Killian "Kit" Bauer smiles as he exits his new van on his own.
Some kids would roll their eyes at going food shopping.
But for Killian Bauer, it’s a major milestone in some newly found freedom.
The Egg Harbor Township 9-year-old has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disorder that caused a loss of motor, pulmonary and cardiac function.
His mom’s van could get him from one place to another, but once there, he was limited.
Amanda Hewitt had to struggle just to get “Kit” into the old vehicle with way too many miles on it. Her son’s customized 441-pound wheelchair was definitely not making the trip.
Then, the family got a surprise.
They had been hoping to get a custom van with help from the Jett Foundation, a nonprofit that helps families affected by Duchenne.
The cost was $76,456.82, according to a proposal by MobilityWorks in Woodbury, Gloucester County.
Hewitt was working on getting half the money raised, with Jett then paying the other half.
They still had a long way to go when Jett social worker Jessica Campbell reached out about van colors and other details, Hewitt told BreakingAC.
“I’m sitting here confused as to why,” she said. “We only raised $10,500, and have a long way to go.”
Then Campbell wanted a virtual meeting.
The mom of five was a bit of a mess by time she sat down for the meeting.
A bath and haircut for Kit left Hewitt wet, covered in hair and at a loss of how to cheer up her son who just wanted to know “Why am I different? I can’t do anything.”
She was defeated when she finally got on the call, which had a lot more people than she expected, including Jett Executive Director Eric Snyder.
Snyder then turned it over to two other groups: Michael’s Cause and Ryan’s Quest.
Robert Capolongo, of Michael’s Cause, “was smiling from ear to ear,” and told Hewitt how impressed they were with the family’s efforts, with news stories about their mission for Kit and how much they raised so quickly.
The two groups decided to split the remaining cost for the van.
It was delivered last week.
“Killian has gained so much freedom,” his mom said.
He loves grocery shopping, and got to have his first visit to Egg Harbor Township’s Little’s Dairy Bar, where he got a Reese’s ice cream sundae.
“Knowing I can easily take him out and not be in pain or risk hurting or dropping him is a huge relief off of us all,” Hewitt said. “Killian can’t wait to drive to Disney in his van with his awesome green wheelchair and go to the zoo.”
Now, Kit only had to stay home if he wants to, his mom said. Although it seems he doesn’t want to.
“He can go anywhere he wants,” Hewitt said. “Seeing the joy on his face each time I take him out has become one of the greatest joys in the world right now.
But just because her family’s dream came true does not mean Hewitt is done.
“I still want to help support the other families as well,” she said. “I will continue to post and fundraise where I can for them. So please be on the lookout! “
Kit now gets to do things other kids take for granted, like picking out his own snacks at the grocery store.
