It's an added struggle many parents never have to go through: caring for a handicapped child during the COVID-19 era.

"It's definitely made us more aware of our surroundings, what we're doing, who we're touching and what we're around," said Danella Monsman, mother of 9-year-old Krista who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. 

"We've cut off the outside world, including most family, because there's always that fear that my husband and I, who are working full time, are going to bring COVID-19 home," Danella said. 

Krista is a 3rd grader at Lincoln Elementary School in Warren and enjoys spending time with her friends and family, drawing, swimming and watching YouTube. She and her family are fortunate there are remote learning options for her and her sister. 

In recent years, she's suffered leg and foot injuries while trying to move in and out of vehicles. Because of this, her family is in need of a handicapped-accessible van that insurance does not cover.

"We rarely take her out to the stores," Danella said. "She goes to her medical appointments and therapy. It's just become not safe to take her anywhere. She's almost 10 years old and she's just going to keep growing."

"I've gotten hurt many times just getting in and out of the car," Krista said. 

Krista would be able to go out into the community more with a handicapped-accessible van and says it would take the stress off of her parents to stop trying to lift her into different vehicles. 

"Creating the GoFundMe was hard to do in itself because my husband and I had to put our pride aside because we are in need," Danella said. 

If you would like to donate to the Monsman's GoFundMe, click here.