(crossposted from Green Mountain Daily)
They're too close for me not to throw this out here and see if anyone feels like helping out with this.
There's a little boy in town here, his name's Alexander Donaghy. He's 27 months old.
Alexander was born with two conditions that affect his limbs: arthrogryposis, stiff joints; and amyoplasia, absent muscle. He can move only when his family carries him.
As Alexander grows, the window of opportunity for him to begin to learn to walk with the needed assistance narrows. What that's gonna take is a walker built specifically for his little body. It'll be able to grow with him until he's about seven years old....but if he's able to have any hope of real mobility, even with mechanical assistance, he has to start working like right now.
"We have until the end of the year -- Alexander's window to be able to walk in this is closing very rapidly," she said. "We want to get the word out that this does happen and as far as we know Alexander is the only child in Vermont with this."
Price tag: 10k.
From the linked story, you can see that we're not far off that.
They already caught a break because initially, there was gonna be the added expense of travel to and from Germany. That's where the physical therapist is that's building the walker.
But in the end, they decided what needed to be done, measurement-wise, could be done via Skype.
Amazing what a free internet can accomplish.
"As a result of the arthrogryposis and amyoplasia, Alexander has little to no muscle and very stiff joints, which has inhibited him to do a lot of things we all take for granted, including walking," fundraiser posters state. "Alexander will be able to reach a very important childhood milestone, WALKING, and be able to be more independent and get around unassisted with the help of the swivel walker."
Grubbin'.
(Photo:Amy Ash Nixon, Caledonian-Record)
Community members are also helping, including setting up a Dec. 28 appointment at Shriner's Orthopedic Hospital in Springfield, Mass...........As of Thursday morning, $5,977 had been raised, said Cassandra. She was excited that the down payment is now in the mail thanks to community support.
So we're pretty close in. It didn't occur to me to bring this here at first because I've been pleased at the attention and support it's been getting in the local area. It's what we do around here.
Hell, I'm probably closing in on a hundred bucks to the good already myself just on drop jars at point-of-sale.
But when I saw the most recent newspaper coverage, one thing I noticed was the absence of any mention of what should be a critical and indispensable family member.
I don't know the situation with respect to that, but I CAN conjecture that with that in mind, if the funds collected went over the mark some, nothing would be harmed by that.
Anyway, all this needs is one more good kick in the ass to put it through the goalposts.
Let's do it with an orange boot. :)
It's happened before...
Checks may be sent to TD Bank, 301 Railroad Street St. Johnsbury VT 05819, made out to Project Alexander Can Walk.