A Kinistino-area family is hosting a fundraiser for a new wheelchair for six-year old daughter, Paisley. (Facebook/Colleen Hansen)

By Angie Rolheiser

'Pulling for Paisley'

Area family raising funds for wheelchair upgrade for six-year-old girl

Sep 25, 2019 | 12:01 PM

An area family is hoping to raise funds for a wheelchair for their six-year-old daughter who suffers each day from complications at birth that led to brain damage.

Paisley Hansen recently began kindergarten and will need a wheelchair update that will cost up to $10,000.

Paisley’s mother, Colleen Hansen said they have a fundraiser planned on Oct. 5 after trying other avenues for funding.

“We tried through Sask Abilities, the Ministry of Health and they did not approve our request for this wheelchair,” Hansen said. “We applied through TeleMiracle and that request was also denied.”

The supper and dance event is planned at the Weldon Auditorium. The supper portion of the evening is sold out but the dance is open to the public.

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Hansen said they are also holding a silent auction throughout the night, which they are still taking in items for as well.

Hansen said they have always had the extra costs of treatment but the wheelchair cost is what brings them to ask for some extra assistance.

“We have just always done without something to provide something for her or the other kids, you know. Paisley has a brother and sister too,” Hansen said. “You want to just provide for your children as best as you can but in Paisley’s case that is not the same as what most kids and families require.”

Hansen said the transition for Paisley at school has been fairly smooth but that is with great help of the staff.

“The school has put things in place that she will need and made sure that the staff is trained to do her tube feeds and administer medications,” Hansen said. “They also work with me on how to continue routines we have developed at home as well.”

Paisley has no independent movement on her own so the wheelchair is an absolute essential.

“She has grown out of her current chair and is requiring more support for her hips and spine to make sure we keep them as straight and healthy as possible and to not further cause any other issues with her structure or cause anymore pain,” Hansen said.

The new chair would have a proper harness, more support, can be adjusted to her different sitting positions, and also easier to take in and out of a vehicle, according to Hansen.

The wheelchair was recommended to the family by Paisley’s physiotherapist, pediatricians, and seating specialist.

“They feel that this is the best option for her to have the best seat possible,” Hansen said.

The cost of the wheelchair is on top of other day-to-day and week-to-week costs that are also associated with providing efficiently for Paisley.

“We take her to Saskatoon for ABM neurol movement therapy lessons every month and we’ve seen major gains with her by doing that and we feel strongly with the progress we have seen with it,” Hansen said.

The lessons are another cost the family faces.

“We are just parents that want to help and give our child the best quality of life that she can possible have,” Hansen said. “We want her to enjoy her day-to-day experiences with her brother and sister and with us.”

The family has created a Facebook page, ‘Pulling for Paisley’ which shows all of the available silent auction items that will be on hand at the event.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser