Mason Plott, 16, has been paralyzed since a drunk driver hit his grandmother’s car in 2002. (Contributed photo)Since a car accident left him paralyzed from the chest down around the age of 2, Mason Plott, now 16, has never been without the support of friends and family. But with mounting medical bills and continuing health problems, the Plott family is looking to the North Georgia community for help.
Mason has been in and out of hospitals since a head-on collision with a drunk driver in 2002 killed his grandmother and left him pinned under the weight of objects in the car. Confined to a wheelchair ever since, Mason has needed a variety of surgeries and specialized equipment over the last 14 years, but through it all, his father Michael said, Mason has remained upbeat, never dwelling on the past or asking questions like “Why me?”
“Mason is a very strong person; much stronger than many adults and certainly much kinder and appreciative of the gift of life,” added his cousin, Gage. “He is bravery in human form.”
Financing Mason’s medical expenses has not been as easy. After the accident, his mother, who worked for the Catoosa County School System, quit her job to provide full-time care for her son. So when the family found themselves in need of a wheelchair-accessible van in October, Gage took it upon himself to create a GoFundMe page to help raise the funds.
The family has needed the van since Mason grew too heavy to be easily lifted into a car, and their need was accelerated after he received a fitted, motorized wheelchair to alleviate the strain from a newly developed pressure wound caused by excessive sitting.
The new chair, though helpful, weighs more than 400 pounds and requires three men to lift, Michael said.
“Without that van, it would be very, very difficult to near impossible [to transport Mason],” said Michael. “I know that myself and my wife would not be able to lift that chair.”
The Plotts located a wheelchair-accessible 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan for $7,000, and with the help of 25 GoFundMe donors over two months, have raised almost $2,000 toward their goal – more than Michael hoped for.
“I never expect any help, really, but Mason over the years has touched a lot of people and his story has touched a lot of people,” Michael said. “It’s a humbling experience.”
Though Michael and his wife were forced to take out a loan to purchase the van before the offer expired, they are still in need of funds to help cover what remains of the loan.
“We’re grateful and humble for whatever we do receive and what we’ve already received,” Michael said. “I know we have a very generous community, and we’ll always find a way to make due, no matter what.”
To show support for the family, visit tinyurl.com/MasonVan.
“It’d just make it easier for my parents and me,” Mason said. “I want to thank the people that have already helped me and want to try and encourage other people to help others that are in need.”