Matthew special needs/medical fund
Donation protected
This story is about my grandson Matthew James who will turn 3 this March 28, 2015. Matthew was born with DS (Down Syndrome) and then developed seizures at the age of 4 months. These seizures involved many different phases the past 2- 1/2 years.
My daughter, Alisa, started noticing the seizures at about 2 months after he was born. They were diagnosed as Infintile Spasms, a rare seizure disorder. Matthew has endured many treatments. Despite these treatments, he has never responded significantly to the medications or special diet. Sadly, this has greatly impeded congnitive development. During this entire process , he has devoped other types of siezures. Because of the DS, visual impairment (common with DS) and seizure disorder, Matthew is multi-severely impaired. He is functioning as a 7 or 8 month old child. He also needs a heart procedure done to install a plug in a blood vessel within the heart to stop back flow of blood into his lungs.
Before Matthew was born, my daughter had her own day care in her home. She was an elementary school teacher for many years but once her first child was born, she wanted to be home with her so she opened the day care. It was going very well for her until Matthew was born. When they found out he had DS, she thought the day care would still do well, perhaps adding a DS child in her day care. This would allow Matthew to have another child like him to play and grow with. The seizure disorder brought all of this to a screeching hault. With all of his hospital visits, doctor appointments, therapy and weakened immune system, Alisa had to close the day care.
Due to Alisa's loss of income and Matthew's medical needs, there is not enough houshold income to cover all the bills. Jim, Matthew's father, has a good full-time job, but it is still not enough. I saw this program on TV and it pulled at my heart strings to help my daughter. I did all I could for her through the funds my mother left me when she passed and I wish I could do more. They are a very loving and caring family and do all they can for their children. The children come first in their lives before anything else. I am asking for the $15,000 for a good, reliable used van to help transport Matthew's wheelchair and other special needs equipment to all of his appointments and wherever they may need to go. If they were fortunate to exceed my stated goal, it could be directed to paying more medical bills and additional equipment to allow Matthew to have an easier life. As he continues to grow, I worry about the toll it will take on my daughter's back, given all the lifting needed on a daily basis. Not to mention the stress on the overall family unit. I sincerely hope and pray that raising this money will allow their lives to be at least a little bit easier.
My daughter, Alisa, started noticing the seizures at about 2 months after he was born. They were diagnosed as Infintile Spasms, a rare seizure disorder. Matthew has endured many treatments. Despite these treatments, he has never responded significantly to the medications or special diet. Sadly, this has greatly impeded congnitive development. During this entire process , he has devoped other types of siezures. Because of the DS, visual impairment (common with DS) and seizure disorder, Matthew is multi-severely impaired. He is functioning as a 7 or 8 month old child. He also needs a heart procedure done to install a plug in a blood vessel within the heart to stop back flow of blood into his lungs.
Before Matthew was born, my daughter had her own day care in her home. She was an elementary school teacher for many years but once her first child was born, she wanted to be home with her so she opened the day care. It was going very well for her until Matthew was born. When they found out he had DS, she thought the day care would still do well, perhaps adding a DS child in her day care. This would allow Matthew to have another child like him to play and grow with. The seizure disorder brought all of this to a screeching hault. With all of his hospital visits, doctor appointments, therapy and weakened immune system, Alisa had to close the day care.
Due to Alisa's loss of income and Matthew's medical needs, there is not enough houshold income to cover all the bills. Jim, Matthew's father, has a good full-time job, but it is still not enough. I saw this program on TV and it pulled at my heart strings to help my daughter. I did all I could for her through the funds my mother left me when she passed and I wish I could do more. They are a very loving and caring family and do all they can for their children. The children come first in their lives before anything else. I am asking for the $15,000 for a good, reliable used van to help transport Matthew's wheelchair and other special needs equipment to all of his appointments and wherever they may need to go. If they were fortunate to exceed my stated goal, it could be directed to paying more medical bills and additional equipment to allow Matthew to have an easier life. As he continues to grow, I worry about the toll it will take on my daughter's back, given all the lifting needed on a daily basis. Not to mention the stress on the overall family unit. I sincerely hope and pray that raising this money will allow their lives to be at least a little bit easier.
Organizer and beneficiary
Charlene S. Zimmerman
Organizer
Livonia, MI
Alisa Buchel
Beneficiary
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