Donors step up to purchase van for boy with Shaken Baby Syndrome

SPRING, TX (KTRK) -- Earlier in February, we shared the inspiring story of Jacah Jefferson and the efforts to help his family purchase a specialty van for him. With the help of the Houston Children's Charity and Adaptive Driving Access in Pasadena, that dream became a reality Wednesday.

Jacah continues to deal with the lasting effects of Shaken Baby Syndrome. His grandmother Stacy Williams was able to roll her baby boy into their brand new wheelchair-accessible van for the first time.

"It's like an out of body experience," Williams said.

Abused by a family friend, Jacah was diagnosed with Shaken Baby Syndrome at five-months-old. The lasting effects include seizures. He's had one in the family vehicle and one on a school bus that broke his legs. So his family has been raising money to get a van.

"It was a long hard journey. But we enjoyed what we were doing because it was for Jacah. We enjoyed the people coming together for #LoveHasNoDisability just to see the love for this one baby," Williams said.

"I was lying in bed one night watching the late news and I saw Stacy, saw you interviewing her and realized there was a child in the community that needed a van. And this is what we do," explained Houston Children's Charity Executive Director Laura Ward.

Houston Children's Charity got the ball rolling for the new van the day after they saw Jacah on abc13 for the first time. Just 10 days later, with help from Adaptive Driving Access in Pasadena, what seemed so far off for the family is now a reality.

"It's a lot. And to know that there are still good people in this world that had enough interest in Jacah to help us with something he really needs...and he needs it," Jacah's grandfather Dexter Mayfield told us as he fought back tears.

Ward says there are 25 children just like Jacah waiting for a van from them.

"We would like all 25 children to get a van this year. It's probably not a possibility," Ward said. "But we'd like to get close to the number. No child that needs a van like this should be waiting for one."

For Jacah, the wait is finally over.

"I couldn't say nothing but thank you Jesus," Williams added.

Jacah's family plans to keep raising money for equipment and to help families of other children with disabilities.