8 year old with CMT and family needs van

July 2, 2009

and Mike plus 9

By Matt Loveless

They say they can't even take a trip to the grocery store. And now a family of

11 in Winchester is hoping for an act of charity.

It's never boring at the Lee house. But that's to be expected with nine kids -

eight of them 8-years-old or younger.

But the family's 11-year-old GMC Suburban sits broken down in front of the

house, and the family, which has no work income, can no longer afford to fix the

car, and can't buy a new one.

" Financially, it's not possible for us to afford it, " said Lee. " My

19-year-old son is on Social Security, and that's pretty much the only income

that we have. My husband Mike is waiting for his Social Security. He has

respiratory diseases. "

Lee says lately they've used Prairie Transit Service but says that hasn't

been reliable.

For the oldest, , and the rest - Cheyenne, Dakota, , ,

, Madeline, and Hailey, it's an inconvenience. But for 8-year-old Kendall,

being stranded in Winchester could be a hazard to his health.

The 8-year-old was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, similar to

muscular dystrophy.

" It's starting to make his spine curve, " says . " And his hands curl up like

a claw. So when he pays T-ball, he can't play very long. It hurts his legs and

his arms. "

The Lees say all they need is a van, so Kendall can make his appointments at the

Shriners Hospital in Spokane, and to see a Seattle Children's Hospital

neurologist.

says they've tried 30 churches, car dealerships, and have even written a

letter to the Ellen Degeneres Show. She said there have been no responses.

And she says she is trying to avoid a tabloid stereotype.

" I'm not Octomom by any means, but I love my children, and I would really like

to see them be able to get back and forth to their appointments. Especially

Kendall, with his disease that he has. "

" All we're asking is that somebody is willing to donate a vehicle for us so that

we can get back and forth to doctors, to grocery stores, and get back and forth

to ton, " said Mike Lee. " That's all we need. "

The Lees are looking for a twelve passenger van.

Recommended Posts