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An anonymous donor has stepped up to buy a home for a single mother in Airdrie whose daughters have a rare disease that will leave them both in wheelchairs.
Shanna Leavitt’s daughters Kadence, 11 and Addison, 8, both have Friedreich’s Ataxia, a disease that leads to impaired muscle coordination.
The disease can affect hands, legs, eyes and even speech and the girls will eventually need wheelchairs to get around.
The family’s current home has too many stairs and isn’t wheelchair accessible so Shanna was getting concerned about how they would manage in the future.
“It’s difficult, like even going out. We use a wheelchair when we go to the mall and stuff and getting there and thinking, well I’ve got to park and I’ve got to pull out the wheelchair and get her in it. It’s hard, if there’s snow outside and this is all new to us, it’s all new so we’re learning,” said Shanna.
After hearing about the family’s situation from the Airdrie Angel Program, a donor purchased a bungalow for the trio to make moving around a little easier.
Scott Werenka is a general contractor and he has taken on the task of making the home accessible.
“We are going to basically change the whole house and give them the space that they require to move around, no stairs in the house is an important part,” said Werenka . “Bathroom sinks (for example), wheelchairs can’t go underneath a standard bathroom vanity.”
The Airdire angels are now raising money to pay for the renovation. They’re also asking for tradespeople to volunteer their time. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to accept donations. Tradespeople who can help should email: [email protected]
Agencies/Canadajournal
