When Christie Wygant returned home from work she was taken aback by the sight of her youngest daughter, 1-year-old Denise, struggling to breathe. Despite a trusted caretaker being in charge of Denise and her older siblings at the time, the caretaker appeared reluctant to acknowledge any anomaly, even as Denise struggled to breathe independently.

Swiftly realizing that her daughter was indeed in a critical condition, Christie promptly called for an ambulance and arranged for her mother to take care of her other children. After Denise arrived at the local hospital, she began experiencing intense seizures and had to be airlifted to a nearby children's hospital, as time was of the essence to save her life.

Christie poses with her daughter Denise in their backyard in Reed, Michigan.

“[Medical experts] basically told me that there was no water in her lungs, but it was clear that it was a submersion injury,” Christie told us.

To this day, answers about what occurred are still not clear. Although the torment of uncertainty regarding the exact events may linger with Christie for a long time, her primary focus remains on ensuring her daughter's optimal quality of life.

Today, Denise is a beautiful, happy 7-year-old whose radiating smile has the power to brighten the spirits of anyone fortunate enough to cross her path.

After the injury, Denise was diagnosed with a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), which is damage to the brain caused by a lack of oxygen that ultimately affects the central nervous system, as well as epilepsy.

Unable to control her body due to her severe brain damage, Denise uses various types of adaptive seating devices for different activities.

“She’s had a p-pod chair for years and she was set in that but she’s recently gotten so strong that she cannot sit in it. She’s learned to jump out and tip it over, so we really can’t use it anymore,” Christie told us. “I started running out of places to put her because she’s seven now and I can’t even put her in normal strollers. We have a medical wheelchair for her but it’s not something she can play in and it doesn’t have a tray.”

Denise sitting in her brand new Rifton activity chair donated by Holton’s Heroes.

Christie wanted a device for Denise that could not only keep Denise safe and comfortable, but one that could be easily moved around from indoors to outside. She discovered the Rifton Activity Chair through a friend and realized that was exactly what Denise needed. However, when she looked at the cost, she couldn’t believe how expensive they were even at the basic model.

Grateful for the incredible backing of our supporters, Holton’s Heroes was able to fully cover the cost of the $3,000+ chair so that Denise can continue to learn, grow and play where she spends the most time: her home.

“She can now interact with family more and move around the house easier. The seat is very comfortable for her and she likes the arm rests.” Christie told us after receiving the chair. “I also move her from room to room, plus the porch very easily as it fits through any doorway.”

We are only able to continue to help kids recovering from brain injuries with your personal support. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift directly to our foundation today. You can donate safely here.

Make sure to visit us on Instagram to see video of Denise using the new chair at home.