Meet Declan! Our goofy, determined almost-3-year-old who is working so hard to gain the everyday skills and abilities you and I take for granted.

Declan was born prematurely and emergently due to absent movement and decreased heart rate. Within hours we learned that he had suffered from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)—a traumatic brain injury that can cause lifelong physical and cognitive challenges. From the very beginning, we were told that Declan was at high risk for global developmental delays, so we started extensive therapy immediately.

He has been working in PT, OT, and speech therapy since he was a newborn, and we have built our entire life around giving him the strongest possible start.

Declan today:

Declan has spastic cerebral palsy, a movement disorder caused by early brain injury.

We are unbelievably proud to say that he can walk, because the joy and independence he gets from mobility is priceless. But what most people don’t see is the everyday battles he faces beneath his bright smile, such as:

• balance and coordination

• fine motor skills

• motor planning

• swallowing

• speech and communication

• sleeping

• chronic constipation

• fatigue

• cognitive delays

Declan works incredibly hard for every single skill he gains.

And as he grows older and enters school, we want to give him every possible chance to stay alongside his peers and build the life he deserves.

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A new opportunity: Stem Cell Infusion at Duke University

There is no cure for CP, but there are emerging treatments that are showing real promise.

One of the most hopeful therapies for children with CP caused by brain injury is stem cell infusion.

Duke University has already completed FDA-regulated clinical trials using umbilical cord blood stem cells for HIE and CP—and those trials showed statistically significant improvements in both motor and cognitive function.

Declan qualified for Duke’s Expanded Access Program, which allows eligible children to receive donated cord blood stem cells even though the treatment is not yet FDA-approved. This means the procedure is entirely out-of-pocket and costs at least $15,000, not including associated travel and intensive therapy afterward.

We believe that combining the infusion with continued intensive therapy gives Declan the best possible chance to:

• improve coordination

• strengthen fine and gross motor skills

• increase cognitive function

• improve speech and communication

• gain independence

Stem cells are not a cure—but they are a catalyst. They support the brain in ways that traditional therapy alone cannot by helping to pave the neural pathways for new skills to emerge with more ease.

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Who Declan Is Beyond His Diagnosis

Declan is not defined by his challenges.

He is a goofball, a snuggler, expressive, particular, brave, and endlessly curious.

He loves:

• Hot Wheels

• getting tickles

• hide and seek

• Noosa yogurt and Cheetos

• tackling his sister

• reading books

• swinging

• riding on Dad’s longboard

• giving high fives

His personality shines so brightly, and we want the world to see all of him—not just the things that are hard.

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Why We’re Asking for Help

We’ve done everything we can on our own for two and a half years, much of it independently funded or through grants because many of the most advantageous therapies are not covered by insurance—DMI intensive therapy, conductive education, consulting specialists and getting second opinions, equipment, travel, home programs, and early intervention.

But this next step is beyond what we can manage alone and beyond what grants will cover.

Every dollar raised will go directly toward:

• Declan’s stem cell infusion at Duke

• travel and lodging for the treatment

• post-infusion intensive therapy

The payment is made upfront before scheduling is completed, so I will provide updates along the way. We are looking at potentially being able to do the infusion as early as February of 2026.

We are committed to giving Declan every chance to thrive, and this treatment could make a meaningful difference in his future mobility, learning, and independence.

For those that already have supported us in any way, and those that continue to support us now, know that we are deeply, sincerely grateful.

Thank you for believing in our boy.

Thank you for giving him opportunities the world doesn’t always make easy.

And thank you for helping us fight for the brightest possible future for Declan.

With love and gratitude,

the Rutkowski’s