Williamson County Family Calls Their Son’s Life an Answered Prayer
- Annie Eby
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
Breanne and Kris Hammons have been married for 16 years and are raising four children in Williamson County, Tennessee. Both Breanne and Kris live with different forms of dwarfism, and two of their children do as well.
At the heart of their home is Zacchaeus, their bright-eyed, spirited 9-year-old son with a story unlike any other. Endearingly named after the “wee little man” from one of their favorite Bible stories, Zacchaeus was born with a rare condition: he inherited both his mother’s and father’s forms of dwarfism. At the time he was born, only three other cases like his had ever been documented. Those children passed away before turning 15 months old. Today, Zacchaeus is 9.
“He’s a miracle,” Breanne shares candidly. “We witnessed a miracle of death come to life.”
After he was born, Zacchaeus spent 10 months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Because of his fragile condition, his siblings weren’t allowed to visit him in person for three months. Instead, Breanne and Kris brought photos of their newborn home to share with their children, returning to the hospital the following day with drawings and sweet notes his siblings had made for their baby brother. Zacchaeus depended on a tracheostomy tube to breathe and today lives with chronic lung disease, a restrictive rib cage, and a range of complex medical needs. His condition remains fragile, and the care he requires is both constant and costly. To this family, Zaccheaus’ life is their greatest answered prayer.
For seven years, Zaccheaus was covered by TennCare Medicaid, which made it possible for the family to manage his needs. When he temporarily lost that coverage, the cost of his care went far beyond what their private insurance through Kris’s job could handle: “Our private insurance alone couldn’t begin to cover what Zaccheaus needs,” Breanne shares.
Breanne reached out to the Tennessee Justice Center for help. TJC helped the family apply for and ultimately enroll in the Katie Beckett Waiver, a program that provides Medicaid as secondary insurance for some of Tennessee’s most medically fragile children. Through the program, Zacchaeus now has affordable access to the comprehensive care he needs, including medical supplies, therapies, and growth hormone treatments.
“Our family is deeply grateful for the Tennessee Justice Center for their incredible help in getting our son, Zacchaeus Hammons, his medical coverage reinstated. Zacchaeus previously had TennCare, but after losing that coverage, we struggled to get it back on our own. Once we reached out to the Tennessee Justice Center, they guided us through the process and advocated on our behalf. Thanks to their dedication and support, Zacchaeus not only regained his medical coverage but also now receives even better benefits than before, including a medical expense stipend. We are so thankful for the Tennessee Justice Center’s expertise and compassion in helping families like ours access the care they need.”
Through Katie Beckett Part A, Zaccheaus gets the care he needs to stay safe at home. He gets to be with his siblings, learn, grow, and thrive in a home filled with love. And for Breanne and Kris, that’s what matters most.
