Ariel, 2 years old, NJ

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Ariel was born with special needs but seems to handle them with grace. She is fed through a feeding tube, which is used every three hours during the day and continuously throughout the night. Ariel attends multiple medical and therapy appointments each week, with visits to specialists in neurology, gastrointestinal health, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Some of these appointments are located far from her resource home. Nevertheless, thanks to the dedicated care of her resource parents—especially a resource mom who is a pediatric nurse—Ariel is a sociable and happy child. She joyfully claps her hands for visitors and enjoys playing games of peek-a-boo.

Ariel is a cheerful and sociable little girl born with medical complications that affect her ability to eat normally and have led to several developmental delays. Recently, she has made great strides and is beginning to speak and walk. She has been given ankle braces that will help her walk, but she needs specialty shoes that can accommodate them. With the right shoes, nothing is going to keep Ariel down!