Angel knows what it is like to be sick a lot, to have to visit doctors and to have extensive medical tests and surgeries done. She knows how scary it can be for kids to undergo medical testing when they are sick.
Our family truly knows what it is like to have the support of Variety. Variety is there when Angel needs special things to assist her, things that we can't always afford to buy. Five years ago Variety gave our family a grant to help pay for Angel’s special elevated hospital bed so that she could sleep safely and to help prevent choking episodes during the night.
Four years ago Variety paid for Angel’s dad to fly to Alberta Children's Hospital to be with Angel and me, while Angel went through some very tough and scary medical testing. It was so good, as parents, to be able to have each other and be there with Angel through the frightening tests.
Two years ago Variety gave us a grant to assist with the costs of training Angel’s Helping Paws Service Dog, Jelly Bean. Grants like these make it possible for Angel to live safer, to be able to gain more independence and for her family to have greater peace of mind about her health and the family finances.
It's so good to know that we can count on Variety to be there when Angel is sick or hurting and needs extra assistance.
Variety is also a major contributor to the Down Syndrome Research Foundation in Burnaby. We have accessed the resources of the DSRF many times over the years. Recently the DSRF started up a Tele-Mental Health program, where teams could meet with a psychiatrist from BC Children’s Hospital and a developmental pediatrician from Victoria via a television. Angel’s pediatrician organized a tele-mental health conference for her school, medical and community team as well as our family. Many people attended the meeting and together we learned more about Angel’s dual diagnosis of Trisomy 21 and Autism, and how to support her through stressful times.
The health issues that Angel lives with each day and all the medical care and testing she goes through haven't stopped her from being who she wants to be in life. They have only made her become more determined to accomplish her goals. Right now one of the best ways that she can help sick and hurting kids is to ask her family, friends and community to continue to help her raise money for Variety's Kids. Angel’s long term goal is to help her community raise $100,000.00 for Variety’s Kids. So far she’s half way to reaching this goal!
To learn more about Angel and the many fundraising events she holds for Variety as well as the reason she has earned the title of ‘Awesome Angel’ please visit her website: http://members.shaw.ca/awesomeangel
