A "Breakaway" Story

Megan and Hannah Risebrough

Megan and Hannah Risebrough are twin eight-year-old girls who live on a farm north of Uxbridge with their Mom, Susan and Dad, Michael and 21-month-old sister Grace. Life on the farm is busy with milk cows, tractors and haying. Megan and Hannah were born prematurely weighing 3lbs 5 oz. and 2 lbs. 12 oz. respectively. They spent the first 4 weeks of their life in hospital. It wasn’t until they were almost one that the doctors saw that there were developmental delays of significance. Also the girls have epilepsy and are on medication to control the seizures. The epilepsy requires that Hannah and Megan have extra supervision. 

Each morning of the school year the girls are picked up by bus to go to a special education class in Uxbridge. At school the girls learn a mixture of life skills and academics. They are in the special class for most of the day but do integrate into other classes for part of their time at school. School is good for the girls – they are learning new things and have friends in class.  This past year at school was difficult for them when the teacher that they have had since they began school became ill and subsequently died.

Caring for a child with special needs is both time consuming and emotionally draining for a family. Two children with special needs double both of those aspects. There is very little ‘me time’ or ‘couple time’ for the parents. Living on a working farm means Dad is never far away but almost always busy with multiple chores. 

This winter United Way funded Breakaway - a fun program run by Precious Minds for children with developmental and or physical disabilities and their siblings that would give families a much-needed break. When the Risebroughs heard about the program they enrolled both girls. It was just what was needed – each week brought new excitement – the clown, the drumming (they made their own drums and still drum at home) zoo to you (rats, spider, snakes ‘It licked me Mom!’). They loved their teacher Maxine and Mom and Dad felt very comfortable leaving the girls in such competent hands. Mom says it was like “they were invited to a birthday party every week – and these girls just don’t get invited to many birthday parties.”

United Way funded programs help families like the Risebroughs take a much-needed break knowing their child is having a fun time in a safe environment.