A Safe Ride for 3 year old Dawn’s Critical Medical Needs

Help Us Get a Safe Vehicle for Dawn

My name is Kimberly, and I’m creating this GoFundMe for my daughter Dawn’s 3rd birthday, instead of having a party. Every birthday is a huge milestone—something to celebrate—but it’s also a harsh reality check. Every year she grows older, I’m reminded that my time with her is running out. I don’t know how much time we have left or how quickly it will slip away.

Why We Need Your Help

Dawn has Mucolipidosis II (I-Cell Disease), an ultra-rare, terminal genetic disease that affects nearly every system in her body. There is no cure, and the average life expectancy is just 3 to 7 years. It causes extreme muscle weakness, organ damage, respiratory failure, and severe skeletal deformities plus so so much more. She has been the size of an infant for most of her life—she’s 17.5 pounds and wears 9-month baby clothes. Even a minor illness could become life-threatening.

Dawn is my second child born with this condition. My son, who also had Mucolipidosis II, passed away at just two weeks old in 2017. I know firsthand how cruel this disease is, and I want to give Dawn the best experiences possible while I still can. But right now, we are trapped.

A Safe Vehicle Is Not a Want—It’s a Necessity

Dawn has weekly therapy sessions at the children’s hospital, along with lots of specialist appointments. But our current car is unsafe, unreliable, and uncomfortable for her fragile body. These are just a few of the dozens of issues we are currently having:

• No air conditioning – Texas summers are brutal, and due to her disease Dawn struggles with body temperature regulation. Overheating can trigger seizures in children with neurological disorders, making AC a medical necessity, not a luxury. With Dawn aging out of our in home therapy program, we will be leaving the house more often for therapy, making this one of the biggest problems.

• The back seat doesn’t allow her car seat to sit at the correct angle.

• A constant oil leak – Repairing it would cost more than the car is worth, so I just refill it as needed.

• Roof patched with tape – The car leaks have caused the interior lining to deteriorate with any small touch.

• Broken driver’s window – Makes the heat even worse by restricting air flow.

• Failing locks – A safety issue for any parent, but especially with a medically fragile child.

Beyond the car’s condition, loading her wheelchair, gait trainer, wagon, and any other medical equipment alone is physically exhausting. It takes me several minutes, leaving us vulnerable if we’re out alone, especially after dark.

Dawn Deserves to Experience the World

Right now, Dawn’s world is mostly confined to our small apartment. She recently got a gait trainer to help her walk, but there isn’t enough space for her to use it here besides in the parking lot, which has its own set of dangers. I want to take her places that she can enjoy, show her a world beyond these walls. Due to her size and physical limitations, we usually have to drive a little further out to find things that she can enjoy. I usually wait until it’s dark to drive with her out of town to avoid the heat.

A wheelchair-accessible van with air conditioning would be life-changing. It would allow us to safely travel to her medical appointments, enjoy simple outings, and give her the experiences every child deserves.

How You Can Help

We are hoping to raise enough funds for a safe, reliable minivan—it would make an incredible difference in Dawn’s comfort, safety, and ability to experience the simple things in life.

Every donation, share, and kind word means the world to us. Thank you for helping me give Dawn the experiences and safety she deserves while I still can.