With the right equipment, Aleezia can travel safely, stand tall, and enjoy the little moments that make life bright.
Aleezia is a happy 6-year-old with a big heart. She loves being around people and spending time with her golden retriever, JoJo. “Whenever he gets close to her, she smiles and giggles,” shares her mom, Eden. “She has this laugh, it’s very contagious.”
When Aleezia was just 4 months olds, her doctors noticed that she was not meeting the typical developmental milestones. “She was not sitting up or making eye contact,” says Eden. “Then at 18 months, she had her first seizure episodes, and she started losing some of the abilities she had worked so hard to gain, like holding up her head and rolling from her back to her tummy.”
After several rounds of diagnostic procedures, it was determined that Aleezia has major developmental and seizure disorders due to the finding of Polymicrogyria on her brain, which affects her in a range of ways. She has low vision and mild hearing loss, and she is not mobile. While her seizures are now partially controlled through medication, she still experiences between 50-100 small seizures each day.
“When she is properly supported in the van in her wheelchair, even if she has a seizure, I know she will be able to come back to herself and breathe easily.”
Keeping Aleezia safe and supported takes a range of specialized equipment, both at home or when she’s out in the community. “I’m a single mom, so I am taking Aleezia to all of her appointments on my own — to multiple hospitals, to the nurse, OT, PT, the audiologist, the ophthalmologist, the neurologist, the ENT specialist, the orthopedics, the critical care unit, Neuro Motor specialist and so many more. I used to drive a sedan, and I would have to disassemble her wheelchair into four or five pieces to get it into the trunk for every trip then transfer Aleezia to a car seat. It wasn’t safe. I experienced injuries to my back and knee, and during one transfer I slipped on ice and we both fell.”
Eden applied to Easter Seals Ontario for funding for a van lift so Aleezia could be transported in her wheelchair and avoid dangerous transfers. “Now we can travel securely and comfortably without the constant worry about lifting or improper seating. Aleezia enjoys having her seat reclined, which lets her lean back during the drive and watch the sunlight through the window.”
Your gift provides life-changing equipment for children like Aleezia.
Because Aleezia experiences multiple seizures each day and cannot hold her head up, she is at risk of losing her ability to breathe if she isn’t properly supported while Eden is driving. “A standard car seat is not designed for this type of safety,” says Eden. “When she is properly supported in the van in her wheelchair, even if she has a seizure, I know she will be able to come back to herself and breathe easily.”
“It has also given us a sense of independence and dignity,” Eden continues. “Most importantly, it ensures that Aleezia is safely transported at all times, which brings peace of mind and stability to our daily life.”
In the past, Easter Seals has also helped with funding for other essential equipment pieces for Aleezia, like a stander. “The stander is helpful for her muscle tone and when she is using it, she is high enough to be close to my eye level. It is important that Aleezia has the chance to stand, instead of always sitting or laying down. It has an impact both on her mental and physical health. She struggles with hip dislocation, and the doctor has told us that it would have been much worse without the stander.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from Easter Seals. It has truly made a life-changing difference for our family … You make it possible for Aleezia to have a better quality of life.”
Having the right equipment isn’t just about mobility — it’s about giving Aleezia the freedom, safety, and opportunity to live a fuller life. “The way I think about it is, there’s no way I could enjoy life or have a normal life by sitting in one place 24/7. Having the right equipment not only gives Aleezia the opportunity to experience a more typical life, but it also allows her to interact and advance her development because she can change from different places and positions in a safe and secure way,” explains Eden. “We are incredibly grateful for the support from Easter Seals. It has truly made a life-changing difference for our family … You make it possible for Aleezia to have a better quality of life.”
Thanks to the support of Easter Seals donors, Aleezia has the equipment she needs to stay safe, active, and supported every day. Your generosity makes a real difference for her and her family.