Fourteen-year-old Cooper Klein from Pasadena, Maryland, lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disorder that weakens his muscles and affects his lungs and heart. Cooper was diagnosed with Duchenne at a young age, and his family bravely faces the challenges of this disease every day.
Cooper lives with and is cared for by his mother, Jennifer. He also has an older brother, Greyson (17), and best friend Lily, their pitbull. While the Klein family used to manage Cooper’s daily needs through manual lifting, his growing size has made this approach unsafe for both Cooper and his caregivers.
“It has become very difficult for me to transfer Cooper on my own since he and I are about the same size, so I needed to find a way to make his transfers as safe as possible for the both of us, and a ceiling lift was the perfect solution,” says Jennifer. “Like most Duchenne families, Jett Foundation was one of the first places my family was advised to go to for information, resources, and support when dealing with my son’s diagnosis.” The Klein Family also received an accessible van in 2021 from Jett Foundation as participants in the Accessible Vehicle Fund.
The most challenging transfer for Cooper and his mother was getting from the couch to the stair lift. “We were using a rolling office chair and I would lift him from the couch to the chair, and then roll him over to the staircase,” shares Jennifer. “Next, I would lift him from the chair and step up onto the landing, and into the stairlift. This had become really difficult, and I was nervous about not being able to lift him every time we did this.”
Jett Foundation’s Equipment Assistance branch of the Jett Giving Fund provides financial support to qualifying families and individuals impacted by Duchenne who need small accessibility or medical items that are either not covered by insurance or too expensive.
Jennifer shares, “Cooper feels so much safer with our new lift. Jett Foundation is an invaluable resource for families like ours who need expensive medical equipment not covered by insurance, help with getting an accessible van, emergency financial assistance, or just a place to turn to after a difficult diagnosis. I don’t know where we would be without the help and connection provided by Jett Foundation.”
Without our generous sponsors and donors, supporting families in the Duchenne community, like the Klein Family, would not be possible. A special thank you to 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, and Sarepta Therapeutics.
You can help us to support more families through the three branches of Jett Giving Fund: the Accessible Vehicle Fund, Emergency Fund, and Equipment Assistance Fund. Donate today or learn more about becoming a sponsor by emailing info@jettfoundation.org.
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.
