Tim Tebow Foundation Helps Copp Family on Fixer Upper
Logroller Upper Family Gives Back through Raising Wheels Foundation
Editor's Note: When Melissa and Jody Copp noticed their firstborn wasn't hitting his milestones as an infant, the concerned parents took him to a neurologist. Although the exam results came back normal, the Copps knew something wasn't right. With so many unanswered questions, the couple began their quest for a diagnosis. For the next several years, they spent countless hours and dollars on visits with diverse specialists, none of which were able to pinpoint the crusade of Calan'due south condition. Bicycle:Life met up with Melissa Copp at Abilities Expo Dallas where she talked to us about her family'south fiscal and emotional struggles, obtaining an accessible home with the assist of HGTV, and launching their nonprofit, the Raising Wheels Foundation. Our ii sons, Calan and Lawson, were born with a life-threatening condition that took seven years to diagnose. That journey took us on such highs and lows that were well-nigh impossible to keep upward with. It all started when we noticed signs of delayed development in our oldest son, Calan, who is 11 now. Equally an infant, he couldn't elevator his caput and wasn't developing any muscle tone. We took him to a neurologist initially. Since then, we've seen effectually 22 dissimilar specialists. While we were searching for a diagnosis, nosotros spent every third or fourth twenty-four hours in a doctor's function. That's how we lived our lives for vii years. Information technology was a very difficult time, just my husband and I decided we wanted a second child. Even though Calan was even so undiagnosed, and we didn't know whether the cause of his status was spontaneous or genetic, nosotros knew that whatever happened would be a approving. When we had our second child, Lawson, almost iv years afterward, we presently realized nosotros were living déjà vu. He was experiencing the same symptoms equally Calan: muscle weakness, colic, and delayed development. When the boys were finally diagnosed, we found out they take a mutation of the PNPT1 cistron. This mutation affects the mitochondria, which are responsible for the energy production of cells in the unabridged torso. The mitochondria help the body's systems work together. Nosotros besides discovered that both my husband and I are carriers. Past getting together, we hit the genetic lottery, and this mutation was passed on to both of our children. We later found out that at that place was only a .05% chance that our second child would be positive for the same genetic mutation and would also show symptoms. We just know of around 16 confirmed cases in the world of the same genetic mutation. There are three cases in the United States, ii of which are our boys. Calan and Lawson are besides one of only ii sets of siblings in the world. With this condition, the boys can move their bodies, but their brain doesn't send the correct signals to their muscles. In that location'southward no medicinal cure or treatment. Instead, they do therapy — concrete, occupational, and speech — to build muscle retentiveness. That's how they learn what their bodies can do. We intervened at half dozen months old and started therapy, which has saved their lives. At i signal, we got to a stage where nosotros had run out of local resources, only we knew there had to be something else out there. After researching online, we establish the Abilities Expo in Houston, Texas. We started attending in 2016, and we have found almost everything we're using at present in regard to resource for equipment in that location. One of the resources I came across was the Inability Funding Guide. I met the writer, Tammy Simmons, and when we sat downwardly together, I told her near my adjacent big idea — a 100% accessible home. I knew information technology was going to be a mountain of a job, but I left the expo with conviction nigh what my goal was and how I was going to obtain it. I didn't know what the steps would be and which management it would accept me, merely I knew it would exist very hard. Some days, I wanted to give up, but I knew it was something I had to do for my boys. I day, it's vivid in my memory, I saw my boys looking out the window at our erstwhile home wanting to go exterior, simply they couldn't. That has stuck with me for the entire journey because I never want them to wish for something; I want them to be able to do it. When I left the Abilities Expo that day, I started the journey for our accessible dwelling. As we looked for funding, we were constantly coming upwardly curt. Nosotros wanted a 100% accessible domicile considering our sons deserve nil less. I decided to contact Chip and Joanna Gaines and their Magnolia Foundation because their bear witness, Fixer Upper, was upwards and coming on HGTV. I knew if anybody would exist able to aid us, it was them if they just heard our story. After a twelvemonth of trying to contact them, I received a phone telephone call in which their PR rep told me they couldn't help. I kept that voicemail as motivation, and we continued doing what we could on our own. A yr after, I reassessed. We had worked hard on the project, and I wanted to continue going and see what other options there were. In a bound of faith, we had sold our abode total of barriers and moved into a small flat. I contacted Magnolia again to see if they had set up a nonprofit for a possible grant to obtain a piece of equipment we were hoping to purchase that would help united states get improve admission inside the home. Depression and behold, I got a phone call dorsum from the executive director of Magnolia Foundation telling me he loved our story and how we'd worked so hard to try to get access for our boys. He couldn't promise annihilation, but he wanted to meet us. Nosotros met inside the house nosotros had been looking at. Information technology was a shell with nothing within and no electricity, water, sewage, heat, or air-conditioning. Nosotros talked with the executive manager for more than an hour there. Just later on that, we didn't hear from Magnolia for over 3 months. I tried to stay positive. I wanted to keep the momentum going forward. My husband was more than realistic and wanted to move on, but I knew something had to happen. Every bit a matter of fact, we had recently met with our chief specialist in Houston who told united states we needed to move closer to the city because of the level of care needed for the boys. She said we'd be having appointments every three months, and a one-way trip