We are Baptiste and Marie-Sophie, from France, and the proud parents of Rose, 11 years old, who lives with a rare condition called CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder…
Before having children, we were backpacking globetrotters — exploring Australia, Peru, Bolivia, Indonesia, the United States… We always knew that one day, we would take our children on a trip around the world. It was our dream.
That dream shattered when we learned about Rose’s diagnosis. The condition causes global developmental delay, giving her little chance of ever walking or talking. It also brings drug-resistant epilepsy, and she faces one to two seizures every single day.
Over the years, disability became our everyday reality. We learned to adapt, to push beyond limits, and to keep living life to the fullest. Slowly, that old dream began to resurface.
We knew we couldn’t embark on a true world tour — it would be too complicated logistically… So we chose something that felt both ambitious and realistic: a three-month motorhome road trip through Canada and the United States.”
“We had planned to bring only Rose’s wheelchair, as we had no other option for the trails… meaning that whenever a trail wasn’t accessible, we would have to split up — with part of the family going on the hike while the other stayed behind with Rose.
Then, one day, we discovered the Cascade Cart… After watching every single video we could find, we instantly knew: This was the key to making sure our trip stayed a real family trip, and not split into two groups.
Once we arrived in Canada, we assembled the Cart in just a few minutes. Then, our adventure began.”
“Our route took us from Montreal → New York → Gaspésie → Quebec City → Niagara Falls → The Rockies → Yellowstone → Badlands → Chicago → and back to Montreal.
Over those 3 months, we traveled 19,000 km, switching between Rose’s wheelchair for cities and the Cascade Cart for trails. The Cart opened doors we thought were closed.
Strangers would cheer us on — ‘Congratulations,’ ‘Respect,’ ‘Great Dad’… One person even applauded when we reached a viewpoint after an hour-long climb. Curious hikers would stop to ask about the Cart, and we gladly shared its story.
One father, who had never been able to hike with his own disabled daughter, asked for all the details so he could make it happen too.”
“It was an extraordinary, unforgettable journey — but it simply wouldn’t have been the same without the Cascade Cart.
Now back in France, we brought it home in its travel bag, and we’re so excited to start exploring trails here — together, as a family.
