Chads room

Hello, I'm Sharon, and we're looking into adding a room on the main floor of our home for our son Chad. It's become increasingly challenging for him to navigate stairs safely.

If you have a moment, I'd love to share a bittersweet yet wonderful story with you.

Chad came into our lives as a foster child at just 6 months old, carrying a grim diagnosis. He had suffered severe injuries inflicted by his father, resulting in hydrocephalus. Shockingly, he didn't receive medical treatment until he was almost at death's door. When Childrens Services brought him to us from the hospital after his first shunt surgery, his head was the size of an adult's, while his body resembled that of a 3-month-old, weighing a mere 12 pounds. He was so weak that he couldn't cry, hold his head up, or suckle from a bottle properly. His surgeon painted a bleak picture, advising us not to expect him to ever walk, talk, or even think.

However, we refused to accept such a prognosis.

Fast forward.

At 18 months, Chad started talking, and by 26 months, he took his first steps. From there, it was a journey of constant progress. Then came the seizures, initially seeming to have little impact on his cognitive abilities. Yet, as time passed, each seizure erased the knowledge we painstakingly taught him—counting, reading words, and more. Despite this setback, Chad remained resilient. He continued to play, swing, bounce on his trampoline, and skip with joy. His infectious smile, love for singing, and enjoyment of being around people never wavered.

Over the past seven years, we've witnessed a significant decline in his health. It started with a latex/plastic allergy, which confined him to the house, and now all his healthcare needs are managed at home as his heath care professionals lovingly come and minister to him. We have to be extremely cautious about what enters our home to keep him safe. Then, he gradually lost interest in outdoor activities, which was heartbreaking. Despite these challenges, he still found joy in playing his guitar, singing, reading books, and spending time with his puppet friends in his room. However, recent years have brought even more challenges as increased medication for seizures has made him extremely weak and tending to stumble, thus requiring assistance for most tasks. His motivation to engage in activities has also dwindled, but he still cherishes music and books, and occasionally joins me in singing, which is a precious moment for both of us.

We live in a small, cozy home and it's our heartfelt desire for Chad to have a room he can access safely and freely throughout the day, as he so enjoys being able to go to his room as it’s always been his peaceful place. Because of the stairs we can no longer give him the dignity of being able to go freely as he chooses. Would you consider a donation to help us create this space for Chad? Your assistance would mean the world to us. Thank you!