Hayden White

Help Hayden Get a Wheelchair-Accessible Family Van

Our son Hayden is a joyful, resilient 9-year-old with extensive and complex medical needs. He lives with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, Addison’s Disease (adrenal insufficiency), seizures, chronic hypotension, dysautonomia, autism, cerebral ventriculomegaly, global developmental delay, neurogenic dysphagia, and is g-tube dependent. He is non-verbal and requires 24/7 skilled nursing care to remain safe.

Despite having permanent disability insurance, transportation is not covered, and this has become one of the biggest obstacles to caring for him properly and keeping our family together.

Why We Need a Wheelchair-Accessible Van

We are raising funds to purchase a Ford Transit 350 XLT Wheelchair Accessible Rear-Lift Van that can safely transport Hayden, his wheelchair, his equipment, his nurse, and his five younger siblings. We currently do not have a vehicle large enough to safely accommodate Hayden and the full family. Driving two cars everywhere we go is not feasible, especially given frequent medical needs and emergencies.

A wheelchair-accessible van would allow our family to:

-Travel safely together, instead of leaving Hayden behind

-Transport Hayden to his many appointments without painful transfers

-Take him to the park, out to eat, and on everyday outings with his siblings

-Keep him safely in his wheelchair, which is far more comfortable than lifting him into a car seat

-Avoid dangerous manual lifting — Hayden is now large enough that lifting him in and out of a vehicle is extremely difficult for us and for his nurses

Hayden’s Story

Hayden was born at just 23 weeks. At birth, he endured:

-A Grade 4 intraventricular hemorrhage

-Hydrocephalus

-Multiple pulmonary hemorrhages

-Abdominal perforations

-Hernias

-Other severe complications

He has undergone multiple brain surgeries, including procedures to manually remove fluid, as well as two spinal surgeries. Throughout his life he has received physical, occupational, speech, and vision therapies, and has attended PPEC (prescribed pediatric extended care/medical daycare).

Why This Is Urgent

Our county has closed nearly all of its ESE classrooms and now requires children with significant medical needs to be bused long distances to “hub schools” — often close to an hour from our home. Multiple doctors have stated that this is unsafe for Hayden due to his medical conditions, yet the district continues to insist on busing.

Having a wheelchair-accessible van would allow us to transport Hayden ourselves in a safe, medically appropriate way.

How Your Support Helps

All funds raised will go toward purchasing the wheelchair-accessible Ford Transit 350 XLT. If additional funds remain, they will support making our home safer and more accessible for Hayden, including:

-Accessible shower/bath chairs

-Ramps and home-entry modifications

-Adjustments to help Hayden move around more safely

-Other physician-approved adaptive equipment

Why We Chose Help Hope Live

To ensure transparency and donor trust:

-No funds are given directly to our family.

-Help Hope Live performs extensive vetting of all families.

-They make direct payments to vendors for medically necessary equipment and services.

-All purchases require approval from Hayden’s treating physicians.

Your support helps Hayden travel safely, stay included in everyday family life, and access the care and experiences he deserves.