Not the kind that ends with ice cream or a trip to the park, but one that took strategy, strength, and no small amount of sacrifice.

The family car didn’t fit two growing girls with complex medical needs. It barely fit one. And when appointments were hours away, in towns like Fort Wayne (shout out to the Resigs!), Indianapolis, or even Chicago, it often meant wrapping the girls in blankets, disassembling wheelchairs, and hoping the car would hold up.

But let’s go back to the beginning and what got us here.

Salwa was born in 2009, weighing just two pounds. She had a two-vessel umbilical cord instead of one, a single kidney, and an uphill battle from the moment she arrived. 

Her early years were a whirlwind of hospital stays, surgeries, G-tubes, feeding pumps, and infections. One surgery turned into another. Tumors developed. Her body rejected feeding tubes. There were days and nights when sleep felt like a luxury, and crying was the only constant.

Her older sister, Ebtisam, had already paved the way in many ways. Born in 1999 and diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Ebtisam had her own challenges, but Salwa’s medical complexity was a different storm entirely. Their parents, immigrants who settled in Indiana nearly two decades ago, found themselves navigating a maze of specialists and surgeries in a second language, far from extended family, relying on faith and resilience to get through.

They never gave up.

Salwa eventually underwent a nine-hour spinal surgery in Chicago to correct a 90-degree curve in her spine, held in place now by 36 rods. The team at the hospital praised her bravery and the family’s devotion. But even after all that progress, one major obstacle remained: transportation. The very thing meant to connect them to care, school, and community was failing.

“Our car was too small,” her father explained. “We had to cancel appointments. We couldn’t take both girls at once. It just wasn’t safe.”

That’s where you—Chive Charities donors—stepped in.

When the family first heard about Chive Charities, they were skeptical. “We didn’t think even 10% of this would happen,” her dad said, recalling how overwhelmed he felt reading other recipient stories. But the more they read, the more hopeful they became. When the acceptance email arrived, they were stunned. “That night… we were so excited. Oh my gosh, it went through!”

Thanks to your generosity, the family now has a wheelchair-accessible van that can accommodate both wheelchairs. The total impact is $65,000, and one life-changing solution. One that gives them something they haven’t had in a long time: freedom.

Freedom to take both girls to therapy without rearranging an entire day.

Freedom to travel to Chicago for follow-up care without risking a breakdown on the side of the road.

Freedom to go to the park as a family. Or the grocery store. Or a friend’s house. Simple things that once felt far out of reach.

“It’s going to stay forever with those girls,” her father said. “It’s not just transportation—it’s part of their story now.”

He spoke about how proud he was to watch his daughters grow. Salwa is tall and strong. Ebtisam is short and full of life. They may both be nonverbal, but their personalities light up every room they enter. They’ve weathered more than most adults ever will, and they continue to move forward with grace, grit, and smiles.

Still, life isn’t easy. The girls require 24/7 care, and the family continues to navigate a complex world of appointments and therapies. But now, at least, they’re doing it in a van that works for them, not against them.

To those who donate, the family had a message: “You don’t know how much you help. It’s not small. It’s big. It changes everything.”

They hope to one day pay it forward. Whether by sharing their story or helping another family in need, they see themselves as part of a movement now—a family of supporters, dreamers, and doers who believe that making the world 10% happier is possible.

To our Chive Charities community: thank you. You gave this family more than a van. You gave them hope. You reminded them they’re not alone. And you made it possible for two young women with big hearts and brave souls to go wherever life leads—safely, comfortably, and with dignity.

From Salwa, Ebtisam, and their entire family: thank you for being part of the road ahead. 

Do you want to help pave the road ahead for more families like Salwa and Ebtisam’s? Join our community of life-changers and make mobility, dignity, and hope possible—one mile at a time. DONATE HERE.