Avery Webster – click here for more information
Avery is a 15-year-old and a grade 9 student at Cayuga Secondary. She has been diagnosed with Seckel Syndrome, a rare form of dwarfism. She struggles daily with many aspects of life due to her global delays and kyphosis. She is non-verbal and legally blind. She requires constant help throughout the day and relies on teachers, aids and helpers from her family for feeding, bathing, entertainment, and personal care. Avery has had her bedroom adapted to keep her safe, including padded floors and walls. She has a specialized wheelchair but could use a lift to assist with transferring her from her chair.
Breeanna Commisso – click here for more information
Breeanna from Cayuga is a cheerful grade 8 student at St. Stephen’s School. Breeanna has been diagnosed with a developmental delay, Cerebral Palsy, and vision impairment. She uses a wheelchair to navigate, so specialized transportation throughout the school year can be costly for her parents, preventing Breeanna from being able to attend school-related events. In saying that, Breeanna would like to attend her year-end class trip to Camp Celtic, located in the Bruce Peninsula. It is a 3 night/4 day excursion that allows students to participate in various activities that promote team building, socialization, skill development and much more. Being able to attend this overnight camp enables Breeanna to participate fully and gain a sense of independence and inclusion that she deserves.
Gabriella Chinwe – click here for more information
Gabriella is a 4-year-old from Caledonia. She radiates happiness and has been a bundle of joy. At just 22 months old, Gabriella was diagnosed with autism & has a congenital spine defect. Further testing showed that one of her kidneys was enlarged, needing immediate surgery due to a blockage in her urethra from a congenital bladder issue. Gabriella has had to undergo multiple surgeries to clear the blockages in her urethra and started experiencing kidney reflux, leading to several UTIs. To prevent further infections, they had to start catheterization at home and at school. Gabby is also undergoing ABA and speech therapy sessions weekly, as she hasn’t started speaking yet. Despite these challenges, Gabriella is the bravest 4-year-old, and her parents are optimistic about her future.
James Huges – click here for more information
My name is James Huges. I’m 8 years old and in grade two at Hagersville Elementary School. In 2019, I was diagnosed with level 3 autism and global developmental delay. I was also a foster kid up until April 2021, when my dad and stepmom got me out of the system. I have attended ABA therapy, speech and language therapy and Occupational therapy. Speech and language therapy was able to help me be able to project sounds only. I am still non-verbal, and it is very hard for me to communicate. When I want someone’s attention, I go up to them, take their hand to guide them to what I want. I get frustrated easily due to the fact it’s hard for me to express anything to anyone when I want something or need something. Getting this communication tablet would be so amazing for me to be able to communicate with everyone around me.
Lloyd McDonald – click here for more information
Lloyd is a kind-hearted grade 5 student who faces many daily challenges in the regular classroom setting due to a history of trauma in his early years. As a result, he has been receiving assistance from an FASD support worker through Haldimand Norfolk Reach. He would like to attend an alternative education program at an outdoor educational facility called “River Road Nature School”. He will be attending this facility one day per week during the entire 2024-25 school year, which will help him gain the strategies needed to be successful at school. It will also allow him to have the movement needed while learning, which is something he will benefit from greatly. Lloyd has a deep interest in the outdoors, and this outdoor learning would help him in a variety of areas, including problem-solving and critical thinking in a hands-on outdoor environment.
Michael Swayze – click here for more information
Michael was first diagnosed with Testicular Cancer in 2020 at the age of 16. Michael underwent treatment and planned on starting university. In June of 2023, the doctors discovered that the cancer had returned. In July, Michael started another cycle of chemotherapy, and it was recommended that Michael undergo a stem cell transplant and continue with heavier chemo. In January 2024, we were informed that Michael’s counts had gone back up and he needed to start chemotherapy again as soon as possible. Following the first 2 cycles of chemo, we had a consultation with the Oncologist. We were told that the treatment is not working, and Michael has 3 – 6 months. This is news that no 20-year-old should ever have to hear. With Michael’s youth, strength, courage & optimism, we believe he will beat cancer with the support of doctors, nurses, family, and friends.
Tanika Jacobs – click here for more information
Tanika Jacobs has Type 1 diabetes. At age 8, she suffered ketoacidosis & her body went into septic shock. Due to her failing lungs, she had to endure a leg amputation & double-lung transplant. At age 11, her lung capacity fell to 25%, and she required a second double-lung transplant. Now, at age 15, Tanika has a tracheostomy, is on a ventilator 24/7, and is trach and vent dependent. She is currently on a waitlist for a third double-lung transplant. Tanika enjoys art, has home instruction, attends Axis Youth and is under her mother’s full-time care
George Hermis – click here for more information
George Hermis is a 13-year-old student at St. Patrick’s and is the youngest of 5. George suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which is an aggressive variant of the disease that can affect one’s quality of life. He is no longer able to walk on his own and requires a wheelchair for regular mobility. Unfortunately, George’s condition continues to intensify, impacting his overall mobility & basic function. For this reason, he could greatly benefit from a powered chair lift at his home for basic everyday needs.
