Elevator for Sumayyah
Donation protected
Hello everyone. My name is Wajeehunnisa. I'm a mother of three wonderful children and I live in Toronto. I'm an artist and an interior designer. I take up art and design projects through 'Ilaahi Arts' which is my home business. I have set up this GoFundMe campaign for a very special girl named SUMAYYAH. Please read her story below.
SUMAYYAH is the 12 year old daughter of my husband and my best friends Ali and Aminah (Lindsay) Ahmed. They are a family of two girls, two boys, and two cats with Sumayyah being the eldest. She is a very smart cookie and enjoys being in grade six this year. She loves playing video games and watching movies with her siblings. She has a terrific laugh and a great sense of humour. Sumayyah has been best friends with my daughter Zayna since they were babies.
Sumayyah with my daughter Zayna at age 3.
Now, unlike most of my daughter's friends who can run and play, Sumayyah lives with severe CEREBRAL PALSY and DYSTONIA. She was born prematurely in the sixth month of pregnancy and due to a traumatic birth experience, she’s suffered from a serious illness during the first days of her life. During her recovery in the NICU, she suffered a brain injury that left her with Dystonia, which has similarities to Parkinson's disease, as well as quadriplegic cerebral palsy. This crippling condition gives her excruciatingly painful muscle spasms and rigidity that leaves her body drained of energy for most parts of her days.
Sumayyah has always been dependent on a wheelchair and cannot sit up on her own or make use of her arms nor hands. Her severe muscles spasms sometimes make it impossible for her to get out of bed or let alone attend school.
Sumayyah with her brothers Bilaal and Hamza.
Sumayyah recently underwent a surgical procedure in mid March 2019 to have electrodes implanted in her brain that are connected to a neurotransmitter in her chest. The procedure is to enhance deep brain stimulation with the hope that it will reduce her muscle spasms and increase her comfort and quality of life, and possibly even give her some function in her arms and legs.
Sumayyah smiling away at Sick Kids Hospital.
It is our hope to raise funds through this campaign to help Sumayyah's family purchase and install an elevator in their home. The funds collected here will be withdrawn by me and deposited into Sumayyah's account which her parents maintain exclusively for her needs.
At this time, Sumayyah’s limited mobility makes it challenging for her to engage in day to day family life. We hope an elevator will support her in improving her quality of life at home providing ease with her wheelchair and use of a separate bedroom and washroom.
As she has gotten bigger over the years, her mom is unable to carry her upstairs anymore in the absence of her dad. And, for the past 18 months, their family has improvised by modifying the family room into her bedroom. Needless to say, Sumayyah has gone without an accessible washroom making ordinary routines like bathing and brushing very difficult. Her self worth and dignity deserve preservation.
Sumayyah with her mom Amina (Lindsay).
The financial strain of an elevator is not one that the family can undertake on their own. Their priority must be Sumayyah’s many medical expenses. And with growing cuts to social and health services, the expenses continue to increase. Sumayyah's father toggles between his full time job and part time construction work to make their ends meet. Her mother is not able to work even if she desires to as she has to be available 24/7 for Sumayyah’s care.
Sumayyah with her dad Ali and siblings Bilaal, Hamza and Laylah.
Since I planned this fundraiser Sumayyah has been hospitalized two more times. Her surgical incision on her head became infected, a common risk for this type of surgery, and had to be treated very aggressively to prevent the total reversal. Doctors at Sick Kids hospital are very optimistic that the infection was caught early and that she will not need further surgery in this regards. She went home with a picc line (long term Intravenous) to receive antibiotics for six weeks and a few days later suffered complications with that and had to be hospitalized again. She is currently at home with nursing assistance and attending partial school days.
Sumayyah at Sick Kids again for the treatment of her infection.
Sumayyah is a wonderful girl who deserves the best quality of life. Making her home accessible will provide her dignity, inclusion and make her care easier for her parents. It breaks our heart when her parents tell us that these last couple of months she has been extremely emotional about her situation and spends much of her days crying. Please support us in helping her family realize this dream for her. We just want her to have a smile on her face every day.
