Sometimes being a parent with a child who has special needs can be overwhelming. One’s world can be turned upside down in an instant.
For Heather and Dean Clemmer of Drayton, that was the case after the birth of their son Troy, who has cerebral palsy. Yet, with KidsAbility’s help, they learned that love is unconditional and found ways to celebrate his unique abilities. This approach served them well when they decided to adopt Emma, a young girl who also has cerebral palsy.
“I grew up in a foster home for six years of my life,” states Dean. “As a way of giving back, I wanted to foster or adopt a child and Heather was on the same page. We started going down the fostering road, but nothing was lining up for us. That’s when we decided to adopt.”
At 18 months old, Emma joined the Clemmer family.
“If there was a way to seal the adoption, it was the discovery that she had cerebral palsy,” adds Heather. “We’d been through this before with Troy, so it wasn’t scary. Troy was excited too, as Emma had the same condition he struggled with growing up.”
From the age of 2, Emma received physiotherapy, occupational therapy, augmentative therapy, speech therapy, and power chair training at KidsAbility. And she flourished.
“Emma is a firecracker,” says Heather. “She is so easy for staff to work with and her determination has taken her beyond what we thought possible. It’s been such a blessing to get services at KidsAbility.”
Today, Emma and her brother Troy are ambassadors for KidsAbility. On Father’s Day, June 19, they will be attending the Superhero Run for KidsAbility in Guelph as a way to give back to the organization that has helped them.
As Heather says, “We hope that having our children as ambassadors can raise awareness and help get the waiting list smaller.”
The 3rd Annual Superhero Run for KidsAbility will be held at Exhibition Park in Guelph. It will see families and running enthusiasts walking or running one or five kilometres dressed up as superheroes. This year, KidsAbility will also have a 5km wheelchair race. Participants fundraise to support KidsAbility’s programs and services for children and youth with special needs in Guelph-Wellington. Other activities will include a costume contest, face painting, a bouncy castle and vendor booths.
Over 800 participants are expected to attend in support of children and youth with special needs.
