Wesway

Dear Friend of Wesway,

Piper is our charming and adorable ten year old son. He enjoys camping, swimming, fishing and all kinds of music and movies. At home, he idolizes his big sister and little brother, giving them big hugs and keeping them close by. At school, he delights in making his friends laugh and has been known to bring out the best in his peers.

Piper was born with Down Syndrome and a heart defect. For his safety, it’s imperative that we keep a very close eye on him. Darting into the street or wandering away is a scary possibility. At times, he fixates on wanting to do an activity or go to a certain place and it’s hard to redirect his attention. Shopping trips with Piper are very limited and can be difficult because it’s hard to sustain his attention for long periods of time.

We’re fortunate to have lots of family support, but our parents aren’t getting younger and they need a break too. We were referred to Wesway and went on a waiting list for a while. Incredibly, the first time we used Wesway’s respite service was the day our third child was born!

Our Wesway Respite Worker has taken Piper once a week for five years. She’s absolutely wonderful! Although Piper has limited verbal skills, we know he loves Tiffany. Together they play with her dog, go to parks or the library, watch movies, play on the computer or go out to eat. It’s a social time for him. He gets fresh air and exercise while learning to interact with people without us watching and directing every move.

For us, respite is a rare “grown-up” evening together at a restaurant! We also appreciate some uninterrupted time with our other two children. When Piper spends a weekend at Wesway’s Respite Home, both of us can attend our daughter’s hockey tournaments and really focus on her games.

There are times when we’ve been completely exhausted. Piper only recently began to sleep through the night! We’re young and healthy, but we know there are many families struggling to cope in their role as caregivers.

Looking ahead, we realize our support network will change over time. Our other children will grow more independent and involved with their own lives. Where will that leave Piper? We hope Wesway will continue to be there for us.

In the future, we see ourselves volunteering for Wesway. For now, it’s more realistic for us to give back by making regular financial donations. We hope you will do the same. Please give what you can, and help us support Wesway’s vital services for families!

Sincerely,

Leslie and Chris Hynnes