Brianna Fund Angels
1998 – 2009
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1998 - 1999 |
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2000 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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2001 |
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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. |
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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. |
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Amber Pettell
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. |
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2002 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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2003 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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2004 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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2005 |
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Kelli Dawn Chinn
Kellie Dawn Chinn
was a high school graduate on her way to college when her life was
dramatically changed due to a car accident that rendered her
paralyzed from the neck down. Kellie’s dream of being a physical
therapist was shattered. After eighteen ears of growing and learning
to gain independence, she now has to have the help of others to do
everything. She even needs help to breathe. While she is completely
cognizant of all that is going on around her and is able to
communicate by mouthing the words, because she has had a
tracheotomy, she is trapped by the new limitations of her body. |
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Veronica Perez Veronica Perez is a 12 year old young lady at the top of her class 7th grade at Chestnut Middle School. She has a bright smile and is excited about life, despite having had a traumatic early life. Veronica was shot in the neck and her face rendering her paralyzed from the waist down. But because her family does not have a van that accommodates her electric wheelchair, she must use a portable chair that does not allow for her independence. While out she must be pushed by her aunt or other adult family member. Often it is too cumbersome for Veronica to transport herself and therefore activities and experiences that are typical for a young person are limited. The Brianna fund asks for your support in helping Veronica’s family secure van transportation to increase her quality time in the community with family and friends.
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Gloria Wiggins Gloria Wiggins is a 10 year old 4th grade student at Rebecca Johnson Elementary School. She is one of four children, and was born with Cerebral Palsy. Although at one time she could walk, today, she requires full leg braces and can only walk very short distances with a walker. Most of the time she is dependent on a wheelchair for mobility. Gloria cannot walk up and down stairs. It has become more and more difficult for her mother and personal care attendant to lift and carry her, up stairs to her second floor bedroom and then down again to the main living areas. Renovating the first floor of their home to create bedroom and bathroom facilities is not a reasonable option. Her parents, Gloria and Maxwell Wiggins, need assistance to purchase a stair climber system for their home. The Brianna Fund asks for your support in making Gloria’s home safe and accessible
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2006 |
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Terrance Howard Terence Howard, Jr. is a delightful first grader at Rebecca Johnson School in Springfield, MA. He was born 24 weeks premature with cerebral palsy. He and his mother, Yvonne Carter, are seeking support with accommodations necessary to ease his transition into their new apartment.
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Elisha Parker Elijah Parker is a fine young man attending the High School of Science and Technology. He has been diagnosed with Spina Bifida and would benefit from an adaptive van lift. He enjoys playing video games, working on the computer and singing. He is a member of Holy Trinity Church of God in Christ. He lives with his mother Arlene Parker.
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Geisha Rodriquez Geisha Rodriguez is a 14 year old girl who has cerebral palsy with spastic Quadra paresis. She attends the School of Science and Technology in Springfield, MA. She loves to sing, hang out with her friends and play video games. She would benefit most from a wheelchair ramp and a wheelchair van. They would both serve to increase her opportunities to attend school and social activities. Geisha lives with her mother Aileen Aponte and her siblings Crystal and Johlee.
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Rachel Courville Rachel Courville is a sweet third grader who attends Wolf Swamp School in Longmeadow, MA. She has personality plus - her smile and her charm fill any room she enters. She was born missing the part of the brain that controls stability. She enjoys walking but becomes tired and increasingly unsteady in her gait. Purchasing a walker would help her increase her independence and mobility. Rachel lived with her parents and brother in Longmeadow.
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2007 |
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Luis Adorno Luis Adorno was a carefree 21 year old young man who had graduated from Springfield High School. One night, he and his brother were shot at a party. After surgery his brother was able to recover physically, but Luis’s injuries left him with Quadriplegia, a total paralysis of all four limbs. At this time, he is only able to move his head. His mother is unable to lift him into his wheelchair. Luis’s family is seeking assistance to adapt their home, increase access to basic living resources and assist his family in his care.
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Rafael Adorno Rafael Adorno is a 21 year old young man attending the High School of Science and Technology. He and his 16 year old brother live with his grandmother, Iris Torres. Rafael has Cerebral Palsy and needs his grandmother, family members and friends to help him with activities of daily living. His loving grandmother is willing to do what is necessary to keep her family together. Since they live on a 2nd floor apartment without an elevator for access, someone must carry Rafael up and down the stairs. The family is seeking support in order to move to a first floor or an apartment with an elevator.
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Ayla Cadwell Ayla Catherine Cadwell is a bright, engaging and delightful 10 ½ year old in the fourth grade at Rebecca Johnson School. She was born with Spina Bifida and has abnormalities of the spine including severe scoliosis. Confined to a wheel chair, she has to be transported by her mother or a personal assistant to their 3rd floor apartment. She is scheduled for spinal surgery this spring. Ayla enjoys school, her household pets - a small dog, two cats, and gold fish. Her favorite subjects are writing and English. She would like to be a veterinarian. Ayla and her family need handicap accessible housing, adaptive transportation and financial assistance for a stay in NY to participate in Canine Support Program training after which she will receive a support dog. Visit the family’s website to learn more -http://www.anzwers.org/trade/cadwell
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Maceo Johnson When 3 year old Maceo Tyrique Johnson was born he met all developmental milestones - he was able to walk, run and talk. He suffered a severe seizure shortly before his 2nd birthday. In order to control his seizures, he was put into an induced coma for 3 weeks. On October 25, 2005 he was diagnosed with Herpes Simplex Encephalitis and permanent brain trauma. Today, he lacks fine and gross motor skills and must use a wheelchair or be carried. He has a surgical opening in the windpipe, a tracheotomy, to make breathing easier and gastrostomy tube to eat and take medicine. He has the support of a very loving and giving extended family and lives with his mother, sister and grandmother. Tyrique’s family is seeking assistance to purchase a van for transportation to medical appointments and other therapeutic activities.
