“It really made a difference”: Co-op helps family buy accessible van

Think about the logistical challenges of driving three family members in wheelchairs and a 2007 SUV anywhere—to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, or to see friends.

The vehicle cannot carry three 350-pound power wheelchairs. A simple open trailer could be used to transport one, but that is risky in the rain. A couple of manual wheelchairs could be squeezed in, requiring the help of both parents, but the vehicle would not accommodate all five family members and the chairs.

These and other worries about the Cruz brothers, who are immobile due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), gave Jennifer Patten sleepless nights.

“That was really hard for me,” said Patten, a former preschool special education teacher and longtime member of Jackson EMC, based in Jefferson, Georgia. “The father had to pick each son up and put him in the car. He had no choice. Or just not drive anywhere. They hadn't been anywhere together in years. People like that really need help, but they don't know what to do.”

Patten vowed that after she retired last year, she would work to get the Cruz family a handicapped-accessible van, which could cost $70,000 to $80,000 or more.

“It was really a gamble,” she said. “But I can only try.”

She was able to raise the necessary funds within six months to enable the family to apply for a half-price accessible van from the Jett Foundation, an organization for families with DMD. A $5,000 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation helped them win the bid.

“I couldn't have done it if Jackson EMC hadn't told me they were going to donate the money,” said Patten, who learned about the foundation grant through the cooperative's magazine. “It really made a difference.”

The 2023 Ford Transit arrived on June 20th amid confetti and smiles.

“At Jackson EMC, our commitment to community is woven into everything we do. We take stewardship of our members’ contributions through Operation Round Up very seriously,” said Chip Jakins, President and CEO of Jackson EMC.

“Helping the Cruz family purchase an accessible van is a powerful reminder of how we can change lives. It's not just about providing money; it's about empowering families to stay connected and live more fulfilling lives. We are honored to be part of this journey and grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.”

Now the van has room for the whole family. All three brothers can roll their motorized chairs into the back of the van and be safely strapped in by their father.

“It helps us a lot,” said Martin Cruz. “I want to thank everyone who made this possible.”

Patten met the Cruz family in 2010 when she was teaching their two youngest sons. She remembers the brothers running and being playful in her class, but by the end of elementary school, they were having trouble climbing the steps of the school bus.

The eldest brother was diagnosed with DMD shortly after the birth of his youngest sibling. The incurable disease begins in childhood due to a genetic disorder and gradually weakens and damages the muscles, including the heart and lungs.

Until 2017, all three brothers were dependent on wheelchairs.

Victor, 23, Christian, 18, and Alan, 16, who also has autism, require round-the-clock care and regular visits to cardiologists and other specialists in Atlanta — a two-hour round-trip drive from their home in Gainesville — in addition to appointments with local medical providers.

Her parents, Martin, a manager at a cold storage company, and Mireya, are her primary caregivers. Martin remembers how the family had to decide who would stay home even for a simple errand. Now a family trip to South Carolina is planned.

“Now everyone can take their wheelchair. We can go shopping in the van and so on, go to the mall,” Cruz said. “Now I can take everyone. Now we can travel safely in a van.”

Cathy Cash is an editor at NRECA.