ILE-PERROT — Travis Yakimishyn, a contractor for T.D. Renovations, lives in St-Lazare. When he saw a Global News story last month on the plight of five-year-old Jessika Parry, he stepped up to help.
READ MORE: Quebec family resorts to crowdfunding for daughter’s adapted bath
“I wanted to really give back to someone who’s in need,” he told Global News.
“I believe that everybody needs a break in life and needs some help at some point.”
He and another contractor are adapting Parry’s bathroom and home free of charge. In the meantime, the Parry family is staying in a Marriott hotel, thanks to funds from the Starlight Foundation.
“Staying in a Marriott is a big deal for us,” said Jessika’s father, Jeff Parry.
Jessika Parry has type-1 spinal muscular atrophy, an incurable degenerative condition that can cause breathing problems.
“It’s a hard disease to live with and it is terminal because of the respiratory stress,” said her mother, Eva DeBlois.
“It’s scary. It’s touch-and-go sometimes.”
Global News first connected with the family in March, when they sought help buying a new adapted bath. The sling provided by the provincial government didn’t fit.
After the public shared the story on social media, it came to the attention of the contractors.
“Every time I talk to her she’s just so happy,” Yakimishyn said. “It’s heartwarming to see her and be able to help.
“It’s a gift for me to be able to help a family like this.”
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