LaToya Martin is a single mother living in Atlanta, Georgia raising two boys who live with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disorder causing a lack of motor, pulmonary, and cardiac function.
Garnett (16) and David (6) face the physical toll of Duchenne every day as their bodies grow in size and they become more dependent on wheelchairs and power wheelchairs to move about. LaToya has felt hopeless, especially in recent years, as she can no longer carry her boys to leave the home. Between school, medical appointments, and family activities, LaToya has injured herself lifting the boys and is limited in where they can bring wheelchairs.
Growing anxious from watching her sons experience physical challenges and being dependent on unreliable public transportation or Lyft to leave the home, LaToya turned to Jett Foundation in hopes of a brighter and more accessible future for her family. She shares, “Our family experienced isolation due to a lack of transportation to see friends and family. We struggled both physically and mentally, missing medical appointments and not getting to school on time.”
As of February 2025, the Palmer-Hughey family has felt a great sense of relief and happiness as they travel as one unit in their new accessible van. Jett staff and family surrounded LaToya and her boys as they celebrated the arrival of safety and accessibility, looking forward to great adventures and more timely care for Garnett and David.
The Jett Giving Fund program has helped transform the lives of countless families across the country since its inaugural cycle in 2017, gifting over $5.5 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, The Flatley Foundation, Sarepta Therapeutics, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Finn’s Friends, ITF Therapeutics, Kindness Over Muscular Dystrophy, The Killian Family, Michael’s Cause, the Nicholoff Family, Robert E. & Marie Orr Smith Foundation, Ryan’s Quest, and Yale Appliance.
You can assist families impacted by Duchenne through the Accessible Vehicle Fund, Emergency Fund, and Equipment Assistance Fund by donating today or reaching 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.
