Operation Wyatt's Wheels (and such)
Donation protected
I met Wyatt over three years ago when he was still just a tiny almost 3 year old who looked so small in his crib. He was such a sweet and quiet little boy, and although he has since found his voice, his sweet disposition still remains. In those 3 years I have had the great fortune of becoming his step mom and also of giving him a little brother who adores him more than anything. I learn all about the important things in life from my boys, every single day.
Wyatt was born in 2008 with severe cerebral palsy which has meant he requires a wheelchair to get around. Wyatt is non verbal, but he certainly does communicate with us in his own wonderful way. Wyatt had a sister, Lauren, who was born in 2001 and also had severe cerebral palsy from birth and who, like Wyatt, had extensive medical issues and complications which sadly took her from us in October of 2012, just 13 days before her baby brother Kaidyn was born. When Lauren was young, her biological parents were able to get funding to help pay for accessibility renovations in her home and also to help pay for an accessible van (which can accommodate wheelchairs). There was also fundraising done to help pay for the van, and it has been very useful in Lauren and Wyatt's lives.
When Lauren and Wyatt's parents separated, the decision was made to share the van and a second vehicle; whomever had the kids would have use of the wheelchair, and the other person would have the other vehicle. However, over the last couple of years the sharing has become much more difficult, and the second vehicle is getting more and more unsafe. Eventually we will have to have a an accessible van of our own so that the trading off of the vehicles doesn't have to happen, as there will be no other vehicle to trade. We have a "backup" vehicle in which we have a car seat that Wyatt currently fits in in case of emergency, but it is not ideal, and the bigger he gets, the less safe it is for him to be in a non-disability car seat. And thus was born OPERATION WYATT'S WHEELS (as in van wheels, haha)!
In addition to Wyatt needing a wheelchair accessible van he also is in dire need of a bed which is safe for him and also allows us access to both sides of him due to his medical issues. In September 2012, just before his sister passed away and just before his baby brother was born, Wyatt was rushed to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto is severe distress, and it was discovered that his bowels had stopped working and were necrotic. Wyatt was required to have emergency surgery to remove 80% of his bowels and to save his life, however the surgery left him with a permanent ileostomy and ostomy bag, as well as the requirement to be on IV nutrition through a central line for 14 hours a day every day for the rest of his life. These two things require that we can get access to both sides of him, but that he can also be enclosed so he is safe and doesn't roll out. In Octoberof 2013 we paid a deposit to someone to build the bed for us, but unfortunately he lied about his abilities as a carpenter and in the end when we weren't happy with the (unfinished) bed, he stole our deposit and we ended up being out $800. The bed that Wyatt needs is quite expensive, but necessary and we hope to be able to get it for him along with the van.
Lauren had many tough times in her life, and Wyatt continues to have tough times in his life, but all along the way, Sick Kids hospital has always been there for him. Since losing Lauren, we have decided that every year in her birthday to do a gift drive for Sick Kids Hospital and give back to them what we can. On the first birthday of Lauren's that we celebrated since losing her we were able to gather 7 large boxes of toys and craft supplies etc for the hospital. This year, the second year since losing her, we were able to fill 5x117 litre Rubbermaid bins and two large cardboard boxes with toys/art supplies/games - roughly DOUBLE what we raised the year before!! Giving back has been our main focus in the last couple of years, and it will continue to be one of our main goals, but this year we are also going to try to help Wyatt out as well.
Wyatt is such a sweet boy and while we try to give him and his brother the world, we sometimes fall short, and We forget to ask for help. We know in this case we can't do it on our own, and if you can offer and help and support, we would be eternally grateful!
Thank you for visiting our page!
Wyatt, Kaidyn, Chelsea and Kevin (and our angel, Lauren)
Wyatt was born in 2008 with severe cerebral palsy which has meant he requires a wheelchair to get around. Wyatt is non verbal, but he certainly does communicate with us in his own wonderful way. Wyatt had a sister, Lauren, who was born in 2001 and also had severe cerebral palsy from birth and who, like Wyatt, had extensive medical issues and complications which sadly took her from us in October of 2012, just 13 days before her baby brother Kaidyn was born. When Lauren was young, her biological parents were able to get funding to help pay for accessibility renovations in her home and also to help pay for an accessible van (which can accommodate wheelchairs). There was also fundraising done to help pay for the van, and it has been very useful in Lauren and Wyatt's lives.
When Lauren and Wyatt's parents separated, the decision was made to share the van and a second vehicle; whomever had the kids would have use of the wheelchair, and the other person would have the other vehicle. However, over the last couple of years the sharing has become much more difficult, and the second vehicle is getting more and more unsafe. Eventually we will have to have a an accessible van of our own so that the trading off of the vehicles doesn't have to happen, as there will be no other vehicle to trade. We have a "backup" vehicle in which we have a car seat that Wyatt currently fits in in case of emergency, but it is not ideal, and the bigger he gets, the less safe it is for him to be in a non-disability car seat. And thus was born OPERATION WYATT'S WHEELS (as in van wheels, haha)!
In addition to Wyatt needing a wheelchair accessible van he also is in dire need of a bed which is safe for him and also allows us access to both sides of him due to his medical issues. In September 2012, just before his sister passed away and just before his baby brother was born, Wyatt was rushed to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto is severe distress, and it was discovered that his bowels had stopped working and were necrotic. Wyatt was required to have emergency surgery to remove 80% of his bowels and to save his life, however the surgery left him with a permanent ileostomy and ostomy bag, as well as the requirement to be on IV nutrition through a central line for 14 hours a day every day for the rest of his life. These two things require that we can get access to both sides of him, but that he can also be enclosed so he is safe and doesn't roll out. In Octoberof 2013 we paid a deposit to someone to build the bed for us, but unfortunately he lied about his abilities as a carpenter and in the end when we weren't happy with the (unfinished) bed, he stole our deposit and we ended up being out $800. The bed that Wyatt needs is quite expensive, but necessary and we hope to be able to get it for him along with the van.
Lauren had many tough times in her life, and Wyatt continues to have tough times in his life, but all along the way, Sick Kids hospital has always been there for him. Since losing Lauren, we have decided that every year in her birthday to do a gift drive for Sick Kids Hospital and give back to them what we can. On the first birthday of Lauren's that we celebrated since losing her we were able to gather 7 large boxes of toys and craft supplies etc for the hospital. This year, the second year since losing her, we were able to fill 5x117 litre Rubbermaid bins and two large cardboard boxes with toys/art supplies/games - roughly DOUBLE what we raised the year before!! Giving back has been our main focus in the last couple of years, and it will continue to be one of our main goals, but this year we are also going to try to help Wyatt out as well.
Wyatt is such a sweet boy and while we try to give him and his brother the world, we sometimes fall short, and We forget to ask for help. We know in this case we can't do it on our own, and if you can offer and help and support, we would be eternally grateful!
Thank you for visiting our page!
Wyatt, Kaidyn, Chelsea and Kevin (and our angel, Lauren)
Organizer
Chelsea Russell
Organizer
Whitby, ON
