I was pregnant with my youngest daughter, Abigail, when my husband, Jim, and I were in desperate need for assistance to have our van converted for our daughter, Chelsea. Chelsea, now eleven years old, has Rett Syndrome, which affects her ability to walk, talk and use her hands. Rett Syndrome is a neurological disorder seen almost exclusively in females, but which can occur rarely in males. Chelsea cannot speak and is confined to a wheelchair. Lifting Chelsea to put her in a car seat and then lifting her wheelchair into the van became very difficult, especially while pregnant. Chelsea has many doctors and therapy appointments that I had to transport her to and from without Jim at times which made the lifting even more difficult. Our doctor as well as ourselves knew that the prospect of having to lift Chelsea throughout her life would be hard on our backs and unsafe for Chelsea.
Jim and I were newly married and moved to San Diego in 2001. Jim adopted Chelsea two days after our wedding and gave her his last name. Chelsea’s rare sudden onset of Rett Syndrome at the age of eight and sudden loss of her abilities was overwhelming to us but we came together and made a family. Jim definitely took on more than most men would have and Chelsea and I are forever blessed.
Our funds were limited and the cost of a conversion van was that of a new car. The insurance company denied our request so I started to make phone calls for other possibilities of assistance. Being a military family, I contacted the Armed Services YMCA who highly recommended that I contact Conner’s Cause for Children. The caseworker spoke of many wonderful stories she had heard that involved Conner’s Cause. Without hesitation, I called.
I strongly believe that Angels are put on this earth to help others at their time of need when no other resources are available to them. Conner's Cause was and is an Angel to our family. They came to our home and met Chelsea and myself to expedite the application for assistance and offered many other resources that could assist our family. With the help from Conner’s Cause and other local resources, our van was converted and delivered to our home by the time Chelsea’s sister, Abigail, was born on Valentine’s Day. It has made such a difference in our lives and Chelsea can be transported safely in our converted van. The amount of time and effort that is saved having our converted van to transport Chelsea only adds to the quality of our lives.
Due to Chelsea having “Drop Seizures” that cause her to suddenly hit the floor while she attempts to sit up, Conner’s Cause helped purchase mats for our floors to give Chelsea a safer environment so she would not be confined to her wheelchair all day. Chelsea enjoys playing on her colorful mats and I am comforted knowing that she is safer in our own home and less restricted to moving freely about as her body permits.
Along with assistance for equipment needs that are often denied by our insurance company, Conner’s Cause has inspired me to organize a local support group for other families that live with Rett Syndrome. Conner’s family and all that they do for our community shows that positive things can come from what we consider at times to be negative and heart wrenching. Conner's Cause has given me so much support and guidance to make the San Diego Rett Syndrome support group a reality and she continues to offer me her friendship and words of wisdom to this day.
Along with that of my husband and my girls, I am forever blessed to have Conner’s Cause as one of our Angels. I am forever grateful to all that Conner’s Cause has and continues to do for our family.
Warmest regards,
Veleria, Jim and Chelsea Fabiszak—Abby too!
