Sunday Funday Moment: Despite challenges, 6-year-old El Paso girl is able to make her dream of walking and dancing come true
El Paso, Texas-- 6-year-old Victoria Rose was given the ability to walk and dance for the first time all thanks to a special piece of equipment.
“When we asked Victoria what do you wanna be when you grown up? She was like, well when I grow up I'm gonna walk,” said Victoria’s mom, Melinda De La Luz.
Victoria’s parents describe her as a outgoing, brave, and sweet person. But most importantly, Victoria is a warrior who was born premature and spent 83 days in the NICU.
“She had a heart surgery going on for a heart murmur to close a hole on it, that was like at 3 days old,” said Melinda. “She has Arthrogryposis, which effects her muscles in her ankles and her arms and hands.”
Victoria’s doctors told her parents that she would probably never speak and that gaining mobility in her arms and legs would be tough, but Victoria has beat the odds.
"She sings. She loves Selena, she loves MC Magic,” said Melinda, “She’s got an old soul.”
When Victoria turned 6-years-old, her parents were shocked to learn that she would no longer be receiving disability benefits.
“Just this past July when she turned six we got the letter saying that she’s no longer disabled and when we read the letter it said that she was starting to improve so they considered her not disabled anymore,” said Melinda, “Me and my husband were like, how do you consider a child not disabled anymore when you know obviously she is.”
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Since then, the family has been raising funds through a GoFundMe page and other ways to hire a lawyer to help Victoria get her benefits back.
“We’ve been selling her shirts,” said Melinda. "My husband designed the shirts which say “Stand Up & Fight" because honestly since she's been born thats what she’s had to do.”
This past month, Victoria was surprised with a special piece of equipment that helped make two of her dreams come true.
“I came across an organization called, “From we can’t To We Can” and they are based out of New Jersey,” said Melinda. “They were showing a piece of equipment called an Upsee, where it attaches to us so that we can give her the ability to walk. So she's basically velcroed with the different pieces. They shipped it to us no charge, nothing the organization was like, send me pictures of your daughter and that’s all we need.”
Victoria was able to walk and dance for the first time, with her favorite man by her side, her dad.
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“To the families that are not going through this I would say, don't be embarrassed to ask,” said Victoria’s Dad, Andrew De La Luz. “If you have questions just ask us when you see us. One thing that we prefer is more of a friendly interaction versus the staring.”
If you would like to make a donation to Victoria’s GoFundMe page Click here.
You can purchase a special “Stand up & fight” shirt by emailing Victoria’s mom, Melinda De La Luz at adelaluz13@gmail.com.
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