A van lift gives Isla access to more opportunities and adventures
“We didn’t have a conventional beginning to parenthood.”
Kathryn had a stroke 35 weeks into her pregnancy, meaning an emergency delivery. In those first weeks, Isla faced serious health complications and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy some months later.
When mom and daughter finally moved home, their recovery process was just beginning. “I couldn’t hold her with one arm, so I read and sang to her,” Kathryn says.
Isla’s dad Ian is also a music lover—playing guitar and singing with Isla. And she’s taken that early musical exposure from her parents to a whole new level, recently finishing a musical theatre class. Now seven years old, her curiosity and imagination are boundless. “I’m so proud of her,” Kathryn says.
Isla uses a combination of mobility aids, including a manual walker, a power wheelchair, and crutches, depending on the day, her energy, and where she wants to go. Going on a nature trail, camping, or participating in a school field trip mean using her power wheelchair. But these activities are out of reach without a van lift to transport the heavy chair.
So, the family applied to Variety to help fund a lift. Now, they can get out in nature and do activities with friends and family that they couldn’t before. “Every place we can go—now it’s one big yes,” Kathryn says. “We just follow her lead. What tool she uses depends a lot on the situation, but it’s such a gift to have choices.”
Kids with disabilities are more likely to be told what they can’t do and where they can’t go. They’re more likely to hear the word “no.” Their families are more likely to face impossible trade-offs about which therapies or equipment they simply cannot afford.
Public funding only goes so far, and specialized therapies, adaptive equipment, and transportation solutions are often prohibitively expensive, leaving families with few options. “It’s Variety who covers those gaps,” Kathryn says.
The van lift gives Isla more independence, inclusion, and the chance to say yes to life on her own terms. And we’re honoured to play a role in helping her dream big—without limits.