Kale for Kaiel

Meet Kaiel.  He’s 6.  He can’t visit Santa, go to school, or have a birthday party or play with friends.  He can’t catch a cold, breathe cold air or be exposed to strong scents like perfume or laundry detergents.  He can’t eat out in a restaurant or even eat food from a store. 

Kaiel is allergic to life.  Kaiel has life threatening allergic-like reactions to most food, many medications, scents, excitement, temperature changes, colds/flus, bug bites, and the list goes on.  To remain stable and healthy, he cannot risk any exposure to his triggers so he is isolated from the outside world.


Kaiel lives in northern Alberta, Canada, and travels regularly to the Stollery Children’s Hospital for testing and doctors appointments. He remains undiagnosed as doctors try to understand why life is so hard for Kaiel.

Over nine physicians have been involved Kaiel's case and his medical care is expanding to Calgary, Montreal and Boston, MA, USA.


Kaiel can only eat food that is grown in a chemical free garden. His family has a 100x200 foot garden, raises chickens and bees to provide food sources for Kaiel.

Last summer, a hail storm damaged the garden.  If the garden doesn’t produce, Kaiel doesn’t have a variety of food to eat.  All his food is preserved from the summer months so he has food for the fall and winter months.   Kaiel is at his healthiest in the summer when the sun is shining and his diet expands to include fresh fruit, and vegetables.


Last year, Kaiel's parents started researching all-season greenhouses as a solution to providing Kaiel with a sustainable food source.  They found a greenhouse design company in Boulder, CO that builds all-season greenhouses and inquired about design plans.  Little did the family know, their phone call had a huge impact on the staff at Ceres Greenhouse Solutions and shortly afterwards, they generously donated a design build for an all-season greenhouse.

With the help of Ceres Greenhouse Solutions , we are fundraising the money and equipment needed to build Kaiel a greenhouse so he can have fresh fruits and vegetables to eat and a warm place to spend time in winter.  

The following list is what is needed to build the greenhouse for Kaiel:
- Foundation/ Excavation - $6500
- GAHT System - $2600
- Framing - $2600
- Insulation - $1300
- Door Windows - $2600
- Polycarbonate Roofing - $5200
- Interior Exterior Finishes - $2600
- Exhaust & Circulation Fan Systems - $1300
- Solar System - $10,000
- Wood stove/ backup heater - $1300
- Growbeds, etc. - $1300
- Utilities - H20 catchment? - $2600
- Lights/ Grow lights - $2400


As a friend and co-worker, I personally know the hardship this family has been through and wanted to help. I believe it is time to push their pride aside and solicit support on their behalf.  Any donation amount or in kind will be greatly appreciated and more importantly, show this amazing family that they are not alone. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this message and meet Kaiel. If you are interested in learning more about Kaiel, Haley Bridgnell from Ceres Greenhouse Solutions wrote an amazing article about him. Check it out here:    A Greenhouse for Kaiel: A Little Warrior’s Fight for a Normal Life

Sincerely,

Jeanette Pottle