1998 - 1999

The “original” Angel: Brianna Johnson

Brianna N. Johnson, affectionately referred to as "The Princess Brianna", daughter of Ronn and Donna Johnson and sister of Ronald Xavier, was born with a rare bone condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bones) that impairs her mobility. Brianna is now 15 years old and a sophomore and honor student at the high school Commerce in the International Baccalaureate Program. She is an active and working member of the Brianna Fund committee, and avid reader; a student of voice and piano as well as being involved in various community and social activities.

 
 

2000
 

Andrew Bridges the son of Tara and William Arnold of Springfield, was hit by a car while crossing the street to get to school and suffered injuries including traumatic brain injury. The BF provided support for  adapting his home. Andrew has made significant progress in his recovery.
   

Asia Drummer was born with Downs Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy and was diagnosed with a serious inflammatory muscle disease. The BF helped the Drummer family secure renovations to establish bath and bed room facilities on the first floor.
 

 

Serena Yarby has cerebral palsy along with developmental delays and seizures. The BF helped address challenges at home, which is not wheelchair accessible, by supporting renovations to her bathroom that accommodated her mobility challenges.
   

Mark Christy suffered a brain aneurysm in September 1998. Mark had many different daily transportation needs. The BF helped address the Christy family’s most immediate need - repair to their family van. Mark is making good progress toward recovery.
 

2001
 

Samuel Cardona Jr. was three years old when he nearly drowned, and since then had been in a persistent vegetative state. The BF provided financial support for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a treatment that was not covered by their insurance.
 
   

Amber Pettell has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair.  The BF has made a contribution to a van fund established by her mom Angela Gryzan.
 
   


Kandace Jones has cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia and is permanently confined to a wheel chair.  The BF has made a contribution to a van fund established by her parents Melissa and Kelly Jones.

 
   

Rujeanne Duplessis was a sophomore at Central High School. She has cerebral palsy. The BF has provided Alberta Barley, Rujeanne’s mom, with funds to purchase the body lift and helped her secure a motorized wheelchair.
   

Emmett Anderson is diagnosed with a muscular disorder of unknown origin. He has trouble running, going up and down stairs and participating in certain physical activities. The BF has helped Emmett’s mother Lacretia Smith get mediations and treatments not covered by insurance.
   

Jason Vandegraft was born with cerebral palsy. It is the hope and dream of his family that some day Jason will walk. During the interim, the BF is helping him to achieve as independent a life as possible by providing funds to build a wheel chair ramp at his home.
 
   

James and Allen Thielen are brothers with Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy. They both use wheelchairs. The BF helped improve the quality of their life significantly supporting their acquisition of a wheelchair van.
   

James and Allen Thielen are brothers with Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy. They both use wheelchairs. The BF helped improve the quality of their life significantly supporting their acquisition of a wheelchair van.
 

2003
 

Andrew Dawson is a 14 year-old young man who currently attends Agawam High School and excels academically. He loves to draw and would like the opportunity to participate in after school and church activities with his friends. Andrew needs a van to get access to community events. The Brianna Fund will augment the family’s efforts to acquire van transportation.
   

Mercedes Jackson, an 11 year-old 5th grader who attends Rebecca Johnson School, was recently diagnosed with Krabbe’s disease, a rare and terminal neurological disease. The Brianna Fund is going to support the family to have the house modified in order for Mercedes to be able to get into and out of her home in her wheelchair.
   

Abnel Roque is 9 years old and Donahue School where he’s in 3rd grade. Abnel has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which resulted from a premature birth. His motorized wheelchair cannot be transported in the family car. The Brianna Fund will augment the family’s efforts to acquire van transportation.
   

Terry Alexis Fleming is a handsome 12 year-old young man with a beautiful smile who has a great love for music. He has severe cerebral palsy and is legally blind. He also suffers with grand-mal seizures and sleep apnea. The Brianna Fund will augment the family’s efforts to acquire transportation that will accommodate Terry’s wheelchair.
 

2004

Brittany” is a vibrant 9 year old girl currently in the third grade at Rebecca Johnson Elementary School.   Jose Frankie Gonzalez, her 15 year old brother, considers Brittany a typical 9 year old; she loves to read, play cards and play with her Barbie Dolls. Brittany has severe Spastic Paraplegia due to Mitochondria Disease, which affects the immune system. The family has raised enough money on their own to purchase a vehicle and are seeking support for installing a ramp to their van.
   

Destiny is 2 1/2 years old and the only child of Gloria Santiago.  Her mother fondly refers to her as “my miracle baby.”  Destiny has Wolf-Hirshorn Syndrome, an extremely rare disease linked to a chromosome abnormality. Her mother needs a van for transporting Destiny and many types of health equipment to weekly visits to specialists. Gloria, her daughter's greatest advocate, has raised almost half of what she needs to purchase a van and seeking support to meet her goal.
   

Ason, an 8 year old with a glowing personality, is being raised by his grandparents Enda and Issac Harris. He is a second grade student at Rebecca Johnson School, loves to sing and likes all kinds of sports. He was born with spastic quadriplegia and requires a wheelchair and other adaptive equipment to meet his daily living needs. To improve his mobility and community access Ason would greatly benefit from a wheelchair ramp at home and an accessible van.