Addison Schwab is a smart, stubborn, hard-working 12-year-old who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the age of two and a half. Addison, also known as Addy, lives with his family in a small town called Breckenridge, Minnesota.
They moved to Minnesota just five years ago because Medicaid stopped covering the costs of doctor’s appointments while they were living in North Dakota. On top of costs and the importance of crucial appointments, the family worried how to get there without safe and accessible transportation.
Addison and his family applied to Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund program because of the high price tag that comes with safe and accessible transportation.
Jett Foundation’s Jett Giving Fund offers families financial assistance through two main branches of support: The Accessible Vehicle Fund and Emergency Fund. The Accessible Vehicle Fund helps families obtain safe, accessible transportation; families raise half the funds needed or more for their vehicle and Jett Foundation covers the remaining costs.
Addison’s mom, Damien, says they relied primarily on public transportation but that did not suffice to get them to appointments that were three hours away. As a result, Addison would often have to attend virtual appointments, which came with its own set of challenges.
“It was a struggle,” says Damien. “He needs appointments in person to see how much he has grown.”
Damien says they have scheduled an appointment in the city within the coming weeks now that they received their van.
“This has changed everything for us. Before, Addison couldn’t leave the house. Our routine was staying home all the time, now we can add trips to our days.”
Addison and his family are already looking forward to taking their van on a road trip to a Nascar race, hopefully in Fort Worth Texas. They also can’t wait to plan a time to celebrate their new set of wheels with family and friends!
Damien’s advice to others is to spread the word. “Share your story. Get it out there. Get involved. It’s a challenge, but always be willing to talk. There are other people that are going through what you’re going through,” she says.
You can help us to support more families through the two branches of Jett Giving Fund: the Accessible Vehicle Fund and the Emergency Fund. Donate today or learn more about becoming a sponsor by emailing [email protected].
Established in 2017, Jett Giving Fund has helped transform the lives of countless families across the country with over $2.5 million worth of accessible equipment and emergency assistance thanks to the generous support of individual donors, local communities, and major sponsors including our angel sponsor Cure Dale’s Duchenne along with additional partners Sarepta Therapeutics, FibroGen, the Flatley Foundation, and the Killian Family.
