Local family given wheelchair accessible van for daughter

Norristown, Pa. (WTXF) - A local family was given a wheelchair accessible van for their daughter.

"It is with my greatest honor to present you with the keys to your new van. I wish you all the best."

Christmas came early for the family of 5-year-old Julianna Armstrong.

"Glory be to God. I want to thank everybody that helped," cried her father Chris Armstrong.

Through a GoFundMe and other fundraisers the family raised about $13,000 but donations slowed. That's when an organization called Hogs & Honeys gave the remaining $15,000 the family needed to get a wheelchair accessible van for their precious baby girl.

"Getting her in and out of the vehicle, lifting all of her equipment to get in and out with it's a lot," said her mother Holly McArdle

Julianna was diagnosed with a genetic disorder when she was 3 months old.

"It's called Aicardi Syndrome and basically it means the part of your brain that connects the right and left side, in kids with the condition, it's either partly there or completely absent," said McArdle.

The disorder also causes lesions in the back of the eyes and infantile spasms she will never outgrow.

Juliana can have these epileptic seizures every day.

"We love her and she's a happy girl," said her parents.

Hogs & Honeys volunteers watched with joy as the family loaded Julianna into the van. The organization provides grants for families of abused and disadvantaged children in Montgomery County.

"You hate to see kids suffer in any way and this little girl is such a sweet heart. To see her family be able to get around in a vehicle where she needs to go is just heartwarming. It really is," said Sheldon Simpson with Hogs and Honeys.

Julianna's parents are forever grateful for everyone who made this possible.

"Just knowing there's good people out here, unconditional good people out here in the world," said Armstrong.

The presentation took place at Norristown Chrysler Dodge. They covered the costs associated with inspection and tags for the van.

For more information on Hogs & Honeys, please click here.