Help HOPE Live for Riley Drury

October 20, 2025

Hi Everyone! It has been a while since our last update on Riley! Here's a few major things from this year, and ways we've been able to use the funds you generously donated:- Riley just turned 10 and is in the Fourth Grade now!! Wow. Hard to believe that, but so fun to see how she's growing up each and every day. - School: Riley always says Math is one of her favorite subjects, and her teachers continue to laud her reading ability (something she's been good at since she was really little.). Part of having Turner's Syndrome and Spina Bifida includes facing challenges with executive function (think: multi-step directions), so we've been focusing a lot on that over the last few years since moving back from Canada. - FUN / Hobbies: Riley started adaptive horseback riding this Fall and is taking to it so quickly. We're grateful to live 20 minutes from a FANTASTIC adaptive riding center, and it's becoming a weekly retreat for the three of us. Watching her confidently lead a horse is such a joy. She's also been doing an after-school coding class once a week and has enjoyed learning that. On top of that, Riley is loving time with her friends, reading (currently in the Harry Potter series), and visiting grandparents almost-weekly.- One major event this year was Riley was able to attend Spina Bifida camp, her first ever sleep away camp (and mom and dad's first multi-night break in over 7 years). She did every activity you could think of at a camp, and they were so well staffed by nurses and doctors that they focused a lot on functional independence too! Riley came home with new skills and abilities that we had been hoping to develop for quite a while. All that, and her first words getting back were "can I go back next year?!"- We've made some huge gains with physical independence over the last year. Just yesterday she woke up, got herself out of bed (self-transferring into her wheelchair), brushed her teeth, used the restroom, and came into the kitchen to say Good Morning before we said or did anything. This is a HUGE praise and answered prayer. The more independence she gets, the better she's suited to be an independent adult. Other major life events for the family:- Unfortunately, our giant wheelchair van was totaled in a car accident this Spring (we got cut off on a 55 mph road, thankfully everyone was okay). We were able to use the funds to buy a new minivan and have a Turny Evo seat installed into the middle section so Riley can transfer herself into and out of the car. We have to manually load her chair into the back, but she loves having a typical experience riding in the captains chair, and we were able to use it to drive to Colorado and Utah this summer! We are planning to save for a secondary mobility vehicle so that we can still get her around if our car is ever out of commission.- We have been loving our new home, and redid our front bathroom. This was an opportunity to upgrade a pretty rough space, while also adding accessibility features like grab bars for the bath, and a roll up vanity so Riley can use it as she gets bigger. We also replaced her sink in her bathroom with a wheelchair accessible one so she can wash her hands and brush her teeth independently!- We ordered and are excited to receive a new wheelchair for Riley! This will ensure she has a backup chair in case one is ever out of commission. We're also excited that this new one has some suspension on the main wheels, so it will smooth out her ride whenever she rolls over bricks, etc.- We had some significant health challenges this year, with mom (Sarah) having multiple surgeries and an extended time away from work (cutting her pay significantly). Your continued donations help soften the blow from this so we could continue to invest in the things mentioned above, ensuring Riley is independent and thriving no matter the situation.As of October 20th, we have fully exhausted all of the funds that were generously donated by all of you! We are excited to renew our giving campaign for some upcoming expenses including acquiring a secondary mobility vehicle/maintenance, horseback riding, therapy intensives, ADA home modifications, Riley's continued doctors appointments, growth hormones, and other needs. Thank you again for helping us invest in Riley's long-term well-being and independence! We are so very grateful for you.Blessings,Josh and Sarah Drury

October 23, 2023

FALL 2023 UPDATE:

Last year, we were blown away by the generosity of so many people as we were able to purchase a wheelchair accessible van, in addition to funding much of Riley's medical care in the first part of the year. She also got a new wheelchair, and had a major bladder surgery in May that she is still recovering from. Your generosity allowed for us to do all of this, while also starting to save for our first home. This purchase of a home (and converting it to be ADA accessible) is our #1 goal for 2024, and the majority of the funds that are raised will be used to pay for those ADA modifications. Additional funds on top of that amount will be used for maintenance on our wheelchair accessible van, in addition to medical travel and appointments for the year.

Thank you again so much for your continuing generosity towards Riley!!!

*Note: The stated giving goal includes the amount that was raised last year ($25,860). This year we are seeking an additional $20,000 to fund the items mentioned above.

NOTE: NO FEES ON GIVING TUESDAY! Between midnight on Tuesday, November 28, and 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday, November 29, Help Hope Live will cover the credit card fee for all donations made in honor of a Help Hope Live client at helphopelive.org.