from Waco to Houston takes about iii and a one-half hours. Secretly, we began looking for jobs and homes in College Station, nigh halfway between Waco and Houston. Neither of us wanted to motility to Houston, and since Jody and I had both attended Texas A&Chiliad University in College Station, this seemed to be a great fit for united states and would get us closer to our specialists while existence in a smaller city we felt more comfortable in. Four months after meeting with the executive managing director of Magnolia Foundation, we got the telephone call that changed our lives forever. Information technology was the call I'd been waiting for. He said he needed to come across with us urgently. In the courtyard of our apartment circuitous, he told us we were not but getting the grant for the piece of equipment we requested merely that they had also connected with Tim Tebow who wanted to help. They were going to renovate the entire house nosotros had been looking at to exist 100% wheelchair accessible, and they had saved an episode in season v of Logroller Upper specifically for this project. The business firm had been on the market place for 7 years prior considering it was just a beat. The owners at the time had gutted it and decided to get out it as a project for after. To a family with two boys who live life on wheels, it was a gold mine. We could turn it into anything, but information technology took almost two years of talking with and convincing the owners of our need as they actually weren't in a bustle to sell. I finally wrote a personal letter of the alphabet virtually how much the property would mean to us and change our lives as a family. Convinced past the passion of the alphabetic character and the dedication of our family unit to each other, the owners agreed to sell the property to usa and concord it for us when we were ready. Since we had planned to accept on this project previously on our own, we had already hired an architect to depict the plans we wanted. When Magnolia, Flake and Joanna, and Tim took over the project, they had all of the desired parts in identify because nosotros had already done the work. It was perfect timing — God's timing — and nosotros pinch ourselves still to this twenty-four hour period. It had to have been on TV for me to know it was real. Nosotros were lucky that the Magnolia squad was extremely proactive virtually wanting to create a fully functional home for Calan and Lawson. They had us make a wish list, and they included everything we asked for in the habitation. My favorite elements are those that bring the boys the near function and joy. For me, it starts with the flooring. We researched options for several years and found that luxury vinyl tile is one of the most wheelchair-friendly floorings. Besides, from room to room, we accept no thresholds. They installed grab bars throughout the home and then the boys can pull up and concur on because their play areas are on the wall rather than the flooring. On the walls, there are areas for them to build with their LEGO sets, cork boards to display their art, and metallic panels to play magnetic games while continuing and building musculus tone. The bathroom is one of our favorite rooms because it's split up into two spaces: a caregiver room, and a washroom. The washroom is cool because not only are there wheelchair attainable sinks, but the mirrors likewise tilt down. The door leading to the backyard opens up with the press of a push button like you'd come across at a commercial retail store. Chip and Joanna asked united states to research and find these types of products for the home that are actually reasonably priced. Nearly of the home is gratis of annihilation on the floor. There are no rugs. The boys have no article of furniture in their rooms other than their beds because a dresser is congenital into the cupboard, giving them more than space to play and move around. The light switches and electrical outlets are at their level and then they can reach them. All of these things seem little, simply they make a world of difference. We couldn't exist more grateful. We call our home Hope because nosotros never lost hope that we would one day have a fully attainable dwelling house. After the episode aired in January of 2018, we connected with other families with the same diagnosis. They found us. Without the show, we wouldn't accept known that nosotros were not the only ones out there. Many blessings took identify subsequently Fixer Upper. Not only practice nosotros have our accessible dwelling, but we now have a larger family unit and thankfully, don't feel then isolated anymore. That'south one of the feelings we couldn't milkshake. It was amazing to observe out that there were other children, some older than our boys, living a full life. The first few weeks in the business firm were magical. We were making memories we never thought would be possible. The boys were running downwards the hallways with their posterior walkers, turning on faucets on their own, and playing in the backyard just like I had envisioned the twenty-four hours I saw them looking out the window. That joy turned into the desire to requite dorsum. The day the Fixer Upper episode aired, Fleck Gaines launched a campaign online to ask people to assistance us with our mortgage. To our amazement, it was completely paid off within two hours by the fans. We volition never be able to repay them, then nosotros decided to live life to the fullest for the fans, Chip and Joanna, and Tim Tebow. We also wanted to give back past launching a nonprofit that focuses on profitable families like ours. We felt so isolated and desolate on our journeying, and we don't want anyone else to experience that. We focus on three initiatives. The get-go one emphasizes education and awareness of the need for amend accessibility. We brainwash the public likewise as the families needing resources. The public needs to be more than aware of what accessibility truly ways. It'southward different for anybody depending on their mobility type, but we whole-heartedly believe that if a world is built for wheelchairs, information technology'southward built for everybody. You work with your most differently abled, and you get from there. Every bit part of this initiative, we do sensation campaigns almost how fun life is on wheels. We launched our awareness calendar of the kids we have impacted and photographed them doing their favorite action on wheels. We want to show the public that it'southward non a life that's bound. We always say our children are not bound by a