Jake is a cheerful and outgoing six-year-old who loves to laugh, read books, watch his favorite TV shows, and have fun with his siblings. He enjoys music, especially listening to Taylor Swift with his sister Zoey. At the age of one, Jake was diagnosed with GNAO1, a rare neurological disorder that affects his body movements. In addition, Jake is unable to communicate verbally but is learning to use a speech device. Jake’s family extensively renovated their home to make it more accessible for him. As Jake grew, it became increasingly challenging to transport him in their unmodified vehicle due to the adapted car seat.
“We couldn’t bring his wheelchair because it was too heavy for me to lift and put in the car, which meant we couldn’t bring his speech device attached to it,” said Laura, Jake’s mom. “Furthermore, we faced the challenge of trying to figure out when to disconnect his feeding device to give us time to load him into the vehicle.”
When Laura and Peter began their search for an adapted minivan, they received several costly estimates, which led them to seek a more affordable option. A PATF staff member, who knows the family personally, suggested they contact the organization. Laura and Peter applied for a Low-Interest Loan, and within a few weeks, they received the check to purchase the adapted minivan.
“The loan enabled us to expedite the purchase of the minivan, saving us time, physical effort, and hassle when going to school,” Peter explained. “Before we received the modified van, we couldn’t send Jake to school with his communication device because it was too large to fit in the previous van; the device had to travel separately.” Jake can now attend school with his communication device, which he enjoys, attached to his wheelchair.
Jake always looks forward to traveling with his family in the van. “He’s going to his sister’s basketball games and going with me on more errands now that we have this new van that’s more accessible, Laura commented. “We would like to express our gratitude for your pioneering work as a non-profit. PATF is an incredible resource!”