In Support of The Cook Family (Accessible Adventures)
Help Us Get Robbie Back on the Road With a Safe Wheelchair Lift 💙
Asking for help is something we’ve never been particularly good at, but sometimes life puts you in a position where you have to set your pride aside and lean on the community around you.
For the past six years, we’ve shared our family’s journey on social media. We’ve shared the beautiful moments, the difficult ones, the adventures, the challenges, and the realities of raising a child with significant disabilities. In all that time, we have never once created a fundraiser for our own family.
But today, we find ourselves in a situation we simply cannot navigate alone.
Our son Robbie relies on a wheelchair lift in our accessible van to safely get in and out of the vehicle. It is something most families never have to think twice about, but for us, it is an essential part of everyday life.
Recently, our wheelchair lift began having issues. While it was still functioning and allowing us to transport Robbie, we took it in for service, hoping to get ahead of the problem before it became something bigger.
Unfortunately, after having it looked at, the lift came back in significantly worse condition and is now essentially unusable. We’ve also learned that replacement parts are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to obtain.
We are now facing the possibility of having to replace the entire lift, an expense that could cost approximately $7,000–$12,000, depending on the equipment and installation.
This couldn’t have come at a more difficult time financially.
For years, we saved toward buying our dream home, and last year we finally made that dream a reality. Since moving in, we have poured our savings into making our home more accessible for Robbie, creating a space where he can safely and comfortably live, grow, and experience more independence.
Every improvement has been worth it, but it has also left us without the financial cushion needed for an unexpected expense of this size.
To make matters even more complicated, we are preparing to leave on a three-week road trip for Robbie to undergo a stem cell therapy procedure. This trip has been planned well in advance, and we’ve already paid for our travel arrangements and activities along the way.
We have put so much time, planning, and financial resources into making this trip possible for Robbie. Now, just before we’re supposed to leave, we’re facing the possibility of not having a functioning wheelchair lift to safely get him in and out of our vehicle.
Realistically, we know that getting a replacement lift installed before our trip may not even be possible. But having to navigate three weeks of travel without one is incredibly daunting.
Without a functioning lift, getting Robbie in and out of our vehicle requires physically lifting and transferring him in ways that are increasingly difficult and unsafe. As he grows, the physical strain on our bodies as his caregivers continues to increase.
We simply cannot continue putting Robbie or ourselves at risk every time we need to leave the house.
And while this upcoming trip has made the situation especially urgent, the need for a functioning lift goes far beyond these three weeks.
A wheelchair lift isn’t a luxury for our family. It isn’t an extra feature or something that simply makes our lives more convenient.
It is what allows Robbie to get to medical appointments, participate in his community, travel with his family, and experience the world beyond the walls of our home.
It’s his access to the world.
We’ve always tried to figure things out on our own, and asking for financial help doesn’t come naturally to us. But after six years of sharing our lives with this incredible community, we’re hoping that maybe this time, you can help us through one of the harder moments.
If you are in a position to contribute toward replacing Robbie’s wheelchair lift, we would be incredibly grateful. And if donating isn’t possible, simply sharing our story would mean just as much.
Every donation and every share brings us one step closer to getting Robbie safely back on the road.
Thank you for following our journey, loving our boy, and being part of the community that has supported our family in so many ways over the years.
With love and gratitude,
The Cook Family 💙
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- Created Oct 30, 2026
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Joyce White about 23 hours ago • on 'We did it 💜😭' update
Kendra Keenan 9 days ago • with donation
David VanVickle 11 days ago • with donation
Teddybeargirl84 11 days ago • on 'We did it 💜😭' update
Tinaepowers 11 days ago • on 'We did it 💜😭' update
Crystal Mears 11 days ago • with donation