Keeping Braedan Comfortable, Safe, and Living Accessibly
For the Henegar family, travel isn’t optional, it’s essential to who they are.
Braedan Henegar is a 20-year-old living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who was diagnosed in 2009. Duchenne is a progressive neuromuscular disorder causing a lack of motor, pulmonary, and cardiac function.
As Duchenne has progressed, Braedan now relies on a power wheelchair for mobility both inside and outside the home. Over the past two years, he has endured significant physical challenges, including fractures to both femurs and multiple compression fractures in his spine. Comfort, proper support, and safe transportation are medically necessary.
But Braedan’s story is defined by so much more than his Duchenne diagnosis.
Around the age of nine, Braedan discovered a deep passion for hunting and the outdoors, and it quickly became his drive. Through hunting and fishing, Braedan has built lifelong friendships across the country and found a powerful sense of purpose and belonging, especially meaningful while living with Duchenne. These trips aren’t just about the hunt; they’re about connection, advocacy, and showing others what’s possible.
Well known in the outdoor community as the “Critter Gitter“, Braedan has even found a passion documenting his outdoor experiences through his YouTube page.
At home, Braedan enjoys video games, connecting online with friends he’s met through his hunting network, listening to music, and spending time around animals. He has a special love for reptiles and pets and can often be found browsing pet stores whenever they’re out. These interests bring him joy and normalcy, especially as many of his local peers have moved on to college or work.
Right now, however, transportation is the family’s biggest obstacle.
The Henegars’ current vehicle is no longer safe or suitable for Braedan’s needs. While they’ve relied on a lightweight fold-up power chair for outings, it is not properly fitted, offers minimal support, and leaves Braedan in pain after just a short time. A full day in that chair simply isn’t possible anymore. Braedan was recently fitted for a power wheelchair designed to properly support his body, but the family has no safe way to transport it.
Manually lifting Braedan and his equipment has become increasingly difficult and unsafe, especially given his spinal fractures and fatigue.
Compounding these challenges, Braedan’s mom, Tammy, recently had to leave her job to become his full-time caregiver as his medical needs increased. This transition, combined with vehicle limitations and home accessibility renovations, has placed a heavy strain on the family at a time when Braedan needs stability and support the most.
An accessible vehicle would be life-changing for Braedan.
A wheelchair-accessible van would eliminate unsafe transfers, reduce physical strain on Braedan’s parents, and allow the family to continue traveling, advocating, and living life on Braedan’s terms.
The Henegars have been part of the Jett Foundation community for many years, first through the Jett Ride and ongoing advocacy efforts. Now, through Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund, they are working to fundraise half or more of the cost of an accessible vehicle. Once their goal is met, Jett Foundation will step in to cover the remaining costs and coordinate the purchase and delivery of the vehicle.
Consider helping Braedan attain the freedom and independence he deserves by contributing toward his 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.
