Wayne and Janet Williment’s world revolves around their baby boy, Wyatt, who recently celebrated his first birthday. The past year has been filled with uncertainty for their young family, alongside moments of deep hope and resilience.
When Wyatt was just nine months old, Wayne and Janet learned he would need surgery for bicoronal craniosynostosis, a condition where the left and right sides of a baby’s skull fuse too early, potentially affecting brain growth and development. The news was overwhelming. The specialized care Wyatt needed was only available in Vancouver, far from their home in Sparwood, BC, in the East Kootenay region.
Getting there was a journey in itself. The family drove 125 kilometres to the nearest airport, then spent most of the day travelling to Vancouver. Once they arrived, the reality of hotel costs quickly set in, leaving them wondering how they could possibly stay long enough to ensure their son received the care he urgently needed. At first, they tried a hotel, but the financial strain was unbearable.
That is when they discovered Easter Seals House. Suddenly, the impossible felt possible.
Affordable, safe, and just steps from the hospital, Easter Seals House allowed Wayne and Janet to focus fully on Wyatt’s health. “Staying at Easter Seals House allows us to be able to afford to be in Vancouver for the medical care that he needs,” they shared. “It allows us to come to Vancouver for the medical care that we don’t receive in the East Kootenay Area.”
Inside Easter Seals House, they found more than just a place to stay. A private suite with a kitchenette gave them space to cook and rest after long days at the hospital. Laundry facilities and shared spaces connected them with other families walking similar paths. Most of all, the warmth and kindness of the staff offered comfort during some of their hardest days. “It feels like home here,” Janet said. “Easter Seals has been excellent to us.”
Today, Wyatt is a happy, healthy one year old, back home in Sparwood with his family, celebrating the holiday season. Since that first stay, the Williments have returned to Easter Seals House multiple times, often for 10 to 15 days at a stretch, for follow up appointments and ongoing medical care.
Without Easter Seals House, Wayne and Janet do not know how they could have managed. Hotels would have put Wyatt’s treatment out of reach, and his access to critical care would have been at risk. Thanks to the generosity of donors, families like the Williments can stay close to the care their child needs, with a safe and welcoming place to land when it matters most.
