Meet Ophelia
Meet four-year-old Ophelia. Ophelia was injured in birth, causing brain damage. She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth. Her Mom, Liz, had prayed for another child. The prayers really beginning in the heart of her son. Six years older than the sister he so fervently and specifically prayed for. Red hair and blue eyes-that’s what he asked for his sister to have. Then she did. She was a miracle. His miracle. Their miracle. After she was born, Mom grieved the loss of what could have been for her little girl. She tells me about the quiet. “She was 68 days old before she made a sound.” The sound- a cry- a squeak really. Ophelia, taking her first Oxygen treatments, had finally built enough strength to make that small cry. It was a moment they celebrated. A moment they are still talking about four years later.
Ophelia still doesn’t speak. Her mother has never seen her smile. She doesn’t know what she might be thinking or feeling. She can only pour into her, holding her almost constantly as she cries when she is put down. Ophelia has poor head and trunk control and must be supported to keep from falling over. She has a wheelchair, but it is a hand me down and lacks the support she needs to sit safely and comfortably.
Ophelia now has a brand new light-weight manual wheelchair that caters to all of her custom needs. This wheelchair will keep her safe and comfortable for many years to come.