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2008 |
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William Arnold, IV William Arnold, IV is a bright-eyed nine year old boy. He attends… and loves music. He lives with his parents and younger sister. Billy has been diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, which means the cells in his body that are needed to make the energy the cells need to grow and do their work in the body are damaged or malfunctioning and cannot carry out their functions. Billy is unable to walk for long periods of time and relies on family members, most often his mother who suffers from the same condition, to carry him up and down the stairs. The family is seeking assistance to make their home more accessible.
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Stephanie Cajigas Stephanie Cajigas is a fourteen-year old Springfield resident living with her mother, three siblings and her dog Toby. She attends Chestnut Accelerated Middle School. Her favorite subject in school is math and like all teenagers, she loves to talk on the phone with her friends. Stephanie has been diagnosed with Spina Bifida is a developmental birth defect results in an incompletely formed spinal cord. She has related kidney problems, asthma and a learning disability. She uses a wheelchair and walker for mobility. Stephanie’s family is seeking a handicap accessible van.
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Charles And Dexter Morales Physical manifestations of many children with Hunter syndrome vary greatly. In 2006 Dexter suffered a major stroke after a seizure. As a result he is no longer able to walk, talk, or feed himself. Charles has a severe case of Hunter syndrome with hearing loss in both ears, sleep apnea that requires the use of aids to fall asleep and oxygen during the night. Charles can only walk for short periods of time and is unable to feed himself. The family is requesting assistance in securing transportation. |
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John Tosado Eleven-year old John Tosado attends the German Gerena Community School. His favorite classes are cooking and art. He loves to play video games and enjoys watching the discovery channel on TV. He suffers from myelodysplastic syndromes, which is a group of diseases in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells. John is paralyzed from the waist down and relies on a motorized wheelchair for mobility. His family needs help to purchase a handicap accessible van.
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Crystal Vila Crystal Vila and her twin sister Anyelis are six-years old. They live with their mother and 3 older siblings – Diana (16), Desiree (14), and Brian (13). Crystal was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a childhood neurodevelopment disorder. She has several serious health challenges including very limited purposeful use of the hands, seizures, and asthma. She does not chew and has problems with swallowing, so receives her nutrients through a gastrostomy tube. Due to her multiple needs she is not able to walk or speak. It is a medical necessity for her to travel in a van; she carries a large amount of medical equipment when traveling. |
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Aurora Wilson Eleven-year old Aurora Wilson is a fourth grade student at Rebecca M. Johnson School. She lives with her mother Season Johnson and 3 siblings. She was born with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and is non-ambulatory and relies on a wheelchair for mobility. Her family is seeking assistance in constructing a ramp to provide Auroa safe access into and out her home. |
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2009 Angels |
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Edrick DeJesus
Edrick DeJesus
is a second grade student at the Indian Orchard Elementary School.
While he is only eight-years old, he has the wit and intelligence of
a child much older. He and his mother Omayra Rodriguez live in
Indian Orchard. Edrick has born with Morqui Syndrome Type A,
an
inherited disease of metabolism in which the body is missing or
doesn't have enough of a substance needed to break down long chains
of sugar molecules called glycosaminoglycans. He suffers from many
of the related conditions, including; abnormal skeletal development,
bell shaped chest (ribs flared, compression of spinal cord; and
dwarfism. The disease does not cause any cognitive impairment. As
a matter of fact, Edrick’s mom thinks he’s smarter than she is,
being a typical 8-year-old, he probably does too. There is no
specific treatment for Morquio syndrome. Symptoms are treated as
they occur. Until a recent surgery on his spinal cord, Edrick walked with the assistance of a walker. For the past year or so, he has been using a manual wheelchair for mobility while outside and at school. While inside his home, his mother carries him from room to room.
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Samuel Peloquin Fourteen year-old Samuel Peloquin lives with his parents Douglas and Yvonne Peloquin in Springfield with three siblings.
Samuel has an extremely rare disability called Luekoencephalpathy with Calcifications and Cysts, Developmental Verbal Syspraxic and a seizure disorder. There are only 13 others in the world and 7 others in the county diagnosed with the disorder.
Samuel’s mobility has declined over time, with a complete loss in mobility setting in December 2005. A neurological event and hospital occurred in October 2007, which further impeded his condition. He’s currently confined to a hospital bed in the home; he cannot ambulate on his own. He has a G-Tube and tracheotomy. The medical events and his deteriorating condition have resulted in little to no verbal communication and loss facial muscle control. His parents and assigned nurses lift him out of bed for personal care. Samuel enjoys being read to, watching videos and conversation as he maintains eye contact.
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Desirae Sanchez Desirae Sanchez is a 19-year-old teenager who was born on December 20, 1988. Desirae is the second of six children born to Elizabeth Sanchez. Desirae lives with her mother, Elizabeth and four siblings, Taniesha, Joshua, Gabriel and Angel. One month before her seventh birthday, Desirae had a severe seizure and spent the next year in the hospital and rehab. When Desirae returned home she was not able to talk, walk or do anything for herself anymore. Desirae has been diagnosed with a severe seizure disorder of unknown etiology, and Cerebral Palsy. She is has a rod in her back and has a feeding tube. She is incontinent and completely dependent on others for her daily living needs. |