Chance meeting gives Emma a whole new sense of mobility

A chance meeting in a pub triggered a chain of events that has given a brave Ballinasloe girl a whole new lease of life.

Four year Emma Campbell has a rare condition called Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency – or SSADHD. Children with Emma’s condition typically have developmental delay, especially involving speech development, intellectual disability, poor fine motor and gross motor skills, and decreased muscle tone.

Her dad Ken has embarked on a number of projects to highlight, not just his daughter’s plight, but to promote quality and awareness for children with special needs.

He called his walk from Ballinasloe to Dublin Miles for Emma – and on his return he joined fellow walkers for a celebratory pint in his local Gibbon’s Pillar House in the town.

“I was introduced to a gentleman called Tom Hatcher from Oklahoma City, and his wife Hillary, who is originally from Ballinasloe, who were there with family members enjoying an evening out,” said Ken.

“Kathryn Gibbons, who introduced me to Tom, had been telling them about Miles for Emma, and Tom Informed Kathryn that he was involved with a group in the USA called AMBUCS, creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities and special needs through AmTrykes,” he added.

AMBUCS is a non-profit charity dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities and believe the fun and freedom of riding your own bike is something everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy.

And people who are unable to operate a traditional bike can now share this experience, thanks to the Amtryke therapeutic tricycle – one of which Tom wanted to donate to Emma for free!

“As you can appreciate I was definitely taken aback by this very generous offer one that I knew would both enhance and benefit Emma’s life in so many ways,” said Ken.

True to his word, Tom began the process and once the best sort of trike for Emma’s needs was identified – and last Friday it arrived in Ballinasloe.

Ken continues to highlight Emma’s plight and those of so many children with special needs – after his Ballinasloe to Dublin walk, he also undertook the Croagh Patrick Four-Peak Challenge, where participants climbed the Reek four times in one day. But this time it was a day of unadulterated joy as his daughter took on a big challenge all of her own.

“We had a few reservations that Emma may be a little reluctant and that we would struggle to get her to sit on it or use it in anyway – it turns out we’ll have more trouble keeping her off it. Once it was assembled and adjusted to her size she was all over it,” said Ken.

“She loves her trike, she loves her pink AmTryke helmet and most of all she loves putting all her dollies and teddies in the basket which is attached to the back of her lovely new trike.

“She loves being pushed around, as the trike moves her legs move so she gets the sense of pedalling. Her steering still needs a lot of work but crashing into things seems to add to the fun,” he added.

“Myself and my wife Michelle and family – and especially Emma – would just like to thank Tom and Hillary and all at AMBUCS and AmTrykes who made this possible.

“They have changed a little Irish girl’s life in so many ways!”

■ For more details on Miles for Emma see the Facebook page or contact Ken on 0877654200.