Hope in Blue

Program: KIF1A

Turner’s Story:

Turner is the happiest teenager you will ever meet. He loves country music (Luke Bryan’s #1 fan), his family, horse therapy, friends, school, laughing, having fun, outdoor adventures, pizza & root beer. He is a child full of God. He teaches you to be present and grateful for what you have.

Turner’s purpose is to bring joy to everyone he meets and to raise awareness for disabilities. He understands everything, just talk to him like everyone else. He is happy, resilient, amazing and so cool. He is wonderfully made. He is his family’s world and so incredibly loved.

Turner lives a rare genetic condition, KIF1A Associated Neurological Disorder (KAND). He has spastic paraplegia, dystonia, developmental delays, uses a wheelchair, an eye gaze communication device, a robotic walker (affectionately named Luke) and other pieces of equipment due to living with KAND.

KAND affects every aspect of his life. Turner works 5 times harder than you doing everything that he can do. He does 5 therapies a week, has had 8 surgeries, countless tests and procedures, and takes medication daily. Turner is a super trooper rock-star. He visits Children’s Hospital in Denver every 3 months to keep up with his care. His amazing team of family, friends, doctors, therapists, teachers and community are the very best! Despite all of the challenges that Turner lives with, he is so incredibly happy and present and has laughing bouts daily and, of course, listens to Luke Bryan every single day too.