Deaken Ailshire
Deaken Ailshire
To summarize Deaken Ailshire, his mom Megan would choose the phrase “old soul.” At 15 years old, Deaken has the maturity and can-do attitude that far surpasses many of his peers. He was born with a condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenital (AMC) which causes stiffening of muscles and joints, but he has never let this slow him down. Deaken has had 8 surgeries while a patient at the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children in an attempt to correct the crooked joints in his feet, arms, and wrists. He was a patient ambassador for the hospital for a time, but these days he prefers to be with his family, playing video games, and out enjoying nature.
Despite any limitations from his condition, Deaken and his family are always up for adventure and still travel frequently. One of their favorite spots is Puerto Morelos, Mexico, a small fishing town where Deaken’s dad grew up. The town is located near Cancun and boasts its own barrier reef system where Deaken’s dad used to dive and fish. Deaken has always dreamed of scuba diving with his cousins on the reef, but so far he has only been able to swim and snorkel due to safety concerns from his family. With an organization like Dive Pirates offering proper assistance, however, they are confident Deaken can one day enjoy the benefits of scuba for himself.
Deaken currently participates in wheelchair tennis, which he loves, but he hopes to very soon add scuba and other water activities to his list of hobbies. He is also excited to be able to build his confidence by learning this new skill set and join his family in Mexico on the reef in a new way. His dad will be his adaptive dive buddy.