Benefits planned for York family of disabled child

York resident Tanner Adkins, 6, and his family seek the community’s support.

Tanner was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth after suffering a stroke in his mother’s womb, said Lisa Sexton, executive director of All Things Possible Ministries, a nonprofit organization that will sponsor a medical fundraiser for Tanner.

Tanner also has hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid accumulates on the brain and requires a drain; septo-optic dysplasia, in which the nerves don’t develop properly; and a duplicated chromosome 15, a genetic condition causing malformation and mental retardation, according to All Things Possible. He has had three brain surgeries, suffers from seizures and is nourished with a feeding tube.

Tanner, 6, is not able to walk, stand, sit, crawl or roll over on his own, Sexton said. He started speaking a few months ago, but he will need more speech therapy before anyone other than his mother can easily understand him.

“He’s such a smart, sweet kid trapped in a body that won’t cooperate,” Sexton said. “He’s got a whole bunch of personality.”

Through Medicaid, Tanner received a powered wheelchair, which he calls his car, Sexton said. “He loves his wheelchair because it gives him the mobility he never had before,” she said.

Barbara Adkins, Tanner’s mom, is also raising her adopted son Caleb, 12, on her own, Sexton said. Adkins is borrowing a car to get her son to doctor’s appointments and therapy, but the vehicle is not equipped to handle his 300-pound wheelchair, and she and Caleb have to carry him around.

All Things Possible Ministries wants to raise enough money to purchase Adkins a used van that has been converted to accommodate an electric wheelchair, Sexton said. Vans such as these that are eight to 10 years old cost $25,000 to $30,000.

“I’m hoping we can receive a van with a lift and my baby can be out in the community where he needs to be," Adkins said. “I'm just praying we get what we need, for me and for both of my children.”

For the Adkins family, the van would be a way to address one of their many needs, Sexton said. Adkins is renting a mobile home without air conditioning and that is not wheelchair-friendly.

Adkins, a former on-call nurse at Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill, is out of work due to not being able to keep her part-time work schedule with Tanner’s needs, Sexton said.

While Medicaid provides some home health aide assistance, Adkins has said the hours are unreliable.

“They are just scraping to get by,” Sexton said.

Adkins’ mother was also diagnosed with cancer. “Everything is centered around taking care of people,” Sexton said about Adkins. “She’s got a big heart.”

Having the van would give Adkins more freedom to take Tanner to his appointments on her own time and allow her to bring Tanner to more places in the community, something she can’t easily do right now.

“It’s a shame because he loves to meet and talk to people,” Sexton said. “We’ve got to get them a van.”

Adkins was connected to All Things Possible Ministries through their social worker at Levine Children’s Hospital, Sexton said.

“It has instilled a sense of hope for Tanner’s mom,” Sexton said. “This family has had no breaks and they just need something positive to happen.”

Once the goal is reached and a van is purchased, or one is donated, any other funds raised will go to All Things Possible Ministry’s dedicated medical fund to help other families, Sexton said. She said the ministry is spreading the love of Jesus Christ.

“If we can turn things around for one family at a time, I’m good with that,” Sexton said. “People are opening their hearts to others in their community that need it.”

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 11:59 AM with the headline "Benefits planned for York family of disabled child."