Over 40 people showed up on the Rachel and Anthony Enns doorstep in Landmark just before Christmas to surprise the family with a cheque toward a specialized vest that is expected to improve their daughter’s quality of life.
The Landmark family whose little girl is chronically ill was recently blessed with a significant gift from the community that will greatly improve their lives.
Six-year-old Skyler Enns, the daughter of Rachel and Anthony Enns, suffers from cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a common often fatal genetic disease. It is a multi-organ disease which primarily affects the lungs and the digestive system.
In the lungs, it will result in severe breathing problems as a build-up of thick mucus makes it difficult to clear bacteria and leads to cycles of infection and inflammation, which damage the delicate lung tissues.
Families of children who suffer from the disease must follow a rigorous daily routine of physical therapy to keep the lungs free of congestion and infection.
This past Fall, doctors prescribed the need for a therapeutic vest that would assist Skyler’s parents with her care. The vest would replace the family’s need to pummel their daughter’s chest to help release the mucus caught in her lungs. However, the family faced the challenge to provide the $20,000 to purchase the vest which is not covered by health care or private insurance.
That is where the community of Landmark stepped in. Several family members and friends began to collect funds on behalf the family.
At the beginning of December an account was set up and through word-of-mouth over $16,000 was raised from over 90 families throughout the community. An additional contribution from the Landmark Kinsmen of $7,500 put the fundraiser over the top.
“We, as a family, cannot begin to say thank you enough for the outpour of love and support you have provided through your generosity to help purchase Skyler’s vest,” stated Rachel. “We were extremely surprised and still can’t begin to grasp it all. We want to thank the Landmark Kinsmen for their ongoing support to the family as needs have arisen and to all who helped make this life-saving purchase happen.”
Any funds that remain after the purchase of the vest will be used for other items that Skyler may need to better cope with her Cystic Fibrosis. The account remains open at the Niverville Credit Union for any further contributions.
