First of all, thank you all so, so much.

We are so incredibly grateful for the generosity and support we’ve received. We are just under halfway to our goal, and it truly means so much to our family. 

If we’re being honest, this all feels quite uncomfortable—being on the receiving end of such generosity and having our family in the “public eye”—but we’re so thankful for the way our community has come alongside us. 

It’s been humbling and amazing to see how far this fundraiser has reached—to see people from all over Canada contribute. Some we don’t know, some we’ve known in the past, and some who are part of our everyday lives. 

We feel incredibly grateful—not just for the donations themselves, but for the love, prayers, and encouragement behind them. It’s been a powerful reminder of what community can look like, and of God’s love shown through people. 

Lainey’s Story 

For many of you, this may be the first time hearing about Lainey’s journey. We’ve been fairly private as we’ve processed and learned how to navigate this new world, but we wanted to share a bit of her story. 

Lainey was born in May 2023 after a normal pregnancy and delivery. It wasn’t until a few months later that we began noticing concerns with her vision, and shortly after, she began having seizures. 

After testing, we learned she has a rare genetic mutation that affected brain development in utero. This was a new mutation—not something inherited or caused by anything we did or didn’t do. God chose our sweet Lainey girl long ago to be set apart 🤎 

We don’t know exactly what this means for her future. Like many conditions, it exists on a spectrum. Because the brain continues to grow and change, there’s no clear way to predict what lies ahead. Our doctors—and we—continue to hope that she will walk, talk, see, and grow in her own timing. 

She’s the sweetest little thing, who loves music, cuddles, shakers, and bath time. Her siblings adore her and fight over who gets to play with her daily 🙃

Why the Trexo 

As we’ve navigated therapies and options, we’ve tried to be very intentional—praying and checking our hearts. We don’t want to chase what’s new or impressive for the sake of it. Our desire is to remain surrendered to God’s will for Lainey’s life, not to try to shape her into something she’s not. 

Our goal isn’t for Lainey to look or function like everyone else, but to give her the same opportunity we want for all of our children—to grow, to thrive, and to reach her fullest potential in the way God designed her. At this point in her journey, we believe the Trexo is a tool that can support that. 

We also feel this is an important window in Lainey’s development to introduce consistent, supported movement while her brain and body are still growing and adapting. 

Because of Lainey’s limited vision, she can be sensitive to busy or loud environments. Having our own Trexo would allow us to bring meaningful, consistent movement into her everyday environment—right at home, where she is most comfortable. 

And so you can see that the Trexo isn’t just about walking—it’s about movement and connection.

Right now, Lainey has limited opportunities for independent movement. We all know how important movement is for both physical and mental health. The Trexo would give her access to that. It would also stimulate her vestibular system, which plays an important role in brain development. 

Beyond that, it opens up new ways for her to connect—with her siblings, with peers, and with the world around her. It could mean going for walks together, exploring accessible trails, or simply being more engaged in everyday family life. More than anything, we long to see Lainey experience the joy of movement and connection in ways that are meaningful to her. 

What Makes the Trexo Unique

We’ve learned that traditional walkers can be quite heavy—often close to Lainey’s own weight—which makes them difficult to use consistently. They also don’t always encourage a natural walking pattern. Children can end up compensating in ways that don’t support proper movement, like locking their legs or pushing off their toes. While movement in any form is valuable, the Trexo is designed as a gait trainer, meaning it helps guide the legs through a more natural walking motion and teaches the body what proper movement feels like.  And so, this wouldn’t replace any of her current therapies—it would simply complement and enhance what she’s already doing. 

Another aspect we really appreciate is the ongoing support. With the Trexo, we would be connected with a physiotherapist who meets with us virtually each month. The device itself is highly adjustable, with multiple motors that can detect how much effort Lainey is contributing. You can increase or decrease the level of support depending on what she’s working on, allowing her to continually build strength over time. 

The Trexo is an investment that grows with her. Lainey would begin in a size small, but the Trexo can be upgraded all the way to an XL. While there is a cost to upgrade parts as she grows, the base unit remains the same—meaning this could serve her well for many years. 

If you've made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read. If you have any questions or want to learn more, we truly welcome that 🤎 

With grateful hearts,
The Vanderveen Family
Walter, Chantelle, Leeland, Lennox, Natalie and Lainey