Matthew Busch is 35 years old living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disorder causing a loss of pulmonary, cardiac, and motor function. He lives with and is cared for by his parents, Wendy and Michael, in Carrollton, Georgia. The family has faced many challenges since Matthew’s Duchenne diagnosis at six years old, including having to source necessary medical equipment, finding ways to participate in school and everyday activities, finding medical treatment, and more.
Requiring a wheelchair, Hoyer lift, nebulizer machine, and more medical/accessibility equipment to leave the home, Matthew and his family have been very limited in their travels. “I have not had the independence to move about by myself,” says Matthew, who longed to visit family and friends for many years.
That dream has become a reality for Matthew and his parents as they received a delivery of a safe and accessible van on October 25th, 2024. The family successfully fundraised more than half of funds needed for their accessible vehicle before Jett Foundation stepped in to cover remaining funds and purchased the vehicle. Matthew and his parents are participants in Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund, a branch of the Jett Giving Fund that helps families impacted by Duchenne obtain safe, accessible transportation.
The Busch family was surrounded by love and support when their vehicle arrived. Wendy shares, “We relied on our faith in God and He helped keep us strong and encouraged throughout this process. The Accessible Vehicle Fund allowed us to feel the love of our family and friends, as well as all the advice and help Jett Foundation provides. We are very excited to visit loved ones with our van and have uninterrupted travels.”
Emily Hubert, Jett Foundation’s Development Events Manager, joined the family in their neighborhood to help celebrate. Emily says “What a wonderful day October 25th was with such a wonderful family. I could not be happier for the Busch family and am very grateful to have witnessed their enthusiasm toward vehicle safety and accessibility.”
The Jett Giving Fund program has helped transform the lives of countless families across the country since its inaugural cycle in 2017, gifting over $4.5 million worth of accessible vehicles, small medical equipment, and emergency assistance thanks to the generous support of individual donors, local communities, and major sponsors including Cure Dale’s Duchenne, Finn’s Friends, the Flatley Foundation , the Killian Family, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Kindness Over Muscular Dystrophy, Michael’s Cause, Ryan’s Quest, PJ’s Protocol, and Sarepta Therapeutics.
To assist families impacted by Duchenne through the Accessible Vehicle Fund, Emergency Fund, and Equipment Assistance Fund, you can donate today or reach out to Maura Carroll, Director of Development, at [email protected] to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
If you or someone you know is in need of support or would like more information on our Jett Giving Fund, please visit www.jettfoundation.org/giving-fund.
