Wheelchair for Aspen

Aspen is a sweet and determined 4 year old who has a mixed type of cerebral palsy . Specifically, Aspen’s CP affects the gross/ fine motor skills in her legs and left arm. Because of this, Aspen can’t walk. She is able to do some steps with help from a grown up and her walker but the walker doesn’t grant her independence. This leaves a wheelchair as the only option to give Aspen some freedom of mobility, aside from crawling. For a girl who starts school next fall, crawling around hardly feels like a way to keep up and bond with her fellow peers. When it comes to wheelchairs, there isn’t a lot variety in the world of paediatrics, especially when you throw in the challenge of Aspens left hand being affected as well . This aspect of her CP makes a manual chair near impossible and would require Aspen to exert so much energy to try and move that she would be too exhausted to learn in class. This leaves us with the option of a power-chair. There are different variations of the same thing available in the “normal “ market for powerchairs for kids, which basically consists of a chair weighing over 130lbs, a full vehicle, and home overhaul to be able to accommodate a piece of equipment so large . Not to mention, Aspen is a very petite 4 year old and the idea of her driving such a heavy piece of equipment just doesn’t sit right with her parents.

Cue the “out of the box” option. We’ve discovered a custom wheelchair company outside of Canada, in California . They make a lightweight powerchair that is styled more like a manual chair in shape and size but will give Aspen freedom of mobility; she won’t have to compromise learning for movement throughout her day. The issue? The usual funding options don’t encompass custom builds. This leaves fundraising as the only option. We will be looking to raise the funds for her wheelchair so she can have this freedom. We are so grateful fundraising is an option to make it happen. Thank you for supporting Aspen and our family, we appreciate it more than you know!