Sumayyah. Our sweet angel. ❤️
We will keep everyone updated over the course of this fundraiser with Sumayyah's health progress and also post pictures during and after the renovation to show you how your generous gift has made a difference in Sumayyah's life.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know Sumayyah.
SUMAYYAH is the 12 year old daughter of my husband and my best friends Ali and Aminah (Lindsay) Ahmed. They are a family of two girls, two boys, and two cats with Sumayyah being the eldest. She is a very smart cookie and enjoys being in grade six this year. She loves playing video games and watching movies with her siblings. She has a terrific laugh and a great sense of humour. Sumayyah has been best friends with my daughter Zayna since they were babies.
Sumayyah with my daughter Zayna at age 3.
Now, unlike most of my daughter's friends who can run and play, Sumayyah lives with severe CEREBRAL PALSY and DYSTONIA. She was born prematurely in the sixth month of pregnancy and due to a traumatic birth experience, she’s suffered from a serious illness during the first days of her life. During her recovery in the NICU, she suffered a brain injury that left her with Dystonia, which has similarities to Parkinson's disease, as well as quadriplegic cerebral palsy. This crippling condition gives her excruciatingly painful muscle spasms and rigidity that leaves her body drained of energy for most parts of her days.
Sumayyah has always been dependent on a wheelchair and cannot sit up on her own or make use of her arms nor hands. Her severe muscles spasms sometimes make it impossible for her to get out of bed or let alone attend school.
Sumayyah with her brothers Bilaal and Hamza.
Sumayyah recently underwent a surgical procedure in mid March 2019 to have electrodes implanted in her brain that are connected to a neurotransmitter in her chest. The procedure is to enhance deep brain stimulation with the hope that it will reduce her muscle spasms and increase her comfort and quality of life, and possibly even give her some function in her arms and legs.
Sumayyah smiling away at Sick Kids Hospital.
It is our hope to raise funds through this campaign to help Sumayyah's family purchase and install an elevator in their home. The funds collected here will be withdrawn by me and deposited into Sumayyah's account which her parents maintain exclusively for her needs.
At this time, Sumayyah’s limited mobility makes it challenging for her to engage in day to day family life. We hope an elevator will support her in improving her quality of life at home providing ease with her wheelchair and use of a separate bedroom and washroom.
As she has gotten bigger over the years, her mom is unable to carry her upstairs anymore in the absence of her dad. And, for the past 18 months, their family has improvised by modifying the family room into her bedroom. Needless to say, Sumayyah has gone without an accessible washroom making ordinary routines like bathing and brushing very difficult. Her self worth and dignity deserve preservation.
Sumayyah with her mom Amina (Lindsay).
The financial strain of an elevator is not one that the family can undertake on their own. Their priority must be Sumayyah’s many medical expenses. And with growing cuts to social and health services, the expenses continue to increase. Sumayyah's father toggles between his full time job and part time construction work to make their ends meet. Her mother is not able to work even if she desires to as she has to be available 24/7 for Sumayyah’s care.
Sumayyah with her dad Ali and siblings Bilaal, Hamza and Laylah.
Since I planned this fundraiser Sumayyah has been hospitalized two more times. Her surgical incision on her head became infected, a common risk for this type of surgery, and had to be treated very aggressively to prevent the total reversal. Doctors at Sick Kids hospital are very optimistic that the infection was caught early and that she will not need further surgery in this regards. She went home with a picc line (long term Intravenous) to receive antibiotics for six weeks and a few days later suffered complications with that and had to be hospitalized again. She is currently at home with nursing assistance and attending partial school days.
Sumayyah at Sick Kids again for the treatment of her infection.
Sumayyah is a wonderful girl who deserves the best quality of life. Making her home accessible will provide her dignity, inclusion and make her care easier for her parents. It breaks our heart when her parents tell us that these last couple of months she has been extremely emotional about her situation and spends much of her days crying. Please support us in helping her family realize this dream for her. We just want her to have a smile on her face every day.
Sumayyah. Our sweet angel. ❤️
We will keep everyone updated over the course of this fundraiser with Sumayyah's health progress and also post pictures during and after the renovation to show you how your generous gift has made a difference in Sumayyah's life.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know Sumayyah.
Organizer
Ilaahi Arts
Organizer
Scarborough, ON