wheelchair; they're bound but by the barriers they come up beyond. Our second initiative focuses on universal community spaces. Nosotros open the dialogue almost the need for more than universal blueprint in public areas peculiarly for those that are differently abled. We partner with schools, churches, businesses, and other organizations to encourage the installation of universal irresolute areas in public buildings and centers. Nosotros practise the nearly advocating in this initiative considering it is almost non-existent in the community. Through our personal experience, nosotros accept come to realize that families will not travel more than 30 to 60 miles from their homes because there are no proper changing spaces or restrooms to suit all abilities. The third initiative nosotros're most excited about is our Accessibility Grant Program. We are a monetary resources for families to help them obtain equipment their insurance will not provide. We awarded two Life Aid Table grants in our first twelvemonth, and we're doubling that this year. Life Assist Tables are what nosotros've coined adult changing tables and is something we are very passionate about. I practice take a full-time task, but considering I dear helping others and feel so passionate near our mission, I devote a lot of my spare time to the foundation. I know families are waiting for help, and that'south my driving strength for doing this. The kids are a huge part of the Raising Wheels Foundation. They talk about the mission to anybody who volition heed. They relish helping us because they see that our passion is truthful and existent. You lot volition discover them with us speaking at presentations, expos, and events we host in the community. My husband Jody works for the foundation full fourth dimension as an unpaid volunteer. He'southward our operations manager and treasurer. I commonly have the vision, and he helps me make it happen. He'southward the driving force backside the execution and keeps usa organized. One of my favorite events is our Wash 'Due north Roll. We get tons of volunteers to help wash wheelchairs. It'due south one of those moments where you look back and realize that all the hard work is worth it. I get to come across parents beside themselves because their child's wheelchair got washed. Information technology's a simple thing, and yet, they're so appreciative of the fact that their child has a clean wheelchair because that'due south e'er the last item on the to-exercise list. While we clean the wheelchairs, we feed and entertain the kids. The Wash 'N Ringlet has become a staple event for the states, and nosotros practice it every spring. Editor's Note: The Triumph Book — Raising Wheels can be purchased on the Raising Wheels Foundation website . All proceeds get to the Raising Wheels Foundation. My number one resource has been other parents. Yous'll use professionals for the medical side, but yous demand a support system. Beginning gathering up emotional, physical, and monetary support as well as caregiver relief. Y'all'll need to tackle this intense journey head-on with those 4 things. For monetary support, know that nothing is impossible. I constitute out quickly that y'all don't get what y'all don't ask for. You already take yourself to worry almost, and now you also take a medically fragile child to raise. Your number one goal should exist to let other people assist you raise the needed funds. There are resources out at that place, just yous accept to do the legwork to find them. Editor'south Note: If y'all're looking for support in or near Waco, Texas, reach out to the Raising Wheels Foundation . Sentinel the Copp Family Fixer Upper episode (flavor 5, episode 10) on your cablevision provider's On Demand service or Apple Television set. All data in this article was extracted from an interview and e-mail communication with Melissa Copp. It has been lightly edited for clarity and length. About the Author Betsy Bailey has a diverse background that includes experience in travel and culinary writing, business operations, marketing research, and playing volleyball professionally overseas. Betsy has been writing for Wheel:Life since January of 2017 and thoroughly enjoys the process of getting to know her interviewees. She besides enjoys a good vegan brunch, practices parkour, speaks French fluently, and travels whatsoever chance she gets! Calan and Lawson
"Information technology's so rare that at that place's no medical term or name."
Looking for Resources
"I no longer wanted to see my kids struggle in an inaccessible home."
The Telephone Telephone call
"For the showtime time in my life, I was speechless."
Our 100% Accessible Abode Named Hope
"The boys tin can now look at themselves in the mirror for the start time in this home."
Connecting with Other Families
Raising Wheels Foundation
Our 501(c)(iii) nonprofit, the Raising Wheels Foundation, was launched in July of 2018, a few months after our episode of Logroller Upper aired. Our mission is to assist families who are raising differently abled children to become more empowered and enabled through accessibility. Our first year was amazing. We're in our second year at present, and we've already doubled our grants. We're only going to get bigger equally more of the public becomes aware of us. "If accessibility became a universally accepted concept, information technology would make the earth so much amend."
Wash 'Due north Curlicue
The Triumph Book: Raising Wheels
I met author Melanie Davis at an Abilities Expo back in 2016. When nosotros connected, she had this lightbulb moment that our story should be told. This was years before Fixer Upper. Subsequently the show, the volume Melanie and I had envisioned finally came to fruition. It'due south a collection of stories I helped curate about overcoming tragedy and triumphing over difficulties. The stories are about families who are raising differently abled children and adults who are living successful lives on wheels. It's a mix of both so that readers can see what it'southward similar to raise a kid on wheels and how that child can grow into an independent and successful adult. It'south a very powerful book, and I'one thousand so proud of it. I know it volition resonate with and so many people and hopefully provide condolement to those needing it the near. Advice for Parents
"Don't exist so proud that you tin can't ask for help because this is across y'all."
01/10/2020
Source: https://wheel-life.com/fixer-upper-family-gives-back-through-the-raising-wheels-foundation/
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