Making Magic for Momo
Donation protected
Momo doesn't have long with us. Please help us make her remaining time magical with a small contribution, or a share of this page.
(image description [ID]: Momo in hospital on supplemental oxygen)
Our Story
My name is Shay, though many of you may know me by some handle or another - Rhari or Rhars, most likely, but right now I’m Momo's mom. That’s been my most important identity for 17 years, and it’s been an adventure like no other.
We have learned the heartbreaking news that we are coming to the denouement of Momo’s story, but we aren’t going to let it end in any way other than the heroic sendoff she deserves. For that, we need your help.
Momo has a rare genetic condition called Alström Syndrome. She is a deaf-blind 17 year old girl who lives with kidney disease, Liver disease, Diabetes, inflamed small bowel and an enlarged spleen. Over the course of her life these disease complications resulted in growth failure, and an ICU complication in 2023 has left her with Major Neurocognitive disorder. She is medically fragile and, unfortunately, not a candidate for transplants due to the nature of her underlying condition. She has entered palliative care as of February 2025.
In spite of it all, she has achieved amazing things in her life. She has ridden and driven horses, been a downhill skier, been a member of a rock climbing gym, participated in track and field, become a sculptor and strived to illustrate together with me. She has listened to many books through her hearing aids and through the soft voices of her parents (including all of Redwall, Dad even did all the voices).
(ID: Momo riding a big black percheron horse, Tascha, during the summer of 2021)
Our Rallying Cry
Our call to action now is to be able to give Momo one last grand adventure. She may need her wheelchair more than ever, but she still has excitement, drive and purpose. We wish to foster this as long as she will, and we intend to fight alongside her for as long as she’s able, and so we would like to take Momo to Europe this summer. We would like to give her the grad trip she deserves.
(ID: Momo and friend on a teacup style ride at West Edmonton Mall in 2018 )
Most of our plans center around France and the United Kingdom:
- Momo would like to ride in a train sleeper car and have breakfast on the train.
- Momo would like to go to Disney Paris and meet princesses and characters from her favourite films.
- Momo would like to listen to a museum tour and touch some of the great sculptures.
- Momo would like to feel the warmth of summer and smell all the cheese and bread (her favourite meals all involve cheese and carbs)
- Momo would like to bring some friends along with her too.
Momo has shared her own thoughts on the End. She has expressed her desire to join Star Clan (Warrior Cats heaven) and look over us all, giving us guidance and putting challenges in our ways to make us stronger. She is going to pet Toby dog (her first dog) and get to meet her Grandma Shirley (my paternal grandmother) and tell her all the stories about her life. When she told me all these, I cried too. I know she’ll achieve all of these, and I want her to get there having achieved her dreams with us as well.
(ID: Momo towels off Toby dog after a wet outside time)
The Costs:
We have some savings that we had put aside for Momo in her old age, however, with the time being what it is, we are working to access that account now. Those funds are earmarked for her end of life care, comfort and peace, funerary expenses and her eventual internment. These funds may go a small way towards this travel and adventure, but any additional financial help would be welcome.
We have approached other charities, including Make-a-Wish, Starlight Foundation and Variety Children's Charity, but as our wish for travel is outside of the contiguous North America, it doesn't fall within their purview. We totally appreciate and respect those charities for their support and understand their limitations. Due to our diverse, disabled, and queer presenting family, we do not wish to visit the United States at this time.
Other Creative Wishes that Can Help:
For our creative friends, we will share any linework art, songs, voice messages, poems or stories verbally.
For the artistically inclined, her reference picture can be accessed here:
Momo is a double merle cardigan Corgi. She chose the double merle as an external reflection of her genetic disorder, and to share the dangers of double merle breeding in dogs with that gene. As most puppies have some form of sensory loss.
(ID: Momo the Corgi sharing a heart with her Mom's fursona, Rhari. Image by Peppertomb)
We recommend linework with hatching to represent colours as the embosser can raise those lines and make them clear to her exploring fingers. For songs, she is a fan of folk music like Joni Mitchell and John Denver, as well as poppy music like the Beatles. Her current listening is Chad Lawson, a modern pianist with soft and sad vibes. For stories, she loves tales of Animals and adventure. If Game of thrones had had the characters as anthro forms of their houses, she would have been even more enthralled.
Finally, any amount of words of comfort and support and any shares of this page will go a long way in bringing Momo to her Last Adventure. This point where we hope to tie up all her plot lines, give her a hero's adulation and let her know how beloved a creature she is to us, her community and her world. She may not be with us a long time, but the lives she has touched and the joy and thoughtfulness she has provoked will live with all of us forever.
Thank you for being with us
Shay/Rhari, and Forever the Mom of Momo.
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Additional charities that have supported us and would welcome donations:
Blind Beginnings
Canadian Deaf Blind Association
Canuck Place Children's Hospice
BC Children's Hospital
Make a Wish Canada
Starlight Foundation Canada
Community Venture Society
Strive Living Society
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Co-organizers (1)
Shayley Duval
Organizer
Port Coquitlam, BC
Victoria Woodcock
Co-organizer