A wheelchair accessible van for Ellyse Aiono

A focus on Ellyse's resilience

Meet Our Warrior, Ellyse: A Journey for a Wheelchair-Accessible Van

Our daughter, Ellyse, is an incredible 11-year-old girl with a spirit as vibrant as her smile. She lives with cerebral palsy—specifically, dyskinetic quadriplegia GMFCS V, MACS V. This means she faces monumental challenges every single day, and her life is a testament to her strength and resilience.

Ellyse's condition stems from a traumatic event at birth, due to what we believe was negligence at Redcliffe Hospital. We’ve fought for answers for years, but in a devastating twist, the hospital’s records of Ellyse's birth were "conveniently" lost when we sought legal action. This left us without the answers we desperately needed.

Despite this, we chose to focus on what matters most: giving Ellyse the best life possible. So much has already been stolen from her, and we are determined to provide everything she deserves.

Right now, Ellyse's life is a constant series of specialist appointments. Transporting her is a daily struggle. We currently have a breakdown wheelchair that we have to cram into the back of our small Mazda 3 hatchback. Each time, we must transfer Ellyse from her wheelchair to a booster seat, then break down the chair and lift it into the car. As she grows into a young lady, this process is becoming an almost unmanageable task for our family.

We are a hardworking family who contributes to our community and pays our bills. We're not asking for a handout; we're simply in a position where we do not have the financial resources to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van.

We are asking for your support to help us get a van that would provide Ellyse with safe, reliable transport and make her everyday life so much easier. Your contribution would not just be a donation; it would be an investment in Ellyse’s quality of life, allowing her to get to her appointments comfortably and experience a world that is so much more accessible.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for considering supporting our beautiful, resilient daughter.