It’s Variety Week on Global BC, and we’re highlighting stories from children and families around the province who have been helped by Variety.
Global News Morning:
Soobin is a 16-year-old girl from Victoria who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Variety provided her with a grant for an adapted tricycle last July. The bike has also been a gift for Soobin’s mom, who says the two of them now have a special activity they can do together.
On Global News Morning, Motion Specialties brought in some adaptive bikes to discuss the importance and benefits of adapted bicycles.
Joey Bennett is a 10-year-old boy on the autism spectrum. He has DiGeorge Syndrome, resulting in developmental delays, and weakness on the left side of his body. Joey was granted an adapted bike from Variety in 2014. He and his mother were in studio to talk about what the bike means to Joey and their family.
Global News at Noon
Drake was diagnosed with a very rare form of Down Syndrome (Robertsonian Translocation Down Syndrome). He also has poor muscle tone, and cannot walk independently.
At 22 months, he can pull himself to standing position, and can “walk” around the room by using furniture to support himself, but requires special orthotics to provide support for his ankles and help him eventually walk on his own.
Variety provided Drake with a grant to cover the cost of his orthotics, which gives mom Shelley hope that, because of Variety, her son will walk.
Global News at 5:
The building of the Nanaimo Child Development Centre was in desperate need of renovations. The South exterior wall was full of dry rot, fungus and mold. White wasps, woodpeckers and spiders were also nesting in exposed crevices. This created a health risk to children and limited the use of therapy rooms, the preschool and the gymnasium.
A grant from Variety allowed the repairs and renovations to be done, which helped ensure children with special needs will be able to fully participate in the services offered at the CDC.
Global News Hour at 6:
UPDATE: Nov. 28 – During Variety Week, we introduced you to Johannes who has a rare form of hemophilia and can suffer from very severe and painful bleeds in his ankles and other joints. Through a grant from Variety, Johannes was able to get a new wheelchair that was more practical and safe.
Finally, on Friday November 25, Johannes got his new wheelchair! Watch and see the first spins he takes below. Please be sure to stay tuned for more updates on Johannes and other stories featured in Variety Week.
The Provincial Government’s At Home Program is intended to assist parents with some of the extraordinary costs of caring for a child with severe disabilities at home. Applicants must be under the age of 18, a resident of BC, and dependent in at least three of the four activities of daily living (eating, dressing, toileting and washing).
Johannes is an 11 year old boy with severe hemophelia. His condition means that he frequently requires use of a wheelchair to take the pressure off his ankles so his joints do not bleed. The good news and the bad news, is that Johannes does not qualify for a wheelchair under the At Home Program.
Currently, he is using a rusty wheel chair with missing and broken pieces that his father had to purchase at a second hand store. Variety is funding a new wheelchair for Johannes.
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