Brayden's Trust Fund
Thank you for visiting! Scroll down to read Brayden's story.
ABOUT BRAYDEN
When Brayden was almost one year-old, we had some concerns for Brayden's health. He was diagnosed with Congenital Nystagmus (now know as Infantile Nystagmus), which means that his eyes were having trouble focusing on objects. His Ophthalmologist wanted to do an MRI to make sure that nothing was pressing against his optical nerve. What they discovered was that Brayden had suffered from a stroke in utero, which damaged and atrophied the left side of his brain (Cerebral Palsy).
We had no idea what his diagnosis would mean for our family. Brayden developed more slowly, but he began to learn the basic things. He learned to walk (though falling often), talk, and do other things you would hope a kid would do. But as he has grown and developed, his mobility has decreased greatly.
Brayden is mostly confined to a wheelchair. Standing has become difficult for him. He has also suffered from seizures over the years, though recently they have become more frequent. Our hope is to give Brayden the best kind of care. We have remodeled our house to fit his wheelchair and remodeled his bathroom to make it ADA compliant. As Brayden continues to grow, so will his needs.
Below you can find a list of current needs Brayden has.
ADA COMPLIANT VAN
We had a minivan that was not ADA compliant. That van had repairs beyond the value of the van, so we decided to look for a new van. We knew that we would need a mobility van, so we set out to look for one. We were shocked at how expensive vehicles were, not to mention mobility vehicles. Not only that, but the requirements to convert a van are very specific (current body type only, some safety and entertainment features make a van unconvertable, etc...)
We don't want to be in this position in another five years. When we saw the used market for used vans with our specific requirements, we decided to buy new and have it converted. We would have NEVER dreamed of buying a new vehicle. It seemed so frivolous and lavish at one time, but it seems like the best option to ensure a vehicle that will last and one that is safe for Brayden.
Through others' great generosity we have bought a van. We did have to finance part of the van and most of the conversion, which we expected.
GARAGE AND RAMP
Brayden is getting bigger! At the time of this writing, Brayden is approaching 90 lbs. Our house currently has three steps in the garage with one more step inside to reach the main part of the house. It's becoming more difficult to transport Brayden's wheelchair into the house, then to lift and carry him to his wheelchair.
Our current attached garage has JUST enough space for a car. We will be putting an ADA compliant ramp into the house, which will occupy nearly half of the garage. The detached garage is not suitable for a vehicle, meaning that we will need to park and store our van outside.
Our goal is to remove the existing detached garage and build onto the attached garage, making it suitable for a mobility van and a ramp. This would keep Brayden (and our new van) out of inclement weather while providing Brayden with a safe access to the house.
ABOUT OUR FAMILY
We (Norm and Tara) have been married since 2006 and have been blessed with two boys, Brayden and Landon. We never set out to make a website or fundraise for Brayden. However, as people learned our story, they kept asking, "How can we help?" They often stated that they wanted to help financially. We set up the trust for Brayden to accept gifts from others while also protecting his state assistance in the future. Brayden's Trust Fund can ONLY be used to help him with expenses related to his disability (medical expenses, home modifications, etc...).
Thank you for visiting our page and supporting our family through donation, prayer, and encouragement. We appreciate the love our family receives from the world!
How can I help?
Pray
God is good, and what is true in the light is true in the darkness.
Please pray for strength, patience, and peace through our journey.
Spread Kindness
Express your gratitude to the people you care about, make dinner for a family in need, or pay it forward in the coffee line.
In a world where you can be anything, be kind.
Donate
Many people have asked, How can I give?
We have set up a special needs trust in Brayden's name to help cover his needs as he grows.
Donate directly to the trust below
*If you would like your donations to be tax exempt, DO NOT donate using the button below.
Please contact us by email (info@braydenstrust.com) for tax exempt donation instructions.
