“An intellectual disability does not define a child. Although an intellectual disability is part of who they are, it is not all of who they are. They are children with wishes and dreams. Like every other child, they hope that one day their wishes and dreams will come true”.
- Bradley and Tracy Schiele, Founders of the Angels & Friends Foundation
Saskatchewan’s Angels & Friends Foundation has recently had the opportunity to work with two Saskatchewan families to grant a wish and honour a memory.
Jonathan Cowan is an eleven-year-old resident of Carievale, Saskatchewan. He lives with 7q36 deletion syndrome; limited in speech and intellectually disabled, Jonathan is a polite, empathetic child who loves farming and tractors and does what he can to avoid the dentist and all creatures slimy. Angels & Friends recently granted a dream trip to Toronto for Jonathan and his family, including visits to Ripley’s Aquarium, the CN Tower, Canada’s Wonderland, Legoland, the Toronto Zoo, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, nightly swimming and hot tub time, and fireworks (or “pop” as Jonathan calls them). One of the highlights of the trip, both for the Cowan family and the Angels & Friends team that planned the vacation, was attending a Toronto Blue Jays game on July 2. Jonathan went to the game wearing a Toronto Blue Jays t-shirt that his class had given him, and was again surprised when he received a Blue Jays jersey with his name and number 2 on the back delivered to his seat as a gift from the Jays. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays did not have a good game that day, losing 15 – 1 against the Boston Red Sox, but Jonathan and his family had a great day!
Angels & Friends raises funds through their annual Halo Gala in Saskatoon; raffles and individual fundraisers; and through personal donations. Jonathan’s wish was granted in part through a donation made in memory of Joshua Robert Moffatt (1982 – 2000). The youngest of four children, Joshua lived with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Despite medical opinions that he would never walk, talk, read or write, Joshua’s parents Pam and Garnet Moffatt were committed to helping Joshua meet his true potential. With the support of his family, Joshua did learn to walk, talk, read and write; all in his own way with a high level of resiliency. He used a wheelchair for the most part, however could walk short distances. He didn’t speak, but could communicate through gestures and sounds. He learned to read and write with the use of a computer.
The tie between Jonathan’s wish and Joshua’s legacy came through a donation made to Angels & Friends by Joshua’s sister Stacey Adelman. In her words, “Joshua inspired my career in education and psychology. Throughout my years with Joshua and the many individuals with disabilities I have worked with over the years, I continue to be inspired by their grit and the lessons I have learned from them. I have become a steadfast advocate for individuals with disabilities and mental health needs. I believe wholeheartedly we need their gifts in our schools and communities.”
Serendipitous timing of work for a client who had known Joshua, and stumbling upon an ad for Angels & Friends, led to Adelman reaching out to the foundation to discuss the opportunity to provide a Blue Jays game experience for a wish family. She described Joshua’s love of the Blue Jays, saying “One of Joshua’s interests was the Toronto Blue Jays. His favourite player was Roberto Alomar. He visited the Skydome in Toronto. When the Jays were on, he would grab his plastic bat and his hat to cheer them on. He rarely missed a game and always communicated the results and plays of the game to us afterwards!”
Adelman echoed a key sentiment of Angels of Friends when she said “I have always supported the need for resources and equipment for individuals with special needs, however, contributing to a wish with Angels and Friends provided me the opportunity to acknowledge and nurture the person before their disability. Despite all the challenges and hurdles, Joshua was just a kid who loved the Jays…I am so excited to be a part of Jonathan’s wish. One of Joshua’s favourite movies was Angels in the Outfield. I can’t help but think there might have been an “Angel in the Outfield” that night.”
Comments from Jonathan’s mom, Teresa Cowan, reflect the excitement and memories of the trip for their family, “Once Jonathan knew that we were granted this trip by the Angels & Friends Foundation, he asked daily about the airplane ride, the train, and the fireworks. We could tell that Jonathan was excited about the baseball game as he gestured batting motions. Everyone at school knew what was coming up. He kept looking at the calendar at home and we had a countdown on. After returning from our trip, Jonathan loves to look at the pictures from it and tell people where he has gone and what he has done. The poor person looking at the pictures hardly has time to see what they are all about, as Jonathan flips through them quite quickly.”
The Angels & Friends Foundation was established in 2014 to support Saskatchewan children living with intellectual disabilities. Support provided by Angels & Friends falls within three pillars; funding life changing experiences (including family vacations or specialized mobility equipment); expanding and enhancing access to literacy and communication resources (through purchase of devices, access to training or within the education system); and improving quality of life for individuals with Angelman Syndrome. Please visit angelsandfriends.ca to learn more about the foundation, or visit their Facebook page (Angels and Friends Foundation). Families or educators interested in receiving an application package are asked to reach out to the foundation at [email protected], or by calling (306) 220-6409.
