Help Elyse Access the Supports She Needs to Thrive

Hello,

My name is Julie Giesbrecht and I am writing this letter seeking your assistance in financially supporting the complex medical and developmental needs of our daughter Elyse. At 11 years old, Elyse has faced more challenges than many people we know. In her short life she has been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, Autism Spectrum Disorder with cognitive impairment which include severe memory issues and other learning disabilities, ADHD, precocious puberty and most recently she was diagnosed with Epilepsy in 2023. All of these diagnoses combine to create a complicated and unique set of challenges for daily life. We have worked really hard to learn to care for her medical and behavioural needs and this has taken a toll mentally, emotionally and financially.

Our journey has been a complex one with medical challenges, as well as finding the right supports for her unique developmental needs. We began accessing resources and interventions from occupational therapy and psychology in preschool. In Kindergarten we enjoyed great support but then COVID interrupted the progress. Throughout the years we have pieced together our own team of OT, PT, behavioural aides, developmental physicians, psychologists and other specialized physicians required to provide the support and care Elyse has required. Due to a lot of effort and assistance ranging from medications to interventions and constant practice we were able to have her join public school for grade 3 and 4. Prior to that we had tried homeschooling as well as a hybrid-homeschool program. The public school was incredibly supportive of the medical needs and tried their best but due to lack of funding and therefore staffing, we were finding she was not receiving enough help to thrive. Despite our best efforts we were seeing more and more difficulties arise. Due to her learning disabilities and severe memory issues she required a level of support that was impossible to achieve in a classroom with 25 students. Instead of our happy girl we were finding her coming home angry and exhausted. She was beginning to really notice and internalize the difference between her peers abilities and her own. Our joyful girl was learning to put herself down and we as parents were constantly awaiting calls from school as challenges arose each week. We were all feeling stressed and frustrated by the lack of help we could find within the system.

In the fall of 2024, we joined Janus Academy, a school for children with autism. We enrolled her the day we received the call and for the first time Elyse had all the support she has required. It has felt as though a giant weight had been lifted from our shoulders. The integrated supports they have within the school setting are incredible and range from OT support, behavioural aides, music therapy, dance instruction, learning and practicing life skills, as well as learning social skills. The setting is designed with care and they meet each child where they are at. They also come alongside the families to meet achievable goals. Elyse is transforming and blossoming at the school.

Our family unit has found peace as she is so well taken care of. We have noticed less strain and more joy at home as we can all feel the changes from Elyse attending this school. As parents, we are letting go of years of carrying the anxiety and responsibility that comes from trying to find solutions and support and always wondering what else we could do. We have already seen our daughter gain confidence since September and she is taking pride in her abilities and actually building friendships. We can never express enough gratitude to the staff at Janus Academy for the incredible care and effort they put into everything they do.

We are asking for financial support to help cover the next couple years of tuition as well as to provide for some medical needs for Elyse. Many in our community know of the other struggles our family has faced the past few years. They have been challenging and have lasted much longer than we ever could have anticipated. Facing and recovering from those difficulties has taken a toll financially (and in many other ways). Thank you to everyone willing to help our family as we try to maintain the level of support Elyse requires to thrive.

Sincerely,

Julie & Jeremy Giesbrecht