HIGHLAND — As America was celebrating its independence last July, Angie Daley was thinking about her children and the challenges they faced.
She wrote a letter to the local Knights of Columbus Council 1580 to tell them that she and her husband, Elijah, wished for something that would make her children happy — a bicycle. But the bike they needed was not just a normal bike. It's an adaptive bike and costs $4,000.
Angie Daley explained that their 6-year-old twins, Elijah and Kadence, are disabled, partly because they had been born 15-weeks premature. When born, they spent four months in the NICU at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. They both experienced Grade IV brain bleeds, which left them with global disabilities.
Elijah has cerebral palsy, a shunt in his head for his hydrocephalus, a G-tube in his stomach from which he receives his nutrition, and also has experienced seizures. He also has some vision impairments. Kadence also has cerebral palsy, suffers seizures, has a shunt in her head for hydrocephalus, has a form of autism, and is cortically blind.
Angie was seeking financial assistance for the purchase of an adaptive bike to be shared by both children.
"While most kids would be using a bike for recreational purposes, this bike will provide much needed therapy for the twins as they continue their quest to learn how to walk," she wrote.
Elijah had groundbreaking spinal cord surgery last June that gave him the motor function to walk someday. He continues intensive outpatient physical therapy, but still has a ways to go. He is, for the first time, learning what his legs are for.
"This bike would assist in teaching him the motion of walking while preventing his legs from scissoring, which is something he struggles with," Angie wrote. "Kadence is currently walking with a walking cane, but her gait is very unsteady. This bike would no doubt help her as well."
She included a photo of her children, sealed the letter and dropped it in the mailbox so "You may put a face to a name," she said.
The letter touched the hearts of the men at the Knights of Columbus. She also included a letter from one of the many doctors that the children see and an estimate from Creative Mobility, the Chicago company that builds the bikes. She said that any amount of money would help offset the cost of the bike.
The letter was read at the next Knights of Columbus meeting by Grand Knight Joe Wetmore and everyone wanted to help. Within days, the money seemed to flow in to make this dream a reality for the family. Third-degree members, the fourth-degree knights and the ladies auxiliary donated money to the drive. As word spread, others who wished to remain anonymous donated.
When the Highland Knights of Columbus held its annual Firemen's Appreciation Dinner, the Daleys and their children were special guests. Elijah talked about his children and how special they are to him and Angie. Then, Wetmore presented them with a check for the full amount. The Daleys were completely surprised.
"I can't tell you how much this means to us," said Angie. Soon these children will experience the dream and wonderment of most children — the thrill of riding their very own bike.