Family gets life-changing gift for sons with rare genetic mutation
DURHAM, N.C. -- The Mills family got the keys to a new minivan Friday, which is a life-changing gift for their boys.
ABC11 has been following their story since this spring when they were trying to win a national contest for a handicap accessible vehicle.
"We were just trying to win a contest for the van. This was not even on my horizon to try and raise money. One of your viewers saw the story when we didn't win the van, and he originally started the first GoFund me page six months ago. Here we are today, getting our van and we are more than thankful and blessed," said the boy's mother, Arden Mills.
The Millses' sons Jack and Luke have a rare genetic mutation which means they need complete care. They've gotten too big to carry from their wheelchairs to car seats, so the family needed the type of van where they can be wheeled right into the vehicle.
After not winning the contest, viewers expressed interest, wanting to help. Besides a GoFundMe page, the NC Epilepsy Foundation collected funds from those viewers who wanted to make a tax deductible donation. Coats Auto Body, with locations in Garner and Raleigh, also held a fundraiser and donated more than $5,000 towards the family's van. Another ABC11 viewer, Kim Carpenter of Turn Key Events, organized a Mills Family Fundraiser in October and raised more than $15,000.
In all, more than $45,000 was raised for the wheelchair-accessible van.
"This is the whole community's van. This is our boys' van, but everybody that contributed showed love and support. This is accumulation of everybody, and we have so much love and appreciation," said the boys' father, Adam Mills.
Several viewers did offer their used vans for sale, which the Millses say they appreciated and considered several of the offers. In fact, they have been using a 20-year-old donated van that they say they will be donating to another family in need now that they got their van.
"We really needed something reliable and that was going to last a long time. The boys are only getting bigger, and we wanted something that was going to be safe and that we wouldn't have to worry about," Arden explained.
She says the van they were able to buy is that van, "We are amazed and thrilled beyond our wildest dreams. This is going to be our car for the next 15 years so we are very thankful."
Adam says he's looking forward to getting out as a family, "We will wheel them right in, wheel them right out, less fatigue for them and ourselves. We can actually get out to the park and enjoy it than be tired before we even arrive."
Arden adds, "We want to say thank you on behalf of our boys. They don't have the words to say thank you, but it's going to make their lives so much better."
The Millses bought the van from Westgate in Raleigh. When the dealership heard about the family's story, they gave them an extended warranty with the van so the Millses wouldn't have to worry about any problems.
Now that the Millses have their new van, the next step is getting it adapted to fit Jack and Luke's needs. The good news: along with state funds, there are still donations left to pay for making the van handicap accessible.
We will update you once the van is handicap-accessible.
