A 9-year-old girl from Lakeland, Florida, is turning her physical disability into a way to help others.
Diagnosed with epilepsy, Ava Thompson embodies the saying about turning lemons into lemonade, quite literally.
Each day, she and her 6-year-old sister, Zoe, mix lemons, sugar, and water, adding what Ava describes as “the secret ingredient.”
“You need to add love and kindness,” she mentioned. Since launching her lemonade stand in March, the drinks are offered for free but come with informative materials about epilepsy.
Ava aims to assist children dealing with neurological disorders, something she is familiar with after her diagnosis in 2023.
Her mother, Anna, explained that the idea originates from a tough discussion following a recent doctor’s appointment. She shared with Spectrum News: “We told our girls that there’s no cure for epilepsy and that it’s a lifelong condition for Ava. We reflected on our journey, including our time spent in the hospital.”
Support has been rolling in at their stand, with Ava and Zoe raising $500 so far, intended for buying toys for kids in the hospital.
Ava draws on her own experiences to guide these toy donations, recalling the happiness she felt when receiving toys during her hospital stay.
“That’s what I want to provide for children and families battling epilepsy,” she expressed. “To help make the world a better place.”
For those looking to contribute to raising funds for children with epilepsy, their next lemonade stand will be set up at Lakeland Mayfaire on May 10th and 11th.