Emily Heaslip – click here for more information
Emily Heaslip from Hagersville is a happy 5-year-old girl who was diagnosed with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a condition that impacted the development of her bones and tissue in her face. Due to her condition, Emily needed several surgeries and requires a tracheostomy tube, a feeding tube, and a hearing aid. Emily is partially deaf and could benefit from a new hearing aid as well as a special device that helps her communicate and express herself.
Maeve Fields – click here for more information
Maeve Field is a 5-year-old girl who suffered life altering injuries after she was struck by a car in March 2019. Maeve’s left arm & right leg suffered irreparable damage & were amputated. Her left eye and a section of her jaw were also severely damaged unfortunately. All of these major injuries have resulted in medical procedures such as plastic surgeries, skin grafts, bone grafts, treatment for a deadly Mucor fungus, multiple jaw and dental surgeries, periodontal (gum) surgery and related transplants, much of which will continue indefinitely. Basic prostheses for mobility & related medical treatments are only partially covered. Ian, her father turned down a job & has not worked since the accident so he could be Maeve’s full-time caregiver & support person.
Zoey Gilbertson – click here for more information
Zoey Gilbertson from Hagersville is a 1-year old little girl who suffers from a rare condition called Eosinophilic Gastro-intestinal Disease (EGID). This is a very painful and destructive disease. Zoey is on strong steroids & must be fed by feeding tube indefinitely. As there is no treatment for EGID in Canada, so she requires treatment at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, at a cost of $60,000 which is not covered by our OHIP. Unfortunately, Zoey’s 3-year-old brother is now also being tested for EGID and Zoey’s parents, Tyler & Rebecca, are very concerned for the well-being of their young family.
Cayuga Autistic Children’s Program – click here for more information
The Cayuga Autistic Children’s Program provides classes for special children diagnosed with autism. The parents and program providers at Mitchener School require some specialized equipment for their class, which lacks provincial or county funding.
Tanika Jacobs – click here for more information
Assistance with ongoing medical treatments. Still battling to stabilize her diabetes. Recovering from a double lung transplant. Attempting to return back to her life prior to the medical emergency.
Tucker Haggith – click here for more information
Tucker Haggith (Taco) was born locally in March of 2017 and within hours was diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease. This is a very rare condition that affects the bowels ganglion cells. Shortly after being diagnosed, Tucker ended up developing life-threatening Enterocolitis 3 times over the course of 2 months and required an Ileostomy and had to be hospitalized. Tucker was taken to Nationwide Hospital in Columbus Ohio for a major surgery followed by extensive treatments and therapy. Unfortunately, Tucker’s family had to pay for most of the medical & travel expenses out of pocket, with little to no support.
Malachi VanWoudenberg & Family – click here for more information
On November 9, 2016, 12:59 pm, Malachi John was born weighing 1 lb 14 oz. Malachi was born at 25 weeks and 2 days. Malachi and his siblings were whisked away by a team of doctors and healthcare professionals. They were all intubated and put on breathing support and put on special IVs through their umbilical cords. Many monitors and probes were attached to their tiny bodies to monitor different things like heart rates, temperatures, oxygen levels, etc. They were then taken to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).
As for the more medical and technical aspects of Malachi’s breathing support… he is still on higher settings than when he came home because of his cold. We hope to visit his pediatrician and complex care team this week to get some bloodwork to assess his blood gases (CO2 in the blood, etc.) and hopefully be able to turn down the amount of support he is getting by a very small amount. We know it will take a long time to slowly wean off of the breathing support (likely multiple years), so we are struggling to stay patient and thankful for the tiny steps we do get to take.
Sarah Makkai – click here for more information
Sarah Makkai is a three-year-old resident of Caledonia battling Cystic Fibrosis. Sarah could use some much needed medical equipment to assist with her daily treatments required for her condition, which is on top of the lengthy regiment of medications and medical procedures that she currently is on.
Charlotte Povrzenich – click here for more information
Charlotte Povrzenich is a resident of Caledonia battling a rare congenital bowel disease. Charlotte has been in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at McMaster Children’s Hospital since birth, has endured abdominal surgery and has encountered recent medical emergencies, making her medically fragile. Charlotte will require her room be equipped with the necessary appliances and medical equipment to address her condition, once she is finally released from the NICU, and allowed to go home.
Sydney Tong – click here for more information
Sydney is Global Developmental Delayed, which means she has severe physical and mental challenges. As a result, she is unable to talk, cofined to a wheelchair and requires a special bed which costs over $4000 dollars. Finally, Sydney requires constant care and as a result, has never been able to enjoy a summer camp experience.