It was the day after Christmas and 3-year-old Mason was playing with his step-brother outside. In Pollok, Texas, outdoor adventures is the norm, especially during this time of year—and especially with a spunky and lovingly mischievous little boy like Mason.
Being the youngest, Mason adored being around the older kids and made sure to stick by their side at all times. It wasn’t long before his step-brother placed Mason into a seat of a side-by-side ATV so that the two of them could take a fun ride around the trail. Unfortunately, the ride didn’t last long and Mason’s step-brother lost control of the all-terrain vehicle before violently crashing it.
“They were going too fast or made a sharp turn too abruptly and hit a tree. And it actually flipped over on top of Mason,” Mason’s mother Candice recalls. “He was pinned under there for 15 to 20 minutes. He was also without oxygen because they could not pull the ATV off of him and needed to go get neighbors to help.”
Mason was airlifted to a nearby hospital where the family learned that Mason suffered a severe anoxic brain injury, 2 broken ribs and damage to his spine. He spent more than 3 months recovering before he was finally discharged to go back home.
The injury was more than anyone could’ve anticipated. Due to the brain damage, Mason required a tracheotomy tube to breath and a feeding tube for all of his dietary needs. He even lost his ability to ambulate as well as communicate verbally. However, Candice explains that doesn’t stop him from getting his point across.
“He expresses emotions and stuff. We’ve learned how to communicate with him,” Candice told us. “His recovery has been amazing. He’s the happiest and is just in a great spot right now for progressing.”
Due to irregular tone issues stemming from the brain injury, Mason has had to undergo numerous corrective surgeries over the past two years. And because of all of these surgeries and medical limitations, it makes transferring Mason extraordinarily difficult because standard strollers simply aren’t made for children with Mason’s specific needs in mind.
Mason enjoys his new adaptive stroller for the first time outside with his brother (right) and cousin. Photo by Candice Farr. Pollok, Texas.
When Candice reached out to Holton’s Heroes for help, she had one thing in mind: an adaptive stroller that Mason could not only comfortably fit and grow in, but one that would reunite him with his siblings outside.
We were so excited to be able to purchase Mason a brand new adaptive stroller made by Josi that will give him years and years of use. The great part about this stroller, unlike most wheelchairs or adaptive strollers, is that it’s compact enough to fit in any vehicle. This added feature will allow Candice to take Mason pretty much anywhere he wants to go—to the park, school, run errands or back to the great outdoors where Mason loves it most.
“Best EVER!!!! He has so much room to grow, it’s comfy, handles bumps perfectly and is lightweight. We are super excited! I LOVE it and it’s perfect!”
Check out some of our other heroes from 2021
“Tonight, we feel the power of humanity in a bath chair. Go figure. Some people feel excited about cars and other luxuries, but here I am just wanting my boy to be bathed safely,” Joshua mom wrote to us after her son received his gift from Holton’s Heroes.