Posted by on July 1, 2011 in News
The Samantha’s House Foundation is excited to announce the selection of the next family that it will be helping to provide an affordable and fully-accessible home to. Jackson and Amy Miller are nothing short of remarkable, and Samantha’s House is honored and privileged to be able to assist them.
Jackson is an amazing ten year old boy who is full of joy and has an incredible smile. He suffers from a rare metabolic disorder called Pyruvate Carboxylase Deficiency type 2. This mitochondrial disorder causes severe brain and muscle damage. The simple fact that Jackson is ten years old is a miracle as most children with this disorder don’t live past age three. With his disorder, Jackson requires care 24 hours per day, transportation with a wheelchair, and feeding through a G-Tube. It also necessitates a very complicated and complex regimen of medications and a highly specialized metabolic diet.
It is purely a mother’s love that has allowed Jackson to not only survive but thrive over the last decade. Taking care of a child with Jackson’s condition requires that Amy make extraordinary sacrifices daily. Just giving the correct medicines at the correct times can be overwhelming to some parents. He requires a special bed, wheelchairs, feeding pumps and suction equipment to just name a few. There is daily physical help needed for every activity. Keeping him healthy is a strenuous task, but Amy has never wavered in her determination. When Jackson was seven months old, Amy donated a lobe of her liver as just another testament to her incredible sacrifice.
Amy is a single parent who is unable to work so that she can provide the full-time care that Jackson requires. They live in a home that is simply does not accommodate Jackson’s needs. The ongoing medicines and specialized diet that Jackson requires are financially overwhelming. There simply isn’t the ability for Amy to give her son the home that he needs. This is where Samantha’s House plans to step into this amazing story.
It is critical for Jackson that he has a home that is conducive for his unique needs in order for him to experience the best life possible. Samantha’s House will be helping Jackson and Amy to obtain a home that is fully-accessible including special features such as a track and carry system that can lift and transport Jackson from his bed to the bathroom; a full roll-in shower; and hospital grade HVAC system.
The Samantha’s House Foundation relies on individuals, corporations and grants for the support needed to make dreams a reality for people like Jackson and Amy. If you are interested in partnering with the Samantha’s House Foundation to build Jackson a home, there are many ways you can help. You can make a contribution on our website by going to the “Donate Now” page. Any gift large or small makes a difference. If you are interested in volunteering or want to become a corporate sponsor, you can email us at info@samanthashouse.org.
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