Fundraiser in Bedford for boy with cerebral palsy

BEDFORD, NS – The family of a 15-year-old old Bedford boy is hoping for some financial help. Noah Isenor has several medical issues and requires a specialized wheelchair to get around, as well as a customized van. But his medical expenses have placed a heavy burden on the family.

That’s why the family hosted a fundraiser Monday night at a Bedford restaurant.

The Isenor family has faced many hardships in raising their 15-year-old son, Noah, who has has many restrictions.

“He’s got severe cerebral palsy and epilepsy and suffers from over a hundred seizures a day,” says Noah’s mother, Tara Weston-Isenor.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He's got severe cerebral palsy and epilepsy and suffers from over a hundred seizures a day," says Noah's mother, Tara Weston-Isenor.

Noah is a grade 11 student at C.P. Allen High in Bedford, but he also has visual and speech impairments. “He can understand what people say to him and understands what goes on in his life,” says his Mom.

Noah’s had 37 surgeries in his brief lifetime and another one coming up soon. In two weeks he will go for another operation, where both of his hands and wrist will be broken and re-constructed.

All the surgeries have cost the Isenors more than 220-thousand dollars over the years for Noah’s medical expenses. There are also other costs, like a specialized van that is wheelchair accessible, which cost 70-thousand dollars. The van is so important for Noah, to get to his medical appointments and more.

“He needed a wheelchair every 5 years,” said Tara. “He requires special lifts in his room to get him in and out of bed, special change tables.”

The list goes on – all costing several thousand dollars. The Isenors have the debt down to 19-thousand, accomplishing it through fund raisers and donations like the event at Finbars Irish Pub.

“We have a donation jar set up and Finbars tallies up all the sales from this evening and donates back to the cause 15 per cent,” says the Pub’s G.M. Kristi Cunningham.

There was also a silent auction on Moosehead tickets and a cheese board. A book called A New Normal, written by Tara, was also available for 10-dollars.

“I wrote a book for other special needs families and caregivers to purchase – to give them – you know – some advice, some hope, some inspiration on what it’s like to raise special needs children,” she says.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I wrote a book for other special needs families and caregivers to purchase - to give them - you know - some advice, some hope, some inspiration on what it's like to raise special needs children," she says.

Tara also has plans to write a book of poems. If more money is raised than the goal, a legacy fund in Noah’s name will be established at the IWK Hospital to help other families in financial need.

If you would like to donate to the Noah Isenor fund, go to Noah’s Journey Site.