Our eight year old son Max was born 16 weeks premature. I had complications in my pregnancy andwas flown over to BC Women's Hospital in Vancouver from our home in Comox right before Max's birth. Due to the complications and his premature birth, Max was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Max had to stay in the hospital for the first four months of his life. When we finally brought Max home, he still had to be on oxygen for another four months. Max's condition affects his limbs and torso and he needs a wheelchair for mobility.
Variety helped our family with a modification to our van to make it wheelchair accessible for Max. These expensive renovations were something we could not afford without Variety's help. Before we had these modifications life was very different. Max was unable to go out freely. We live on a farm in the country and it is a 20 minute drive into town. When Max's dad was unavailable, usually working or doing something pertaining to our four other kids, Max would have to stay home. Not any vehicle can take a wheelchair, his does not fold down and the chair is very heavy to lift. We cannot take Max out without his chair as he is far too heavy to carry. Variety literally changed Max's life. We are now able to take him out on a whim. Loading him up in his van takes 2 minutes. It is so easy that evenhis siblings can do the task.
We are so grateful for Variety for what they have done for our family. It has been truly life changing. Our family is now fundraising in our community for the Kids Coin Drive for Variety. Max now wants to help raise money so that other kids like him can receive the benefits of Variety's help.
