Nolan’s Story

Nolan loves adventure. He has a natural curiosity that leaves him eager to visit new places or try new restaurants. However, it’s not always easy for Nolan to explore the world around him.

Nolan was born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass, and DMD is one of the most severe forms.

Because it is a progressive disease, Nolan’s early life was fairly typical. It wasn’t until the age of three that he received a diagnosis. “Nolan was ‘red flagged’ in a preschool assessment because he couldn’t jump,” explains Melissa, Nolan’s mom. From there, Nolan underwent several tests and assessments until the doctors finally landed on DND. “We were blindsided. It doesn’t run in either of our families; it was completely random.”

When Nolan was younger, he was able to run and play like other kids his age. Now at age 14, his mobility is much more limited, and he has lost the ability to walk independently. “A lot of adapting has to happen as his abilities change… there’s always something new to figure out,” explains Melissa.

Nolan, though, keeps a positive attitude. “He is a pretty agreeable guy in general, he’s not much of a complainer. Other kids may complain about their chores, and Nolan wants to do chores but can’t. He’ll say, ‘I wish I could take out the garbage for your mom.’ He’s just really sweet.”

This fall, Nolan embarked on one of his biggest adventures yet: entering high school. “It has been a tough transition,” shares Melissa. Nolan, who up until recently relied on a manual wheelchair to get around, found navigating the bigger environment challenging. “Nolan would come home and tell me that his friends were eating in the courtyard at lunch, and he couldn’t join them because the ramp was too steep, and he couldn’t push up.”

Nolan’s family, however, recently received funding from Easter Seals Ontario’s Equipment Funding Program, which helped provide a new power wheelchair for him. “He’s still figuring out how to do certain things in his new power wheelchair. But he is so excited about the freedom to be able to go wherever he wants.”

In the past, Nolan’s family had also received funding from Easter Seals toward another important piece of equipment, a ceiling lift track system. The lift is anchored to tracks installed on the ceiling. It uses a sling and lift bar to raise, transport, and lower Nolan securely.

Melissa, who is under five feet tall, explains how difficult it had become to lift her teenage son: “I was dealing with a shoulder injury, and I really couldn’t lift him well anymore… My husband and I could never really leave the house, because we both had to be here to be able to lift him.”  Thanks to the ceiling lift track system, Nolan’s grandma or a Personal Support Worker can now come over and care for him, giving his parents a chance for respite or an opportunity to run errands.

While Nolan’s power wheelchair and ceiling lift track system have both been pivotal pieces of equipment in his life, they are just two of the many mobility and accessibility items he relies on each day. “Without the equipment, he wouldn’t be able to do anything,” Melissa explains. “He wouldn’t be able to move from room to room, go to school, go on a walk with his family, or even take a bath. Equipment just kind of makes life possible for Nolan.”

For many families, the high cost of the mobility and accessibility equipment their child needs for basic daily tasks can be overwhelming. Our Equipment Funding Program aims to relieve some of the burden by helping to cover the cost of an item or fill the funding gap left by partial government or insurance coverage. Your support helps ensure more kids like Nolan have the tools they need to gain greater mobility and independence, empowering them to embrace the next big adventure in their lives.

We are proud to have played a part in helping Nolan access his power wheelchair, enabling him to engage more fully in his new high school environment. Additionally, we were thrilled to support Nolan through another transformative experience this past summer as he completed his first session at Easter Seals Camp Woodeden.

 “Nolan had so much fun at camp, he cried when it was time to come home. He just made it sound like it was the most fun thing in the world.” While Nolan’s siblings are able to go out with friends in the summer or play sports, Nolan is usually stuck at home or tagging along to someone else’s activity. But at Easter Seals camp, Nolan had the opportunity to go swimming, play baseball, try new activities, and meet other kids with physical disabilities.

While he was away, Melissa and her husband even had the opportunity to get a babysitter for Nolan’s siblings and take their very first trip away together since becoming parents. “Easter Seals camp was really a godsend for him and for us. I knew he was taken care of and he was having a good time, and it made it possible for us to just take a break… I truly can’t think of a better service to offer to kids with disabilities.”

Reflecting on Nolan’s journey, it’s clear how impactful supportive programs and compassionate donors are in the lives of children with disabilities. We invite you to join us in making a difference for more children like Nolan. Together, we can empower these young adventurers to embrace their potential and create lasting memories. Thank you for your commitment to Easter Seals Ontario and the families we serve.