The Eaton family of Graham, North Carolina, received a new accessible van on August 8th through Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund for their 15-year-old son, Kaeden. Diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2018, Kaeden relies on a power wheelchair for mobility. For him, the van means freedom, making everyday travel and family adventures possible without constant worry.
Before receiving the van, Kaeden’s parents, Jennifer and William, had to manually transfer him into their inaccessible vehicle each time they traveled. Jennifer described the process as physically and emotionally taxing, while Kaeden feared being dropped. As a result, even routine trips became rare and required careful planning.
Thanks to family friend Jeremy Rollins, who discovered Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund and helped launch fundraising efforts for the Eaton family, Kaeden can now travel to doctor’s appointments, take vacations, and enjoy everyday activities with greater ease and independence. “Kaeden can now go places with his power wheelchair instead of having to be manually pushed,” Jennifer said.
The family looks forward to spending more time together doing everyday things, from grocery shopping and going to the movies, to exploring new places. Despite the challenges they’ve faced, they’re excited to begin this new chapter. For other families in the Duchenne community facing similar struggles, Jennifer encourages patience, taking life one day at a time. “Even though some days are hard, always be grateful for what is in front of you!” she said.
Kaedan, congratulations to you and your family. We’re so happy for you and wishing you many safe, memorable miles ahead! 
The Accessible Vehicle Fund is a branch of Jett Foundation’s Jett Giving Fund program and has helped transform the lives of countless families across the country since its inaugural cycle in 2017, gifting over $7.5 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, ITF Therapeutics , Sarepta Therapeutics , Austin’s Hope , Catalyst Pharmaceuticals , Finn’s Friends , Kindness Over Muscular Dystrophy , The Killian Family, Michael’s Cause, Permobil, Robert E. & Marie Orr Smith Foundation, Numotion, and Ryan’s Quest.
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.