Access Ramp for Oliver's Home

January 9, 2025 THANK YOU.

I wish there were bigger words that I could find to express the gratitude we are feeling for the outpouring of support and love we have experienced over the last couple of weeks. This fundraiser has exceeded our wildest expectations.

The great news is that we are expecting that the ramp will be arriving and installed within the next 2-4 weeks. Knowing that we are so close to the finish line to get Oliver safe access to our home, while ensuring that no one else gets gets hurt moving the chair in and out of the house is such a massive relief.

Not only has the ramp been fully funded by this fundraiser, we will also be able to to meet several of Oliver's other expenses this year, including a year of physiotherapy, a ramp for our van, medical supplies and other expenses.

I had no idea how heavy the weight of all this was until I could start to see the light. To everyone who was able to make a donation or shared our fundraiser, THANK YOU for helping me find the light. You have no idea what a difference you have made in our lives.

With gratitude,

Oliver, Elsley and Sarah

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JOYFUL UPDATE: December 28, 2024

What an amazing 4 days it has been! More than $13,000 raised! YOU REACHED THE GOAL...and MUCH MORE! THANK YOU on behalf of Oliver, his mom, his sister and grandmother.

Additional funds raised will be put towards other out of pocket expenses. The list is long. It includes physio, medical supplies, mental health support for both Oliver and his sister, wheelchair ramp to the van, desk chair designed just for Oliver, medical travel expenses, a Smart Watch with coordinated timers for medical reminders, Spina Bifida Camp .... SO .... please know that any further funds raised will be well used - with enormous gratitude.

This page will remain open for now. Please continue to think about Oliver and his family and share the link with other kind and caring people.

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December 24, 2024. Hello! My name is Mary Lye and I live in the town of Thornbury on Georgian Bay. A young man in our community, Oliver, 14, is much loved by his family and school community and I want to tell you about him. He advocates in his school for accessibility for all, and has raised over $8,000 for Sick Kids Hospital. But Oliver needs OUR HELP - RIGHT NOW!

Oliver was born with Spina Bifida and has faced many hurdles: a spinal surgery to correct his lesion at 6 months; surgery at age 7 to improve his urology function; total orthopaedic reconstruction of both feet at age 10. He has spent more than 200 nights in hospital (Sick Kids and Holland Bloorview), made 12+ trips to OR, endured countless tests, imaging, and hours of physical therapy.

While in 2020 he walked out of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital after 12 weeks of intensive treatment, lack of services due to Covid and a growing body have taken away his ability to walk and he is now fully dependant on his wheelchair. He was hopeful that a new spinal procedure would be able to help him regain his ability to walk at least small distances, but it appears that is no longer an option.

Oliver is active in the school community, participating in the student council, band, school play, and more. And he is looking forward to a career in broadcasting, education or the sciences.

But RIGHT NOW, Oliver needs to be able to get into his home in safety and with dignity. He currently crawls up the snowy, icy steps and Mom has to carry his wheelchair up into the house. A professionally designed and built ramp (that will be removable in case the family moves) is needed for year-round use. About half the cost has been covered by a very kind local agency. Now our kind and caring community has the opportunity to step up for Oliver.