Imagine watching your child, eyes full of wonder and joy, wanting nothing more than to run, play, and explore the world—only to be held back by the limitations of their own body. For our daughter Emma, that’s been her reality since the day she was born.
Emma is five years old, a bubbly little girl with a smile that can light up any room. She adores Disney princesses, music, desserts, colouring, and her beloved cat, Skyla. But as charming and bright as she is, Emma’s journey has been filled with challenges most of us could never imagine.
From the very first moments of her life, I knew something wasn’t right.
Emma has a rare genetic disorder, combined with several other disorders and conditions that have caused significant developmental delays. Simple milestones, like rolling over, sitting up, and crawling—things other children do with ease—had been daily struggles for her.
As a baby, Emma was so fragile that my husband and I were afraid to even hold her. Her tiny body barely grew, and she stayed in the same clothes size for over a year. Bath time was terrifying because her muscle tone was so weak, she couldn’t even hold her head up.
As Emma grew older, her delays became more and more noticeable. She didn’t sit up until she was over a year old, and hearing loss made communication painfully difficult. No matter how hard we tried, we often couldn’t understand what she was trying to tell us.
There were many moments when I just felt completely helpless and overwhelmed. As a mom, I wondered how I could possibly help my little girl thrive when she faced so many obstacles, and what kind of future she had given all her struggles.
That’s when we finally found the MAB-Mackay Centre, and everything changed.
I’ll never forget our first visit with Emma to the MAB-Mackay. I felt so much fear and uncertainty. What if they didn’t have the answers we so desperately needed?
But from the moment we met her therapists, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The team saw Emma for who she truly is— an amazing, determined little girl full of potential. After worrying for so long, I actually felt hope that maybe, just maybe, Emma could do the things we dreamed for her.
MAB-Mackay’s team got straight to work, helping Emma with therapies to strengthen her muscles, improve her speech, and eat solid foods. They provided her with a hearing aid, a special bath chair, an adaptive stroller, a walker, a standing machine, and even her very own wheelchair. They had a plan. And they never gave up on her.
Today, Emma is taking steps we once thought impossible—both literally and figuratively. She can climb the stairs, walk with her gait trainer, and even crawl up onto the couch to snuggle with us and watch television together. She even sits at the dinner table with us now, enjoying her favorite foods, pizza and chicken nuggets. Seeing her play with her big sister, who she absolutely idolizes fills our hearts with joy.
Every step forward is a triumph.
But it wasn’t just Emma who was helped. We, as parents, felt heard and supported. We were given the tools and the encouragement to keep going, to believe in our daughter’s potential, and to know that we weren’t alone.
While Emma’s come so far, but her journey is far from over.
Due to her condition and the countless medical appointments, she stayed home with me and my husband most of her life. She was so weak for so long, we couldn’t let her out of our sight, even for the short time. But she’s been doing so well in her therapies that they suggested she start kindergarten at Mackay Centre School this fall – where she’d be with other children and continue to receive high-quality care as part of her school day.
I don’t know if I’ll ever forget when the school bus pulled up in front of our house to pick her up for her first day back in September. Waving goodbye as the yellow bus drove down the street and out of sight, taking our brave little girl on this new adventure, it was surreal.
And Emma? She’s thriving. She absolutely loves school, and can’t wait in the morning to ride the school bus just like her big sister. She’s already made many new friends, and is so excited to discover this new world that’s opening up for her. She’s even starting swimming lessons in their adapted pool, something she’s always dreamed of.
Still, there are many hurdles ahead. Emma continues to need specialized therapies that only MAB-Mackay can provide, to help her with her speech, with walking, and for ongoing support for her hearing loss.
This is why your support is so vital!
Please renew your treasured support for the MAB-Mackay by making a gift to the Habilitas Foundation today. Your support will ensure that MAB-Mackay can keep providing hope, care, and opportunity to children who need it most.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in Emma—and for giving her, and so many like her, the future they deserve.
Kelly, Emma’s proud mom