Emily’s Path gives $2,000 to assist with purchase of a handicapped accessible van to transport 4 year old girl

If you live in the Wausau area, chances are you’ve heard about a local family’s efforts to raise money to purchase a handicapped accessible van to transport their 4 year old daughter, Maddie.  Maddie is confined to a wheelchair due to Arthrogryposis (a tight joint disorder).  She has other physical limitations, including a club foot, a permanently dislocated hip, a fused jaw, airway impairments, and cortical visual impairment.  Despite her challenges, Maddie is a happy little girl and is making many developmental gains (including spelling words like “elephant,” “birthday,” “Wisconsin” and “museum.”)  Pretty impressive for a 4 year old!

As she has grown, it has become increasingly difficult for Maddie’s parents to transport her in a regular vehicle.  Over the past eight months, Maddie’s mom has worked tirelessly to raise the funds needed to purchase a handicapped accessible van.  Her efforts included t-shirt sales, jewelry sales, a brat fry, an “egg roll” at Easter, a bake sale, garage sales, flamingo flocking (Wausau folks know what we’re talking about!), and a fundraising event with a raffle and silent auction.  Many local businesses and individuals stepped up to help, and we wanted to do the same.

Recently, Emily’s sister, Olivea, met Maddie and her family and presented them with a check for $2,000 from Emily’s Path.  We are happy to report that Maddie’s family has placed the order for the van, and it will be converted to make it handicapped accessible by late fall.  Thank you to all of our supporters for helping to make this little girl’s world a little bigger, and a lot happier.  You are making the world a better place.

Click here to go to Maddie’s FaceBook page.