Evelyn
We are pleased to announce that ARK Kid Evelyn’s renovation was completed in February 2025!
Evelyn is a very happy child with a great sense of humor and loves spending time with her family and classmates. She enjoys school, reading, going for car rides, listening to music, shopping, and participating in assistive horseback riding sessions.
Evelyn was born via emergency C-section at 32 weeks and was diagnosed shortly after with congenital myotonic dystrophy type 1. She was given very low odds of survival. Her first 11 months of life were spent in the hospital, and she has battled several viruses (including COVID) leading to frequent hospitalizations, setbacks, and missed preschool.
Because of low muscle tone, Evelyn uses a wheelchair, and depends on a tracheostomy and ventilator. She wears a rigid back brace 24 hours a day to support her spine. She communicates with the help of an assistive device and receives daily therapy from a team of specialists. Evelyn attends GRIT kindergarten, splitting her time between learning at home and in the classroom.
Before the renovation, Evelyn was confined to just one floor of her home. As she grew, moving her became increasingly difficult and unsafe. These daily challenges limited her ability to fully engage in family life.
Reno Scope of Work
To meet these needs, ARK provided a lift system to connect the main floor and second floor, a wheelchair-accessible bathroom upstairs, vinyl flooring in high-traffic areas on the upper level, combined two bedrooms into one larger space, and relocation of ceiling tracks in both the bedroom and bathroom.
This renovation has transformed daily life for Evelyn and her family. She can now move safely between floors and join in more precious moments with her loved ones! She also experiences more comfort and independence, and her family can support her more safely.
Feedback
With permission from Evelyn’s family, we are honoured to share how this project has impacted their daily life:
“The elevator has brought a new sense of freedom and happiness, allowing her to move independently between spaces that were once difficult or impossible to reach. The joy on Evelyn’s face when she was finally able to move freely throughout our home was indescribable.
This newfound independence has given her a greater sense of confidence, belonging, and inclusion in our daily lives.
This renovation has not just changed our home – it has changed our lives. We will forever be grateful for the kindness, expertise, and generosity of the ARK team.”
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous project sponsors and in-kind donors who made Evelyn’s renovation possible.
To help us continue transforming the lives of more kids like Olivia, please consider supporting ARK with a donation or in-kind contribution. To learn more, please visit our donate page.
donors and funders of renovations
- SHIFT Projects
- Lindsay O Creative
- Big Al's Texturing
- Ascent Home Systems
- Iconic Custom Carpentry
- AM Cleaning
- Timeless Painting
- Innovative Tile YYC
- Concrete Cutting Geeks
- Many individuals and community members who contributed through fundraising and donations.