Ashlynn Lengkeek

Little Ashlynn faces obstacles every day we cannot imagine. Now eight, Ashlynn was born with spina bifida with hydrocephalus. (Buildup of fluid in the cavities of the brain) She is vent dependent and has a trach and is g-tube fed. (Directly to the stomach) She is also nonverbal, cannot stand or walk, and is always in a wheelchair.

For the past 13 years, Ashlynn’s dad has been employed as a technician at Parkway Electric in Holland, Michigan. Parkway was founded in 1945 when a power plant operator began wiring local homes and businesses. Today, Parkway is a designbuild, repair and maintenance contractor with operations throughout Western Michigan and Colorado. Their scope of work runs the gamut from electrical contractor services, communications, building automation and audio/visual/lighting projects serving the manufacturing, commercial, education, industrial, healthcare, and religious market segments. Ashlynn’s dad installs speaker and sound systems in churches, football stadiums, auditoriums, and other large venues.

Laura (mom) quit working when her daughter was born so she could be available to care for Ashlynn’s many needs. As Laura told me, not just anyone can care for her, between appointments, therapies, sickness, and her condition in general, plus most people just aren’t comfortable or capable of dealing with all that. The family is seeking a reliable, wheelchair accessible van, because her parents must lift Ashlynn into a car seat, then lift her wheelchair into the back. Ashlynn is almost 60 pounds, and it is getting more and more difficult to lift her. As a one income family, there is not a lot of money left over after bills are paid, so a loan would make life more difficult than it already is. In addition, there are two other children in the family, so a van would allow everyone to travel comfortably together.

The foundation partnered with another charitable organization and a state special needs fund to purchase the van. This is the second time the foundation has worked with New Mobility Solutions of Jackson, Michigan on a van purchase. Two years ago, the foundation helped another grant recipient purchase a van from the same company. “Oh my goodness, you made my night! I was not expecting this,” Laura exclaimed after getting the news about our grant. “I know times are tough right now, so I know people have less to go around. We are so grateful, thanks again,” Laura said.