On June 18, 2019, our beautiful daughter, Sophia Grace, was born at the Victoria General Hospital in British Columbia. For most new parents, the arrival of a newborn is a moment filled with joy and relief — but for us, that joy quickly turned to worry and uncertainty. Within moments of her birth, Sophia was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit due to serious complications.

We soon learned that Sophia had been deprived of blood and oxygen just before and during delivery — a condition known as Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). When she was eight months old, she was officially diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP), a condition that affects muscle control and movement. Sophie needs assistance with all aspects of daily life, and as she grows, she will require an increasingly complex range of equipment to help her move, learn, and thrive.

Despite these challenges, Sophia continues to bring immense joy to everyone who meets her. She faces every day with determination, positivity, and strength that leave us in awe. She’s a fighter — and never to be underestimated.

From the age of two until five, Sophia attended a Montessori school, and she’s now a proud Grade 1 student at Oaklands Elementary School. She continues to participate in Montessori education after school and on weekends, where her curiosity and enthusiasm truly shine. Sophia always shines brighter than the obstacles that come her way, showing remarkable resilience and resolve. Like every child, she wants to be independent — she loves her physiotherapy and speech therapy sessions, and she always shows up ready to learn and engage with the world around her.

Sophia’s journey will be a lifelong one. Her condition means she will always need specialized medical equipment and adaptive supports to maintain her mobility, independence, and quality of life. As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child” — and in Sophia’s case, it takes a whole world - a world full of kindness, compassion, and generosity.

We are moving into a bold and challenging chapter of life. We are in desperate need of a new vehicle to transport Sophia as she is growing rapidly, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to lift and support her safely without specialized equipment. We’re hoping to purchase some essential equipment to help her grow, explore, and maintain her independence, including…

* A Trexo Robotics Walker (just over $40,000 CAD)

* A BraunAbility Vehicle Conversion (around $58,000 CAD)

* Van (used or new, $45,000-$85,000)

Your support can help make Sophia’s world more accessible, more comfortable, and more full of opportunity. Any contribution, big or small, or even simply sharing our story, will bring us one step closer to our goal.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping us give Sophia the opportunity to live, learn, and shine to her fullest potential.

With gratitude,

Josh, Nikki, and Sophia