Ian Boegel Memorial Fundraiser
Donation protected
Ian lived virtually his entire life with epilepsy but it did
not define him. Initially diagnosed just before his 4th birthday, Ian’s battle with epilepsy took a variety of turns. Though medication halted Ian's visible seizures, he continued to have remarkably abnormal brainwaves. By age 7, Ian was officially diagnosed with Electrical Status Epilepticus in Sleep, a catastrophic type of epilepsy.
According to the doctors, Ian should not have been able to walk or talk. And while ESES hampered Ian's intellectual development, it did not hinder his spirit nor character. He did walk. He did talk. And he loved a good TV show, a movie, and learned to love books. Though he could not read himself, Ian loved books to be read to him, loved looking at the pictures, loved thumbing through the pages and as he got older loved to listen to audio books.
The library was a truly magical place where Ian found enjoyment and community. He literally would have 50-60 books checked out at a time, visiting area libraries multiple times a week with his mom.
Additionally during the last year of Ian's life, he had the gift of attending the Wildwood School in Schenectady New York. While Ian had many kind and caring teachers along the way, he flourished at Wildwood and loved going there. One constant refrain you would hear from him during his time at the school, "I like that Wildwood."
Although Ian very rarely had visible seizures, life took a tragic turn the morning of April 5th while he was doing all the things he loved: playing with toys, listening to music, thinking of the breakfast his dad was making him and the plans to go to the library after school with his mom. He suddenly suffered a devastating
seizure and cardiac arrest. While he fought strongly, he passed away on June 6, 2017.
As such, in remembrance of Ian's love of books, his family is honoring his memory to fund a gift to both the Bethlehem Public Library in Delmar, New York and to the library at Wildwood School in Schenectady New York. The goal of which is to support children who while bound by ailments are not restrained by the desire
to achieve and enjoy life to the fullest.
not define him. Initially diagnosed just before his 4th birthday, Ian’s battle with epilepsy took a variety of turns. Though medication halted Ian's visible seizures, he continued to have remarkably abnormal brainwaves. By age 7, Ian was officially diagnosed with Electrical Status Epilepticus in Sleep, a catastrophic type of epilepsy.
According to the doctors, Ian should not have been able to walk or talk. And while ESES hampered Ian's intellectual development, it did not hinder his spirit nor character. He did walk. He did talk. And he loved a good TV show, a movie, and learned to love books. Though he could not read himself, Ian loved books to be read to him, loved looking at the pictures, loved thumbing through the pages and as he got older loved to listen to audio books.
The library was a truly magical place where Ian found enjoyment and community. He literally would have 50-60 books checked out at a time, visiting area libraries multiple times a week with his mom.
Additionally during the last year of Ian's life, he had the gift of attending the Wildwood School in Schenectady New York. While Ian had many kind and caring teachers along the way, he flourished at Wildwood and loved going there. One constant refrain you would hear from him during his time at the school, "I like that Wildwood."
Although Ian very rarely had visible seizures, life took a tragic turn the morning of April 5th while he was doing all the things he loved: playing with toys, listening to music, thinking of the breakfast his dad was making him and the plans to go to the library after school with his mom. He suddenly suffered a devastating
seizure and cardiac arrest. While he fought strongly, he passed away on June 6, 2017.
As such, in remembrance of Ian's love of books, his family is honoring his memory to fund a gift to both the Bethlehem Public Library in Delmar, New York and to the library at Wildwood School in Schenectady New York. The goal of which is to support children who while bound by ailments are not restrained by the desire
to achieve and enjoy life to the fullest.
Organizer and beneficiary
Stephen Boegel
Organizer
Brookhaven, GA
Patrick Boegel
Beneficiary
