Peaceful sleep is something many of us take for granted, but for the family of Hayden Rettew, sleep is a struggle. Hayden, an 8-year-old second-grader at Lafayette Elementary School in Lancaster city, was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome when he was 8 months old. The rare form of epilepsy causes frequent seizures and developmental delays.

"Hayden struggles with sleep difficulties and elopement," noted his mom, Erika Rettew, referring to her son's tendency to get up and leave his bed.

Thanks to the Columbia Lions Club, Hayden's nights should soon become a bit more restful. The club members wrote a grant to the Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Service Foundation to purchase a Cubby Bed for Hayden. The bed is specially designed with padded walls and securable doors, sensory features and remote monitoring.

"The Cubby Bed will allow Hayden to sleep independently and safely," Erika shared.

One of the Lions, John Meshey, is good friends with Hayden's grandfather and had seen Erika's post on Facebook about needing the bed.

"She was fundraising for it, because insurance had denied their request for help," explained Lion Kyle Oster. "They didn't consider the bed a necessity."

Erika and her husband, Ryan, had held a variety of fundraisers in an effort to raise the more than $13,000 needed to purchase the bed.

"John and I asked each other, 'Do you think we could write a grant to the Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Service Foundation, and they would consider funding some of it?'" Oster recalled. "They're willing to help anybody who's in need, especially children."

Initially, Meshey and Oster asked the foundation to cover some of the expense, emphasizing that the Rettew family could help with the cost, but to their surprise, the foundation provided all of the funds.

The grant - for $13,490 - was awarded in October, and the club received the funds in November. The Rettews now have the bed and are working on transitioning Hayden to it.

Erika said she was overwhelmed when she found out the grant had paid for the bed.

"We were filled with gratitude and couldn't believe they wanted to cover the entire thing," Erika said.

Hayden experienced his first seizure at 2 months old. Dravet syndrome is difficult to treat, Erika said, because the seizures are not managed with current medications.

Hayden lives at home with his mom, dad and younger brothers, Sawyer, age 5, and Lincoln, age 3. He has two nurses who help care for him at home during the week and go to school with him, as he's unable to attend school without a private-duty nurse due to the frequency and nature of his seizures.

Despite his challenges, Hayden is an upbeat boy. "All that he goes through he continues to show his strength and just how resilient he is," Erika said. "He loves to go bowling and playing outside. He enjoys throwing rocks and sticks into the creek in our front yard. He loves swimming and the beach. Although seizures interrupt things and activities he loves, we continue to try, try again and aim to give him his best life. He is a blessing."