Danny thoroughly enjoys watching movies and being in the water with a specially adapted suit that keeps him afloat. He thrills at being whirled around the nearby skating rink in his wheelchair. And he loves spending time with his grandparents, his dad and his friends. “He’s a happy-go-lucky kid,” says Jennifer.
Danny’s favourite activity when kicking back? Lying on the couch watching TV, like any typical preteen. “I have a super-big TV,” says his mom. “I figure that makes up for all the bikes and skateboards that he’s not getting.”
This devoted parent has fought hard to make sure Danny has the same opportunities as other kids in his neighbourhood. When he started school, she accompanied him almost every day to ensure his needs were met, keeping her own school course load to a minimum so she could focus on her son. Now Danny has a rowdy gang of classmates who show up at the front door every morning to pick him up and wheel him to school.
December is a particularly festive time for the Gallant clan, because Danny celebrates his birthday just a week before Christmas. It’s a big deal
in his household, and the whole class looks forward to a party crammed with games and activities.
“Every year is special,” says Jennifer. “I never thought I’d be putting so many candles on the cake. Danny reminds me every day, with his big smile and the way he enjoys life, that life is precious and needs to be lived to its fullest.”
Indeed, Danny has transformed his mother’s life. His birth inspired her to pursue a career in health care. This year, she’s finishing her nursing degree and plans to apply for medical school.
“I never dared dream that I could be a doctor,” says Jennifer. That’s just one of the positive ways that Danny has made a difference. “I’m prepared to do what’s necessary to ensure everything in life is perfect for my perfect child.”
Indeed, Danny has changed his mom in so many ways. “I can’t live my life any other way but to feel grateful for everything – every breath, every step, every ability and freedom I have,” she declares.
He has brought the gift of peace and happiness to her life. “How can I see him enjoy life through unbelievable challenges, and not enjoy mine?” she says. “Now I feel joy in most things I do.”
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