Family Assistance Stories

Meet the Carr Family! The Carr family had been raising money for the past few years to afford a wheelchair accessible van for their son Stephen. We had the pleasure of donating the remaining balance they needed to secure this life changing van. 

Casey, Stephen's dad, said: “Bless you Dear Lady for all your help and all you do. We got our van yesterday.”

Meet Ethan Higginbotham. He is a junior at Wichita State University. He is currently living independently in an apartment, studying Physics and Astronomy. Finn's Friends was honored to partner with KSU PI Kappa Alpha to assist Ethan in getting a service dog. Einstein is now living with Ethan full-time and assists Ethan daily with tasks around his home and campus.

Meet the Andrews Family! They have 2 sons, Brock and Graham, who both have DMD. Brock is in a wheelchair full-time which makes getting around his own home a challenge. Chris Andrews (Dad) contacted us with their need for a bathroom modification to include a wheelchair accessible shower and a ceiling hoist to make showering for Brock safer and easier!

We were so happy to be able to provide financial assistance to help the Andrews family, Brock specifically, regain a sense of confidence and mobility when showering!

Meet Victor Martinez! Victor desperately needed easier access to his bathroom. Finn's friend was able to widen the doorway so that his electric wheelchair could easily fit and make it easier and safer for his mother to assist him. We had the privilege of covering the cost of this modification!

Victor also needed a wheelchair-accessible van. From an early age, Victor used public bus transportation to and from school, making the days longer and adding stress for his mother. At our 2023 Golf Tournament, because of our generous supporters, we raised enough money to cover the remaining cost to secure Victor's van!

Meet Legacii Johnson and his mom Lorraine Rutledge!

In February 2024, a mutual contact at a pharmacy company connected us with Lorraine and her son Legacii. After meeting their family, who happened to live in the same town as our organization, and discussing their needs, we were able to convince Lorraine to let Finn's Friends provide family assistance.

We have been blessed to provide rent assistance and a bathroom modification for Legacii, who is 11 years old and wheelchair-bound. This support was critical in helping them create a more accessible and comfortable living environment.

Beyond financial aid, we also offered relational support. Being a mom is a tough job, but being a mom of a child with Muscular Dystrophy is even more challenging. Lorraine, as a single mom, works tirelessly every day to provide for her son. By offering financial relief, we were able to ease some of her burdens, allowing her to focus more on her family.

For 13-year-old Ashdyn, living with DMD has meant facing challenges that most kids his age never have to think about. As his muscles have weakened, simple tasks like getting around the house, keeping up with friends, or exploring outdoors have become harder and harder. But the day Ashdyn received his electric motorized wheelchair, everything changed. Finn’s Friends was able to provide a wheelchair that brought Ashdyn something truly priceless - independence. This has made a life-changing difference for a boy who deserves every chance to live boldly and joyfully.

When all hope was lost, someone had mentioned Finn's Friends to the Sweetman Family. They were relieved to find an organization that knows firsthand how Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy can affect families such as theirs. Families like ours, barely making it by, have a hard time making ends meet. Not knowing how this bill or that bill will get covered, rent, groceries, and necessities have been very stressful for the Sweetman's. Finn's Friends has been able to assist with bills, groceries, rent and more for this well-deserving family.

Meet Carissa Statler and her two sons, both with DMD, Christian and Raylee. Carissa is a full-time caregiver to Christian, while Raylee currently lives outside the home. Because of the intensive daily care DMD requires, Carissa is unable to work outside the home, making financial stress an overwhelming reality on top of an already challenging journey.

When Carissa reached out to Finn’s Friends for support, we were grateful to come alongside her—helping with rent, utilities, and groceries, and providing a Perfect Lift to make transportation safer and more manageable for their family.

Carissa shared:

“We are so grateful to you for all you do. It is such a struggle, and here you all are helping other families. It’s just amazing!”