Getting McKenzie some wheels

Photos: McKenzie making big improvements

We’ve been following McKenzie Harris since the car crash on New Years Day that left her and her parents hospitalized.

Since then, mom and dad have been able to go home and they both just went back to work, but McKenzie still requires a ventilator and 24 hour medical care.

Thanks to the generosity of the Ron and Don nation and the Harris family’s neighbors in Pierce County, McKenzie has a beautiful new room that can handle her new medical needs.

The family was also given a van to get McKenzie and her ventilator to and from doctors appointments at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Unfortunately, that isn’t working out so well.

But, the Keller Williams real estate agents in Federal Way want to help them out with that.

Agent Cari Franklin and her co-workers have been organizing an annual event to raise money for a worthy cause for four years. This year, they’ve decided that cause will be McKenzie Harris.

Franklin got to meet McKenzie for the first time last week.

“It literally brought tears to your eyes, seeing McKenzie in the hospital bed,” Franklin says.

And, in talking with Sarah Harris, she discovered the handicap-accessible van the family has been using recently broke down during the long trek for physical therapy at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

“When the van broke down along the side of the road, they had to have an ambulance transport them back to their house,” says Franklin.

Her goal is to raise enough money to replace the van, which will cost about $50,000.

They will be holding a dinner and auction Saturday, November 8th at Emerald Downs in Auburn. There are still tickets available. You can find out more by calling the Keller Williams office in Federal Way at (253) 835-4500.