Her Brother's Keeper - Z to A
Donation protected
Loving, vibrant, smart, knowledgeable, informative, active, sports enthusiast (loves the Philadelphia Eagles), car connoisseur, kind, inquisitive, respectful, and a lively dancer, are just few of the many words that describes my brother, Anthony Pinkney. Pretty ahead of his time for a 9 year old, yet always keeps his innocence of a kid.
On October 31, 2014, when Anthony was 7 years old it was noticed that Anthony had a slight limp as he walked. Anthony was asked if he fell or hurt his ankle while at home or at school and he said, no. Being that Anthony was an active boy, it was thought he might have fell and hurt his leg playing and didn't remember.
The following day while at a family function, Mommy noticed that Anthony's limp intensified and the entire left side of his body was limp including the left side of his face. He was rushed to the emergency room at a local hospital, and all of the extensive testing began. A week after being admitted into the hospital and many tests later... my Mommy and Daddy still had no answers as what was going on with Anthony or most importantly, a diagnosis. My Mommy and Daddy ultimately decided to have Anthony transferred to C.H.O.P (The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) because they have one of the best pediatric neurological departments in the country. Finally but sadly, my Mommy and Daddy received answers and Anthony's actual diagnosis. An extensive MRI revealed that Anthony had lesions on the right side of his brain. Anthony had Multiple Sclerosis or more commonly known as "MS". Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease and is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. For more information and research on "MS" please click on the following link:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS
When Anthony was initially diagnosed, Mommy and Daddy were told that there is no cure for "MS", but there were different kinds of medical treatments available. Mommy and Daddy decided to hold off on medicating Anthony to see how he would progress since his mobility was improving through sessions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
A little more than a year later in December of 2015, Anthony had another episode where the weakness and limping started once again; this time on the right side of his body. He was taken back to C.H.O.P and an MRI revealed that he had new lesions, this time on the left side of his brain. After much research and discussion with Anthony's treating doctors, Mommy and Daddy decided to start Anthony on medication. As the reality of this life changing diagnosis and the medicinal treatment settled with my Mommy and Daddy, they attempted to keep Anthony’s daily life as normal as possible. However, Anthony started realizing that life was changing for him and he would be limited to many activities mainly, sports. Anthony would openly ask Mommy and Daddy questions and expressed how he felt regarding his condition and the medicine. He would also pray asking for a cure or miracle. Little did Anthony know that the purity, innocence, and belief behind his prayers and requests would be answered… GOD created and sent me through my Mommy and Daddy to be my BROTHER’S KEEPER in more ways than one.
Hi, I am Zara Pinkney and I am still in my Mommy’s tummy and you will get to meet me very soon… sometime in December! One afternoon in late December 2015 after the Christmas Holiday, my Mommy and my Brother went for a walk and Anthony says to Mommy, “Mommy I know what I want for Christmas next year.” Mommy asked “what is it”, and Anthony said that he wanted a sibling for Christmas. Mommy told Anthony that she wasn’t sure if she would want to have more babies, while internally asking herself if Anthony does need a sibling to be his keeper should anything ever happen to her or Daddy. You see, my Brother Anthony Pinkney prayed and GOD listened and the Universe worked in his favor! Wait… it gets better! Mommy, Daddy, and Anthony find out that I am on my way into their lives and this world and everyone is excited, but they have not a clue that the DOTS of life are connecting and GOD’s plan is unfolding. When deciding on my name, my Mommy and Daddy wanted a name that started with the letter “Z”, because my brother’s name starts with an “A”, basically the beginning and the end… (I’ll get back to this towards the end of my story… keep reading)
On September 23, 2016, my Mommy was at her doctor’s office for a routine visit to make sure all is well with me and the doctor is running late. Mommy decides to walk around and take a look at some pamphlets… when suddenly, Mommy saw a lone pamphlet in the corner and it was the last one…, it was information on Cord Blood Banking so as Mommy looks at the pamphlet she sees all the way down at the very bottom of the pamphlet, “may help with Multiple Sclerosis”. Mommy immediately felt a sense of excitement! Mommy called the number provided on the pamphlet and independently researched, to discover that Cord Tissue Banking through Stem Cell can turn Anthony’s diagnosis around via Stem Cell Therapy through Cord Tissue Implant. This Stem Cell Therapy happens in multiple sessions and can allow Anthony a normal childhood where he can partake in sports and normal childhood activities without the daily use of medication and less chances of relapsing. I need you to help me help my brother Anthony Pinkney. I am due to arrive in early December and my umbilical cord tissue and blood would have to be stored immediately after my birth. Mommy and Daddy currently cannot afford such a lump sum of money for the Cord Banking because of the short timeframe from when they first learned about the Cord Banking and my due arrival date. We have to raise the money in order to store my umbilical cord tissue and blood, which can possibly help my Brother reverse his diagnosis. My Mommy and Daddy have listed the goal amount needed in order to get this miracle started. Whatever you can donate is much appreciated and we, the Pinkney family pray that your donation returns to you in unlimited blessings and with love.
Back to the whole beginning and end thing… point is that there is truly no beginning or end. When GOD has a plan, everything comes full circle with LOVE! “Z” is now coming to help “A”, and the circle is infinite because I will forever BE MY BROTHER’S KEEPER! And I am due to arrive in December of this year, so Anthony will get the gift he desired for Christmas this year! Anthony’s desire and wish came true!
