BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — A family needs a wheelchair accessible van for their teenage son with cerebral palsy.
He’s having surgery on his hips next month and they need a proper vehicle to transport him back home.
Kimberly McKay gets her 13-year-old son Aiden back and forth to different appointments all while using her older model Chevy Tahoe. She gets all the kids loaded, including lifting Aiden, then loads the 400 pound wheelchair to the back.
“I have an SUV so it’s not really ideal to put him in and out like that,” said McKay.
She just had back surgery in February. With Aiden getting older, the stress on her body is taking its toll.
“I think I need another back surgery, but I just cannot do that. Especially with his surgery coming up. So, I just live with the pain honestly,” said McKay.
Aiden and his twin brother Aaron are pretty inseparable. Aiden is always smiling and has a lot to say.
He doesn’t let having cerebral palsy limit him. But in June he’s having surgery to reconstruct both of his hips.
“He sits sideways whenever he’s out of wheelchair so one of his hips are coming out of socket so they’re going to reconstruct both of his hips,” said McKay.
It’s why they desperately need a wheelchair accessible van. The owner of JRNY2U Nutrition is holding a fundraiser Saturday to raise money for just that.
“I’ve watched her struggle and every time I watch her struggle, she still comes in with the biggest smile,” said JRNY2U Nutrition owner Brittany Chasteen.
She’s grown close with Kimberly and all of her kids. She has seen how hard the family is trying to penny pinch and take care of Aiden and the entire family of eight.
“Immediately after surgery I saw her walk in and I said you’re not even supposed to be driving. She said, 'but I’m a mom first.' Her husband works all hours to make extra money and I see how hard they try and there’s such little ability for help,” said Chasteen.
From a GoFundMe, cupcake sales, and other fundraisers, they’re asking the community to join in to help a family so many in town love.
Saturday's fundraiser is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at JRNY2U Nutrition in Bartlesville.
You can also donate to the family's GoFundMe by clicking here .
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