Westland Insurance Becomes Home Sponsor in Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan’s Yorkton Chapter

14 years ago, Shanon gave birth to Shaelyn, a healthy baby girl. But as Shaelyn celebrated her first birthday, Shanon was concerned that she wasn’t trying to crawl or walk like other children her age. One day, at daycare, Shanon was called to pick Shaelyn up because she wouldn’t stop crying. The daycare and Shanon did not know why she was so upset, so she took her to the hospital.

After a year of doctor visits, hospital stays, and tests, Shaelyn was finally diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta – more commonly known as Brittle Bone Syndrome. Fortunately, she had the mildest form, but she still required specialized care. Shaelyn was referred to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Montreal, a hospital the specializes in the skeletal system.

Shanon’s family traveled to Montreal every three months for IV treatments and physio therapy and, for a time, traveled every other month for casts. By the time Shaelyn was 11, she suffered close to 40 fractures and had 13 operations to treat this rare bone condition. At one time, walking did not seem possible for Shaelyn.

At home, Shanon struggled to make their rental house work for Shaelyn’s wheelchair or walker. Shanon’s father helped her build a ramp and retrofit her bathroom to be more accessible for Shaelyn, but Shanon wanted more for her family.

Shanon dreamed of being a homeowner, but this dream was not a reality with the travel costs to Montreal. Even with help from Kinsmen TeleMiracle to cover the cost of travel, food, and accommodations, single mom, Shanon, struggled to save for a downpayment. She applied for a home and was thrilled to receive the news that she would be a Habitat homeowner. Habitat Yorkton built a wheelchair accessible home, with wider doorways and even a walk-in tub. This home was built to meet Shaelyn’s lifelong needs, including living with her condition as an adult.

None of this would be possible without the support of Yorkton’s generous donors and volunteers. While Shaelyn will face struggles throughout her life, finding an accessible and safe place to live is not one of them - thanks to her Habitat home.