Todd Callaway, 53, was born and raised in Fayette County, Georgia. Married to Melanie for 22 years, Todd loves classic cars, and he’s “Mr. Fix It” to his children!!!

Todd and Melanie’s story is one of divine intervention, versus their own planning. They knew one another professionally for years prior to dating. Some twenty-five years ago, while both working in retail, they ran into each other unexpectedly. They began dating, fell in love – and got married a few years afterward. Since they both already had children, the couple hadn’t planned on having any together, but God had another idea. Not long after their wedding, God blessed them with Lanie, who is now 21. Seven years later, God sent them another gift. Peyton was born on November 10th 2009. Todd and Melanie were both surprised, and thrilled, for each of the new additions to their family.

Peyton was just like any other baby until, at a little over a year old, he started regressing in his ability to do things. Doctors told the worried parents that he was just spoiled, and as he had five older siblings, he was being “toted around” too much. Todd and Melanie knew in their hearts this was not true, and as Peyton turned two, his condition seemed to worsen.

The family began going to weekly therapy at Children’s. The hospital performed an MRI, but it did not reveal any answers. They were told they never know the cause of Peyton’s weakened muscles. They continued the therapy for several years, and eventually began to see a wonderful Orthopedic surgeon from Children’s. He put them together with a neurologist who looked at eight-year-old Peyton’s tongue and immediately knew what Peyton had. After years of not knowing, the family finally had a diagnosis. Peyton has Spinal Muscular Atrophy type II. This condition attacks the muscles in a child’s body that control everything.

Since being diagnosed, Peyton has undergone three surgeries. An initial procedure to stretch the tendons in his lower legs, was followed by two major back surgeries to help with his severe sclerosis. The first of those, when Peyton was eight, was to put magic rods in his back so he could continue to grow. He underwent his second one at age 13, to take those rods out and to fuse his spine.

Peyton is close with his whole family. As he’s gotten older, Peyton prefers his dad to perform a lot of his grooming and bathroom needs – and Todd is always there for him. Peyton’s older sister Lanie is his day-to-day caregiver, and she does his home schooling with him.

Until this year, Peyton’s family had thought him to be on the shy side. Then, this July, he received his power wheelchair and it completely changed his life. His family are now rethinking the “shyness”!! The power wheelchair has transformed Peyton and he now wants to “go and do” and to be a boy! One recent weekend the family had access to a wheelchair accessible van and Peyton really came to life! Instead of allowing someone to pick up food at a restaurant, he wanted to go with! Instead of staying in the car at the grocery store – he wanted to go in! When his family had an event to attend, instead of staying close by his parents, Peyton was off and about!

It’s been a very hard ordeal for Todd and Melanie to watch their son struggle to do things that other people take for granted. Now, at 53 years old, Todd’s “dream car” is now a wheelchair accessible van, so that Peyton can live his life with no boundaries. Says Todd, “We always wondered how special needs parents did it and now we know. You have no idea what you’re capable of until you are faced with a life changing event.”