- Baby Zara!
On October 31, 2014, when Anthony was 7 years old it was noticed that Anthony had a slight limp as he walked. Anthony was asked if he fell or hurt his ankle while at home or at school and he said, no. Being that Anthony was an active boy, it was thought he might have fell and hurt his leg playing and didn't remember.
The following day while at a family function, Mommy noticed that Anthony's limp intensified and the entire left side of his body was limp including the left side of his face. He was rushed to the emergency room at a local hospital, and all of the extensive testing began. A week after being admitted into the hospital and many tests later... my Mommy and Daddy still had no answers as what was going on with Anthony or most importantly, a diagnosis. My Mommy and Daddy ultimately decided to have Anthony transferred to C.H.O.P (The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) because they have one of the best pediatric neurological departments in the country. Finally but sadly, my Mommy and Daddy received answers and Anthony's actual diagnosis. An extensive MRI revealed that Anthony had lesions on the right side of his brain. Anthony had Multiple Sclerosis or more commonly known as "MS". Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease and is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. For more information and research on "MS" please click on the following link:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS
When Anthony was initially diagnosed, Mommy and Daddy were told that there is no cure for "MS", but there were different kinds of medical treatments available. Mommy and Daddy decided to hold off on medicating Anthony to see how he would progress since his mobility was improving through sessions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
A little more than a year later in December of 2015, Anthony had another episode where the weakness and limping started once again; this time on the right side of his body. He was taken back to C.H.O.P and an MRI revealed that he had new lesions, this time on the left side of his brain. After much research and discussion with Anthony's treating doctors, Mommy and Daddy decided to start Anthony on medication. As the reality of this life changing diagnosis and the medicinal treatment settled with my Mommy and Daddy, they attempted to keep Anthony’s daily life as normal as possible. However, Anthony started realizing that life was changing for him and he would be limited to many activities mainly, sports. Anthony would openly ask Mommy and Daddy questions and expressed how he felt regarding his condition and the medicine. He would also pray asking for a cure or miracle. Little did Anthony know that the purity, innocence, and belief behind his prayers and requests would be answered… GOD created and sent me through my Mommy and Daddy to be my BROTHER’S KEEPER in more ways than one.
Hi, I am Zara Pinkney and I am still in my Mommy’s tummy and you will get to meet me very soon… sometime in December! One afternoon in late December 2015 after the Christmas Holiday, my Mommy and my Brother went for a walk and Anthony says to Mommy, “Mommy I know what I want for Christmas next year.” Mommy asked “what is it”, and Anthony said that he wanted a sibling for Christmas. Mommy told Anthony that she wasn’t sure if she would want to have more babies, while internally asking herself if Anthony does need a sibling to be his keeper should anything ever happen to her or Daddy. You see, my Brother Anthony Pinkney prayed and GOD listened and the Universe worked in his favor! Wait… it gets better! Mommy, Daddy, and Anthony find out that I am on my way into their lives and this world and everyone is excited, but they have not a clue that the DOTS of life are connecting and GOD’s plan is unfolding. When deciding on my name, my Mommy and Daddy wanted a name that started with the letter “Z”, because my brother’s name starts with an “A”, basically the beginning and the end… (I’ll get back to this towards the end of my story… keep reading)
On September 23, 2016, my Mommy was at her doctor’s office for a routine visit to make sure all is well with me and the doctor is running late. Mommy decides to walk around and take a look at some pamphlets… when suddenly, Mommy saw a lone pamphlet in the corner and it was the last one…, it was information on Cord Blood Banking so as Mommy looks at the pamphlet she sees all the way down at the very bottom of the pamphlet, “may help with Multiple Sclerosis”. Mommy immediately felt a sense of excitement! Mommy called the number provided on the pamphlet and independently researched, to discover that Cord Tissue Banking through Stem Cell can turn Anthony’s diagnosis around via Stem Cell Therapy through Cord Tissue Implant. This Stem Cell Therapy happens in multiple sessions and can allow Anthony a normal childhood where he can partake in sports and normal childhood activities without the daily use of medication and less chances of relapsing. I need you to help me help my brother Anthony Pinkney. I am due to arrive in early December and my umbilical cord tissue and blood would have to be stored immediately after my birth. Mommy and Daddy currently cannot afford such a lump sum of money for the Cord Banking because of the short timeframe from when they first learned about the Cord Banking and my due arrival date. We have to raise the money in order to store my umbilical cord tissue and blood, which can possibly help my Brother reverse his diagnosis. My Mommy and Daddy have listed the goal amount needed in order to get this miracle started. Whatever you can donate is much appreciated and we, the Pinkney family pray that your donation returns to you in unlimited blessings and with love.
Back to the whole beginning and end thing… point is that there is truly no beginning or end. When GOD has a plan, everything comes full circle with LOVE! “Z” is now coming to help “A”, and the circle is infinite because I will forever BE MY BROTHER’S KEEPER! And I am due to arrive in December of this year, so Anthony will get the gift he desired for Christmas this year! Anthony’s desire and wish came true!
- Baby Zara!
Organizer
Jennifer Pinkney
Organizer
Newark, NJ