How your support expanded Ellie’s world

When Paula and Mike welcomed their daughter Ellie in 2010, they sensed something was different. Born at 37 weeks after growth stopped at 32, Ellie cried constantly for her first year. At 18 months, she was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder that affects movement, speech, and development.

Now nearly 15, Ellie is a gentle, happy teen who loves swimming, her sensory room, and her dog, Waffle — who alerts Paula before Ellie has a seizure. Her medical journey has been complex, with hospitalizations for seizures and pneumonia, and an eight-month regression that left her unable to sit up or hold her head up on her own.

Determined to find the right support, the family moved across the country — from Ottawa to Calgary — before settling in the Comox Valley. There, they transformed their basement into a sensory playground.

“Most therapists say our basement is better equipped than some therapy centres,” Paula shared.

When the family had to go to Calgary for therapy Ellie can’t access locally, Bear Essentials helped cover their travel costs.

They also received support from the program to purchase a specialized stroller for Ellie — and to replace it with a bigger one when she outgrew it.

We give Ellie everything we can,” Paula said. “And when she’s done, we donate the equipment.

For Paula, it all comes down to one thing:

“As long as Ellie’s happy and healthy, I’m happy and healthy, too.”