Thanks to corporate sponsors including Caterpillar of Canada, Battlefield Equipment Rentals, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Design, Jennifer Hayman Designs, OGS Landscaping and Home Depot, Make-A-WishCanada recently opened Hayden’s Magical Wish Garden — a wish granted for 7-year-old Hayden MacIntyre who was born with an illness called Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which confines him to a wheelchair and previously prevented him from playing outdoors.
SMA prevents Hayden’s ability to move his body. Because of the special equipment required to help Hayden eat, sleep and move about in his custom-fitted wheelchair, making a trip outside was a difficult and unsafe undertaking.
“The backyard has been off-limits for the most part,” said Ian MacIntyre, Hayden’s father. “Until now, our home has been his bubble.”
“It took almost a year to perfect, but Hayden’s Wish Garden is now ready for Hayden and his friends to play in,” said Mary Jardine, CEO of Make-A-Wish Canada. “It has paved and lighted pathways that will allow Hayden to maneuver about the garden safely in his wheelchair, an accessible playground area, a waterfall, and gazebo, plantings that will attract birds and butterflies and create wondrous aromas, and two dinosaur sculptures.”
Make-A-Wish Canada, through its eight regional chapters, grants wishes to create hope and happiness for children with life-threatening illnesses.
Stoney Creek, Ontario-based Battlefield Equipment Rentals is No. 22 on the RER 100.
