-old who loves the Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles, and wrestling. He loves to watch movies with his family, and he lights up every room he enters. Carter has overcome many obstacles in life and a new wheelchair and van will give him more independence and opportunities ahead. Unfortunately, Carter’s health insurance is very limited, and does not cover the tens of thousands of dollars needed to pay for a specialized van.

To help offset such expenses, a fundraising campaign in Carter’s honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the Midwest/West Catastrophic Illness Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for illness-related expenses only. To make a donation to this fundraising campaign, please click on the yellow DONATE NOW button. For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you ahead of time for your thoughts, prayers and generous contribution. Any donation amount, no matter how big or how small, is one step closer to a brighter future for both Carter and his family.

Gratefully,

Carter’s loving and supportive family and Community