First and foremost, I want you to know how much your past support has meant to Easter Seals kids, and that you too remain in our thoughts to stay safe and healthy during these most unusual times.
I think we can all say 2020 truly has been a hard year. At Easter Seals we have had to make some very difficult decisions. However, we have been unwavering in our commitment to families and continue to act as somewhere to turn when they need essential equipment for their child.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the needs of our families have been more challenging than ever. There is an immense need for mobility and accessibility equipment that provides the very basic support for children having to stay at home each and every day as the pandemic continues.
What seems like a simple item – a commode chair – to an Easter Seals family is so much more! It is described as a life changer that delivers dignity and safety, providing priceless peace of mind for parents and a little more ease for their child in performing a basic daily activity. It may be surprising to know that items like bathing and toileting equipment are incredibly costly when fitted for a child, ranging in price from $1,500 up to $5,000. And, Easter Seals is one of the only
places families can turn to for support for such basic necessities – there is no government assistance available for these items.
This year, four-year-old Paige is one of the fortunate children who will be receiving the gift of a commode because of the incredible generosity and compassion of donors like you!
Paige, a cheerful and chatty little girl, who loves watching Sesame Street and singing songs, was born three months premature and remained in the hospital for 96 days until she was strong enough to come home.
At birth she suffered a brain bleed that led to the diagnosis of hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and also cerebral palsy in her lower body just before her second birthday.
Because of her cerebral palsy Paige does not have the strength to be able to sit independently, and despite being almost five years old, she has greatly struggled with toilet training.
A fitted commode seat for Paige costs $1,800. That’s a lot of money to provide basic dignity, safety and peace of mind for an essential daily function.
The commode chair, funded by donors like you, will have such a positive impact on Paige’s quality of life. It will also assist her in taking a shower safely, as she is getting too big to be lifted in and out of the bathtub.
As Paige grows and becomes stronger, she can use this equipment to learn how to transfer herself from chair to chair, allowing her to use the washroom and maybe even the shower on her own!
Your support is so important to families like Paige’s right now. Easter Seals Ontario is struggling to keep up and meet the demand for equipment funding, with the cancellation of most of our traditional fundraising initiatives this year.
You can give the gift of simple dignity and independence to children who are waiting for vital equipment items. Please donate today. Together we can ensure children get the equipment they need before the end of the year.
Thank you for caring and warmest wishes for a safe and healthy holiday season.