“Ben’s near fatal drowning happened on July 4, 2021 in Brownsville, Tennessee. We were celebrating Independence Day with family at a family member’s home when Ben snuck over to the pool and jumped in,” Katherine, Ben’s mother wrote us. “We found him just a few minutes later and he was at the bottom of the pool.”

“It took 37 minutes to get a pulse back and [Ben] was airlifted to a local children’s hospital where he spent six weeks in the hospital and then another six weeks in inpatient rehabilitation,” Katherine recalls. “Ben was diagnosed with an anoxic brain injury and a HIE (Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy).”

Ben had recently celebrated his third birthday just a couple of weeks prior to the tragic drowning incident. The once lively and fully mobile child was now faced with the daunting task of relearning everything. He had lost the capacity to walk, speak, and consume food orally.

Since being discharged from the hospital, Ben's devoted parents, Katherine and Greg, consistently accompany him to comprehensive therapy sessions each week, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy. In addition to these conventional therapies, they also involve Ben in alternative treatments such as hyperbaric chamber dives which are not covered by insurance, all in pursuit of providing him with the best chance for recovery.

Ben smiles ear to ear as he uses his new adaptive bicycle from Holton’s Heroes.

“We travel almost monthly for alternative therapy,” Katherine acknowledged. “We have spent well over $100,000 for the alternative therapy in the past two years to give ben a better quality of life and a chance for a full recovery.”

Following the arrival of Ben's youngest sister, Katherine found herself compelled to resign from her job due to the absence of available childcare and the substantial care Ben now needed. What was once a household supported by two incomes swiftly transitioned into a one-income household, accompanied by a significant increase in financial responsibilities.

Insurance plans typically have limitations on the number of therapy sessions they cover and rarely provide coverage for the majority of durable medical equipment that is essential for the ongoing progress of brain injury survivors like Ben. Equipment such as gait trainers, standers, and adaptive devices are frequently not classified as "medically necessary," which places families like Ben's in the challenging position of bearing the financial responsibility for obtaining these crucial tools to ensure their child's optimal chances for improvement.

Ben's parents emphasized the significance of reintroducing him to outdoor activities with his two sisters, allowing him to engage in family fun just as he did before his accident. Their ideal solution was to acquire a new adaptive bicycle for Ben, one that would provide him with stability, therapeutic advantages, and comfort during his rides. It was clear to us that the Rifton adaptive bicycle would be the ideal choice for Ben.

Ben cruises along the sidewalk with his feet on the pedals of his new Rifton adaptive bicycle donated to his family from Holton’s Heroes.

We worked with Ben’s parents and physical therapist to get the perfect bike ordered as quickly as possible so he could enjoy the remaining days of summer.

“Previously, he would only get a 10-minute ride once a week at this therapy center. Ben’s physical therapist recommended this bike for him and insurance denied it, deeming it not medically necessary,” Katherine wrote to us after she received the new bike. “Now that he has his own bike, thanks to you, he can spend so much more time on it, and be able to use it outside.”

“He always loved being outside prior to his injury and now he is able to spend more time outside and engaging in an activity that is fun and also therapeutic. The bike will help strengthen his legs in preparation for learning to walk.” Katherine joyfully told us. “We will also be able to use his bike as an opportunity for his family to interact with him in ways that they otherwise could not.”

We are only able to continue to help kids recovering from brain injuries with your personal support. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift directly to our foundation today. You can donate safely here.

Make sure to visit us on Instagram to see video of Denise using the new chair at home.