Mealani is diagnosed with respiratory disease and a swallowing delay. She requires a feeding and breathing tube, but she is making great progress with regard to breathing on her own and staff is hopeful that she will eventually no longer need the breathing tube. She depends on communicating through an iPad application. Through the iPad, Mealani is able to express her feelings and needs. While Mealani is a very inquisitive child, her unfortunate lack of being able to speak makes it difficult to know what she wants to do or how she is feeling. Mealani is able to use an iPad at school, but cannot bring the school's iPad out of the classroom and therefore, has a difficult time conveying her wishes to staff without it. Her current iPad broke, and receiving a new one will allow Mealani to continue to build on her communication skills and her ability to express herself.