Joseph, an energetic five-year-old boy in Georgia, was born prematurely with an open hole in his spine, which led to over 70 days in NICU. Since then, he has undergone 10 different surgeries, multiple hospital stays and various doctor appointments followed by a countless amount of tests. Like many children with spina bifida, Joseph developed hydrocephalus, a condition that allows fluid to accumulate in the brain and cause damage.
Despite the effects of hydrocephalus and an underdeveloped cerebellum, Joseph grew into a smart, people-loving, five-year-old boy. A superhero in his own right, Joseph overcame many obstacles in his developmental growth and can now eat on his own, and only requires oxygen at night. Once nonverbal, Joseph loves to meet new people and is proud to use his strong memory to recite his favorite historical stories and talk about his heroes.
Joseph’s family and team of therapists do everything they can to help him be independent, but unfortunately, even something as simple as a narrow doorway can thwart his efforts. Sunshine on a Ranney Day (SOARD) teamed up with Mohawk to create a dream bedroom and accessible bathroom for Joseph. Located on the first floor of the family home, the new bedroom features SolidTech Founder’s Trace in Burnt Sienna for the bedroom, the perfect flooring to handle the wear and tear of Joseph’s wheelchair.
“Mohawk’s generosity has helped bring the dream we have for these kids to life,” said Joe Lane, executive director, Sunshine on a Ranney Day. “Flooring can make or break a space, and we are grateful that Mohawk has helped us complete these remodels with high-quality products that will make the families’ lives easier.”
Combining the beauty of hardwood and the waterproof durability of luxury vinyl flooring, SolidTech offers 100-percent waterproof performance, stain and, most importantly, scratch protection and dent resistance to withstand any wheelchair trick Joseph wants to show off.
“We have been a partner of Sunshine on a Ranney Day since 2013, providing stylish and durable flooring, such as SolidTech, for various room remodels,” said Adam Ward, vice president of product management, resilient. “Being a part of this remodel for Joseph, who is brave beyond his years, is important to us because something as simple as a narrow doorway could stop him from getting around. We are honored to provide worry-free flooring that will help him gain independence while complementing his dream bedroom makeover.”
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