Melody was born with cataracts on both eyes, yet after corrective surgery her parents thought her development would return to normal. But it didn’t.

“She was not doing what other kids can do,” Souzan remembers. “She was not walking, and still couldn’t see. She can hear, but she still doesn’t talk.” Researchers whom her Ottawa doctors consulted in Boston were stumped.

Melody is 14 now, and much smaller than most girls her age. She has continual care needs. It’s an especially stressful situation for Souzan, who devotes all her time to caring for Melody and her sisters, age six and 10 while her husband has to travel a lot with work..

Melody recently went for a big hip surgery and now desperately needs a tomato seat to help her sit independently and comfortably.

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