Fund Will Help Pay for Wesley’s Care

There was an outpouring of support Monday for the family of 8-year-old Wesley Hilling, the subject of a Times Orange County story about the financial and emotional costs of caring for a developmentally disabled child.

Readers who would like to assist the family can send donations to: Wheels for Wesley, 3862 Uris Court, Irvine, 92606.

The fund was established last year, when friends of Wesley’s parents, Hogan and Tina Hilling, raised money to help the family buy a wheelchair. Wesley suffers from Angelman’s syndrome, a rare genetic affliction, and cannot walk or speak. He will need to be cared for the rest of his life.

Hogan Hilling said Monday he is trying to establish a fund, to be called There’s No Place Like Home, which would provide financial assistance to other families caring for their disabled children at home. He is applying to get nonprofit status for the program.

“It’s really nice that people want to help us out,” Hilling said. The fund, not established yet, “hopefully will help other families who are having trouble being able to afford keeping their children at home.”