On May 8, 2012, the world was forever changed for the better. Mary Grace entered the world eight weeks premature, spending the first 45 days of her life in the NICU. Even then, she showed the unstoppable spirit that would come to define her.
Mary Grace has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, affecting her motor function in all four limbs and her speech. Everyday tasks that many take for granted present challenges, but she meets each one with determination, resilience, patience and her contagious smile.
At 13 years old, Mary Grace is a full-time student with a love for art and music. She thrives in her specialized school, receiving individualized education and therapy, all with the goal of fostering her independence. As the oldest of four siblings, she is a devoted big sister and active in both her community and church. She will talk to you for hours if you let her, and her laughter can lighten any mood. To know Mary Grace is to experience pure joy, boundless love, and an infectious positivity that touches everyone around her.
A Life of Determination—But Barriers Still Stand
Mary Grace doesn’t let her diagnosis define her. She works hard every day and deserves to live her life on her own terms. But to do that, she needs access. Her power wheelchair is an extension of her independence, allowing her to move freely when the environment permits. When her chair doesn’t fit, when doors are too narrow, when she’s forced to rely on a manual wheelchair or stay in a single location, her freedom is taken from her. She is not a bystander in life. She deserves to move alongside her family and friends, not be left out or left behind.
Our Mission: An Accessible Home
Accessibility for those with disabilities is a challenge just about everywhere in our world. While we can’t change everything, we can change our home. As we look towards our forever, we want Mary Grace’s home, our family’s home, to be the place where she is completely free.
A fully accessible home means:
A bedroom with lifts and shared space so her siblings can be part of her support system.
A closet where she can pick out her own clothes and see her full reflection.
A bathroom that gives her the privacy every teen/adult deserves.
A kitchen where she can wash her hands, help prepare meals and join family dinners without limitations.
A space where her chair fits—so she can be included in family games, celebrate holidays, and share in every moment.
A space where she can invite her friends to come over, which is something she has never had the chance to ever do.
The ability to move freely inside and outside, so she can choose when she’s ready to come in, just like any other kid.
An accessible home would provide a foundation for Mary Grace’s independence as she grows into her teenage years and adulthood. She has a lifetime of challenges ahead, but this renovation is our way to pave the path for her and to put us in a position to safely care for her, as we all continue to get older.
Join Us—Make a Difference
We have chosen to be private about the daily struggles that Cerebral Palsy presents both for her and our family out of fear of being met with pity. Mary Grace works too hard every single day to be pitied, and it has no place in our lives. However, there are daily challenges that affect our entire family, and it is because of them that we are humbly asking for your support to help us make an obstacle free home for Mary Grace a reality. The CDC estimates the approximate cost to raise a child with cerebral palsy throughout their lifetime, is $1.6M above that of a typical child. This includes home modifications, equipment, adapted vehicles, therapies and other medical expenses.
Please consider donating to Help Hope Live in her honor today—100% of donated funds through her page will go directly towards making Mary Grace’s home fully accessible for her. As you go about your day, think about the “simple” tasks you complete without a second thought—opening a door, choosing where to sit, moving from one room to the next. Now imagine if each of those tasks required assistance.
Everyone deserves to feel valued, included, and free to be themselves. Today, you have the power to make that a reality for Mary Grace.
Thank you for your love and support, and please include us in your prayers as we embark on this next phase of our life.
The Sheaffer Family
Claire made the video below so you could all meet her big sister!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bnENPAh2u7cz_S6T5bJJCDUoywy_vSkR/view?usp=sharing
Family and friends of Mary Grace Sheaffer are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a Catastrophic Illness. Mary Grace has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.
