Support for June Brooks - A Rett Syndrome Warrior

Hi,

My name is Erin Bulcao and I’m a close family friend of Rowan & Millie Brooks.

As many of you know, Rowan, Millie & June moved to Chicago in May 2022. Shortly after they arrived, Millie noticed June having some developmental delays. Thus began a cascade of doctor’s appointments, therapy evaluations, and tests to figure out the cause of the delays.

On Wednesday, December 21st, 2022, Rowan and Millie received crushing news that no parents want to hear. The results of June’s WES (whole exome sequencing) genetic test showed that June was positive for MECP2-related Rett spectrum disorder aka Rett Syndrome.

Rett Syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that leads to severe impairments, affecting nearly every aspect of life. Rett particularly affects speech, purposeful hand use, and coordination, leaving individuals understanding more than they can communicate. Caused by a gene mutation, Rett is first recognized in infancy and occurs primarily in girls and rarely in boys. Neither Millie nor Rowan are carriers for Rett Syndrome. This occurred sporadically when June was conceived.

You can read more about RS here: https://www.rettsyndrome.org/

Needless to say this is going to be a lifetime journey for the Brooks family. With that said, I wanted to start a crowdfunding campaign to help with June’s anticipated medical expenses. June will need 24/7 care and medical attention for the rest of her life and no one is ever prepared for something of this nature.

These are some costs that the Brooks family anticipates:

1. AAC Device - $1,000

2. Hippotherapy - $2,000.00

3. Therapy Equipment for PT, OT, & SLP - $10,000

4. Travel Expenses - $10,000

5. Mental Health Services for Family - $20,000

6. Adaptive Home Medical Equipment - $50,000

7. Specialized caregiving - $100,000

If you’ve met June, you know what a light she is to this world. Just like her mama, Millie, they share this special spark that not too many people possess. I’ve been lucky enough to experience this from both of them for a while now. But with their recent diagnosis and countless doctors appointments and therapy sessions, I have also seen how this journey has taken a toll on Millie and Rowan.

I hope with your help we can lessen the financial stress they are facing and allow them to focus on June and their family’s quality of life. This fundraising campaign will hopefully grant them more peace of mind as they help June navigate this lifelong path.

Thank you for being here, no gesture goes unnoticed, that I know.

with love,

EB