For Zoe, having the right equipment means that she can join her family in fun summer activities, instead of watching from the shore.
On a hot summer day, is there anything better than splashing around in a cool, sparkling lake? For Zoe, having the right equipment means that she doesn’t have to sit on the shore and watch, she can enjoy this cherished tradition along with the rest of her family.
Zoe is five years old and loves anything to do with water. “Whether it’s the bath, the sprinkler, the splash pad, the rain or swimming… she’s here for it,” shares Zoe’s mom, Sarah-Lynne. Recently, Sarah-Lynne received funding from Easter Seals Ontario to get Zoe a new bath chair – a small piece of equipment that is having a big impact!
Not only does the bath chair allow Zoe to bathe safely and comfortably at home, but she can also use the chair to make water activities more accessible for her. “We actually bring it everywhere with us,” Sarah-Lynne explains. “We brought it to Great Wolf Lodge, we bring it to the beach with us. It just gives her the ability to sit up and play actively, so it’s like an activity chair that’s safe for the water.”
Zoe faces challenges with her mobility due to an extremely rare chromosomal abnormality. When she was just nine months old, Zoe was the 49th person in the world to be diagnosed with her particular condition. Having an uncommon diagnosis can make qualifying for support difficult, which is why Sarah-Lynne was so grateful to discover our Equipment Funding Program, explaining that “one of the best benefits of Easter Seals is that you provide support based on the child’s needs. Zoe’s diagnosis didn’t even matter.”
“The hardest part is that everything that is accessible or adaptable is so expensive and so unreachable… You really have to pick and choose what you want, and nobody should have to choose what tools they give their child to make their life better… it’s heart-wrenching.”
While Zoe has limited mobility and is not able to communicate verbally, she has a positive energy that is contagious. “She is just a bright light,” Sarah-Lynne shares, “She is saucy, and she loves to pull a fast one on us.” Zoe has even been known to pretend to experience symptoms of a seizure just to get her mom’s attention, “I’ll just say ‘hey’ that’s not a seizure – stop.’ And she she’ll just give me a little smirk.”
At home, Zoe is the youngest of three siblings. She has two eight-year-old identical twin brothers who love to dote on her. “They play with her and will often feed her with her G-tube or give her medication,” Sarah-Lynne shares, “They look out for her all of the time. It’s really special.”
Being only two and a half years apart allows Zoe to share a close bond with her older brothers. However, when Zoe first arrived, having two young kids at home brought many additional challenges for Sarah-Lynne and her husband.
Your support will make a meaningful difference in the lives of children like Zoe.
Zoe was born at the beginning of October and didn’t arrive home until New Year’s Eve. She spent the first few months of her life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with Sarah-Lynne by her side. “I never left, at one point I went 17 days without even going outside of the hospital,” Sarah-Lynne shares. This was a hard adjustment for their family, as prior to then, she had never left the twins for more than one night.
During this time, Sarah-Lynne’s husband had to leave his job to care for the boys while she stayed with Zoe in the hospital. “It was rough,” Sarah-Lynne shares, “but we had people who really rallied for us without us even having to ask. We are always the people rallying for others, so it was really hard to be on the receiving end. But it really was a blessing.”
With the incredible support of their community, Zoe’s family navigated those challenging first few months. Nearly six years later, they are able to enjoy a lively and happy family life, though they still face their share of challenges.
“Without the bath chair, Little Miss Zoe wouldn’t be able to sit up at the beach and play in the water on her own… The fact that I can safely strap her in and step back a little bit and let her actually be independent… it’s a game changer.”
Sarah-Lynne explains how it can often feel impossible to provide Zoe with the same quality of life as her brothers. “The hardest part is that everything that is accessible or adaptable is so expensive and so unreachable… If I want to do arts and crafts with the boys, I can go to the store and pick up scissors for a dollar. But for Zoe, I’ll have to spend $50 to get her tabletop scissors. You really have to pick and choose what you want, and nobody should have to choose what tools they give their child to make their life better… it’s heart-wrenching.”
For Zoe, having the right equipment is like “a gateway to living the best life,” Sarah-Lynne continues, “it gives her opportunities that she would never have.” For example, “without the bath chair, Little Miss Zoe wouldn’t be able to sit up at the beach and play in the water on her own… The fact that I can safely strap her in and step back a little bit and let her actually be independent… it’s a game changer.”
We are incredibly grateful to our caring community of Easter Seals supporters who make these transformative opportunities possible. Your generosity ensures that children like Zoe can access the equipment they need to participate fully in family activities and experience the joys of childhood. Thanks to you, Zoe can enjoy her love of water and create lasting memories with her family. Your support is truly making a difference in the lives of many families, and we can’t thank you enough for your continued dedication and compassion.