7-year old Leah Hicks from Moncton was granted a wish from the Children’s Wish Foundation this week.
Mother Shawnna Rivard says her daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis with Uveitis five years ago.
The treatment qualified Hicks for a wish.
“We talked to Leah about what her wish would be, and of course she chose a pool because she loves to swim,” says Rivard. “We were very grateful to receive a therapeutic pool for Leah, it’s heated, so it’s good for her joints.”
Rivard adds they surprised a very grateful Leah with the pool after her return from camp yesterday.
“I blindfold her, so when she got out of the car everyone was outside and I unfolded her eyes, and boom, there was her pool!” says Rivard. “And she was over the moon, kinda speechless, she didn’t know what to say, she was kinda like “Wow, it’s my pool!”
Rivard says swimming helps Leah stay active without being in too much pain.
Her doctor says it’s crucial for people suffering from arthritis to keep themselves active, even if they are in pain.
Rivard says “swimming was a great thing, because obviously when you’re in a pool you’re kinda weightless and your joints are still getting great activity, so at that time I put her in dance and swimming lessons, and she’s been doing that since she was two years old.”
The new pool for 7-Year Old Leah Hicks who suffers from Juvenile Arthritis
Jul 22, 2017 at 6:34am PDT
