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Family turns grief into a gift for toddler

January 28, 2011

Family turns grief into a gift for toddler

Global | January 28, 2011 | By Linda Hoang

Click HERE for the video.

When Kaitlyn Harapchuk was three months old, she was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a disease that affects muscle movement.

Doctors told Kaitlyn’s mother Hali that she probably wouldn’t live to be a year old. But Hali wouldn’t accept it.

“There’s always miracles,” she said.

Hali found special doctors and support groups that could help her daughter live well past the one year benchmark she had originally been given.

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Leave a Comment » | Canada, Equipment, Inspiration, Speech Therapy, Technology, Tribute | Tagged: canada, equipment, inspiration, speech therapy, technology, tribute | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

Local Artist Overcomes Tragedy To Memorialize Children

January 27, 2011

Local Artist Overcomes Tragedy To Memorialize Children

NBC4i.com | January 27, 2011 | By Cabot Rea

Vodpod videos no longer available.

CENTRAL OHIO — At 9 months of old, a high fever and strange bruising sent Samantha Bennett to the hospital.

With no answers, she was transferred to a pediatric hospital where the delayed diagnosis of bacterial meningitis proved devastating.

Bennett lost parts of all her fingers, half of one foot and that was not all.

“I am covered in skin grafts. My nose was almost gone, but I’m so grateful they saved my life,” she said.

Bennett underwent surgery after surgery, spending up to six months in the hospital at a time.

It was during that time, with nothing else to do, that she developed the love of drawing.

Click HERE or on the image below to read more…

Leave a Comment » | Inspiration, Ohio, Tribute, United States | Tagged: inspiration, ohio, tribute, united states | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

Matthew’s Memory Appeal launched by Butterwick House Children’s Hospice

January 22, 2011

Matthew’s Memory Appeal launched by Butterwick House Children’s Hospice

The Northern Echo | January 22, 2011 | By Dani Webb

A BRAVE couple, who lost their three-month-old baby to a rare muscular condition, are backing a fundraising campaign set up in his memory.

John and Tracey Chad, of Parkside, Darlington, said they were honoured to be asked by Butterwick House Children’s Hospice to put son Matthew’s name to an appeal to raise £25,000.

The money raised from Matthew’s Memory Appeal, which will be launched today, will fund a sick children’s nurse.

Matthew was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a neuromuscular condition causing weakness of the muscles, when he was 11-weeksold.

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Leave a Comment » | Fundraiser, Tribute, United Kingdom | Tagged: fundraiser, tribute, united kingdom | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

A boy’s memory garden sows hope for other ailing kids

January 22, 2011

A boy’s memory garden sows hope for other ailing kids

Denver Post | January 22, 2011 | By Eric Eyl

Four years ago, Page Phillips and Tess Scanlon-Phillips welcomed their son, Cash Scanlon Phillips, into the world.

Four months later, they watched him die from spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disease characterized by muscle atrophy and the loss of motor function.

But rather than let this tragedy destroy their family and their lives, the grieving couple decided to use the experience to help other families with sick children. On what would have been their son’s first birthday — Jan. 18, 2008 — they recruited honky-tonk rockers the Railbenders for the first Concert for Cash at the Oriental Theater, raising money to build a garden at Children’s Hospital.

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Leave a Comment » | Colorado, Fundraiser, Tribute, United States | Tagged: colorado, fundraiser, tribute, united states | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

Mother accepts son’s posthumous UTPA degree

December 19, 2010

Mother accepts son’s posthumous UTPA degree

The Monitor | December 18, 2010 | By Naxiely Lopez

MCALLEN — Yolanda Morado, the mother of a University of Texas – Pan American student who died in August, was met with a standing ovation and roaring applause as she received his posthumous degree during the Fall 2010 Commencement Ceremony Saturday at the McAllen Convention Center.

Her son Victor M. Alvarez, who suffered from spinal muscular atrophy, was well-known for his determination and joie de vivre among many in the South Texas community. Alvarez, a columnist for The Monitor, lived a full life despite his degenerative disease, said many who knew him.

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1 Comment | Education, Inspiration, Texas, Tribute, United States | Tagged: education, inspiration, Texas, tribute, united states | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

WVC Teens Decorate Tree To Memorialize Fruit Heights Infant

November 22, 2010

WVC Teens Decorate Tree To Memorialize Fruit Heights Infant

The Salt Lake Tribune | November 22, 2010 | By Donald W. Meyers

Like most mothers, Kendra Webster thought her newborn daughter was perfect.

“Makenzie was an amazing girl,” the Fruit Heights woman recalled. “We never thought anything was wrong with her.”

But in November 2009, 4-month-old Makenzie was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress (SMARD). The disease, like Lou Gehrig’s disease, shuts down the body.

Makenzie died on Dec. 13, 2009, a month after the diagnosis.

Click HERE or on the image below to read more…