If you were at 122 Edelwild, Orangeville, for a fundraising yard sale Saturday, you are likely among those who can't help marvelling at the cheerful, smiling and apparently joyful 13-yearold endlessly confined to a wheelchair under her mother's constant care.

That would have been Kaitlin Bolton, whose world for the past six years has consisted of the wheelchair, a mattress in her parents' (Brad and Sue) living room, her bedroom and a few medical offices.

Kaitlin, as you might recall, is one of only a few in the world afflicted with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a genetic disorder that requires highly specialized treatment - at an astronomical cost beyond what OHIP will cover.

At the age of 7, as a highly active kindergarten pupil in Orangeville, Kaitlin was struck by MLD without much warning, just before Valentine's Day 2002. Its progression was so rapid that she was not expected to live until Christmas.

Her grandmother, Betty Bolton, says Kaitlin was highly active and could swim two lengths of the Orangeville pool before, suddenly, she began staggering and falling.

She has survived because of what the family describes as "a miracle" along with radical treatment prescribed by a California specialist, at a cost of about $50,000 in the first year of treatment - paid for by a combination of fundraisers and financial resources of her single-income family.

Treatments continue to cost in the order of $15,000-$20,000 yearly, a princely sum for Erskine auto mechanic Brad Bolton when added to the normal household expenses. Sue is unable to pursue employment as she must spend her full time with Kaitlin. Fundraising yard sales help, but they aren't adequate. Fashion shows and bowl-a-thons have been a godsend, but there's a limit to those.

Now there might be a glimmer of financial hope, with a special promotion called "Christmas in July," a program that has the potential of providing a continuing source of at least some revenue for Kaitlin's medical needs.

Nancy Belsey, who had taken on a PartyLite distributorship after she wound down her Music Talks and before moving to Alberta, thought of Kaitlin when the company offered "reed diffusers" as its Christmas in July special offering.

The devices have scented oils in an attractive carafe. The reeds soak up the oil and diffuse it to provide a deodorizing scent in the home. They normally sell for $50, but are offered in a pre- Christmas July promotion for $25.

Because of the established popularity of the diffusers, and because of Kaitlin's needs, Nancy has arranged for the product to be offered through Sue with proceeds earmarked in support of Kaitlin.

It might be just a onetime source, or it might develop into a homebased business to help provide medical support for Kaitlin.

You can reach Sue Bolton at 519-940-0214.