Can not believe this was 3 1/2 year old Emily in June.....so excited to receive her first of two preschool certificates. She, so wise in her years yet lacking the ability to communicate.
Things are progressively turning a corner as she is inline for a communication device...an I-pad of some sort...as she is quick to catch on to the concept of touching a the screen to take in complete sentences.
Looking back is looking forward as she's traveled quite the road to get this far; in large part and she couldn't have done it without her many therapists.
Sara for helping Emily take her first independent steps,
Kneeling to stand at 15 months
An understanding of her hydrocephalus and head shape
Her first shunt surgery at 4 months
and her second at 23 months
understanding the various types of cerebral palsy
and her neurosurgeon that has helped her along
And her enthusiastically walking the parking lot to her first year preschool
but then there are those days when getting around isn't so fun
her trips to the hospital to diagnosis and treat her epilepsy
and all she gets it a sticker for her troubles
remember when she needed help to sit and yet still today mobility would be better with the arrival of this red wheelchair and her dream trike
Not much has been going on here; just this funding campaign that I started about 6 weeks ago....Not going to well, as only 3 of our friends have donated toward Emily tricycle freedom....
Here is the actual site and a view except for the special rounded handles and and extended guide bar at the back.
.All that can be said is when she sits with me at the computer and sees it, her face lights up as she points to it and then smacks her chest.
She is getting almost the max of funding from provincial sources and provincial charities; with her casting now complete for her third st of AFO's (leg braces) and her now funded incontinence supplies (diapers and wipes)
Emily has completed her communication sessions and had an assessment with Sunny Hill Health Center to see what would work best for her in the class room. Along with communication place cards, it looks as though she will be in line for a touch pad of some sort in the near future....
So her provincial funding is almost topped to its limit as to is her Variety Club (The Children's Charity) funding with the soon to be anticipated wheelchair which will soon replace her aging stroller.
So this was why I felt the need to start Emily's Trike Dream campaign...which is not a charity....
I did however, (drawing at straws) get an application from Variety The Children's Charity for the cost of Emily's dream, but since her portion of funding is almost to its limit....Riding with her friends....and Ellie to the park or around town will have to wait....because she can't go far using her walker....of late she has stopped folded to the ground and refused to moved....which is pulling my bad left knee and my once agile back to shreds.
I have only good intentions as I would like to see the best foot forward for both...
A school meeting is almost upon us for both girls....Ellie just has a short meet the teacher and to see her class room on the second of September.
Emily has a teacher and therapist meeting next Wednesday, this will be an hour long to talk over the extra assistance Emily will need in the classroom; both Michael and I will be attending while Ellie has a play-date with her best friend from preschool Jayden.
Our wish is that both girls continue through Abbotsford Christian School as long as financially possible, because it will give them a firm grounding to build upon as they discover their own faith journey.
Our fears for Emily in the public system (the BC teachers are still on strike) is that more and more she will be pushed the the rear and get left behind....With this ongoing BC teachers strike, it is becoming evident that that is what is already happening with special needs students..
HELP EMILY AND HER TRIKEDREAM
People told me to explain Emily's medical history so here goes; born at 36 weeks and not given much chance of survival or a productive life,Emily was born with it hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy low vision and non verbal
Emily was born at 36 weeks August 1, 2010 with grade IV hydrocephalus....We were initially told by a group of six doctors not to expect much "IF" Emily survived at all and if she did not to expect much...basically saying she'd be in a limp rag...
She had a shunt placed at four months of age....revised at 23 months of age...perscription eye wear at three months...and even though we knew it....she was officially diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 17 months...
She was fitted for her first set of AFO's at 15 months....Emily has low vision and is non-verbal
We would really like to get Emily this bike. This is a special bike that is made for children like Emily. It has special features to make riding possible for her. With the help of this bike, not only will Emily be able to build muscles and improve balance, but it will give her a level of independence and confidence that she could not get without it. These bikes are not covered in medical plans, and our family struggles with having to pay for medications and therapies. Without help, this bike will only be a dream. Emily will soon outgrow the small trike she has been using. We are hoping to raise enough to buy the bike before she is left with this mobility. Every dollar counts, no amount is too small! Thank you in advance for your help!
