Helping Kaeden Attain Freedom and Independence
For the Eaton family, transportation has become one of the most painful barriers to everyday life, and one they face every single day.
Kaeden Eaton is a funny, caring, and determined 14-year-old living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disorder causing a lack of motor, pulmonary, and cardiac function. Diagnosed in 2018, Kaeden now fully relies on a power wheelchair for mobility. Like many kids his age, Kaeden loves music, gaming, his dogs, spicy food, and sour candy, and he dreams big about all the things he wants to do.
But those dreams often stop at the car door.
The Eaton family’s vehicle is not accessible, making manual transfers increasingly unsafe and painful. Every trip requires Kaeden’s parents, Jennifer and William, to lift him in and out of the car and into a manual wheelchair, an exhausting and physically demanding process that strains her back and causes Kaeden discomfort and anxiety. Kaeden worries about being dropped, and Jennifer worries about hurting her son.
Because of this, many outings simply don’t happen.
“You never want to put your son in a situation where we have to say you can’t do something,” Jennifer shared. Yet too often, that’s exactly what happens—especially when errands require multiple stops or when no one else is home to help with transfers. Kaeden frequently has to stay behind, even though he wants so badly to be included.
An accessible vehicle would change that reality.
With a wheelchair-accessible van, Kaeden could travel safely and comfortably in his power wheelchair without painful transfers, fear, or risk of injury. It would open the door to more independence, more family outings, and more of the everyday experiences Kaeden talks about constantly: going places, doing things, and just living life.
The Eaton family is also looking ahead to moments they’ve had to put on hold for far too long. Kaeden’s dad dreams of finally introducing him to his side of the family, something that hasn’t been possible without safe transportation. Even small trips feel out of reach right now.
The family has been encouraged and supported by a leadership member of William’s employer, who helped introduce them to Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund and guided them through the application process. That support has given the Eatons hope that change is possible.
Through Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund, the Eaton family is working to fundraise half or more of the cost of their accessible vehicle. Once their goal is reached, Jett Foundation will step in to help cover the remaining cost and coordinate the purchase and delivery of a vehicle that meets Kaeden’s needs now and into the future.
You can help Kaeden and his family attain the freedom and independence they deserve by contributing toward their fundraising goal below!
All donations to Jett Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed under applicable law and is an unrestricted contribution to the Jett Giving Fund. The family is working to raise half the funds needed for their van or more; when they reach their goal, Jett Foundation will cover the remaining costs and coordinate purchase and delivery of the vehicle.
