In Support of Dayton Family
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Vea Dayton is a vibrant six-year-old who loves being out in the world. She was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease from a DNM1L mutation and presents with dystonia. She uses a wheelchair, has a G-tube, and communicates with an AAC device. She has already surpassed the life expectancy originally given, and her medical team continues to say, get ready to celebrate many more years with her. And celebrate is exactly what she does—this girl lives for outings to Chuck E. Cheese, the library, parks, the mall, jumping gyms, church, and anywhere her family can take her. The moment she wakes up, she’s ready to go.
She also has three sweet siblings—8, 5, and 3—who adore her. Mom and dad work endlessly to give all four kids the childhood they deserve. But as Vea grows, getting her wheelchair in and out of a standard vehicle has become more physically demanding and, honestly, emotionally limiting. She has also outgrown her current wheelchair, and their current car cannot accommodate a larger one. When someone says, “Hey, why don’t you stop by?” or “We’re headed to the park for an hour,” it’s not as simple as hopping in the car. And beyond the strain, it’s not as safe for children in wheelchairs, after a certain age, to ride in ways that aren’t designed for them. A wheelchair-accessible van is the most secure and ergonomic way for her to travel—positioned properly and with dignity. It also opens the door for her siblings to have friends in the car, for spontaneous outings, and for the family to keep saying yes to the life Vea loves.
The cost, however—typically $70,000 to $90,000—is something most families never have to consider for their six-year-old. As a community, we can help lift that weight. This van would mean yes to more playdates, yes to safe therapy transportation, yes to quick trips as a family, yes to protecting mom and dad’s long-term physical health, and yes to the accessibility Vea will need as she grows. It means yes to the things that help her live the full, joyful life she already fights for every day.
This hasn’t been easy for the family. Saying yes to help is vulnerable. They’ve been asked countless times, “How can we support you?” and after a lot of thought, they’ve finally decided to open the door and let their community walk with them through a SupportNow page.
The average cost of raising a child with a disability ranges from $1.4 to $2.4 million—nearly ten times more than that of raising a neurotypical child. It’s simply not an even playing field. But together, we can help bridge that gap and give this sweet girl—and her whole family—the freedom, safety, and connection they deserve.
Kali will be posting updates here—both the journey to getting Vea her accessible van and snapshots of everyday life for their family. You can support by sharing, following, giving, praying—whatever you feel led to offer. Every gesture truly matters.
Updates
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- Created Dec 12, 2025
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- Disability
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