Hello. I would like to introduce you to Rocco! Rocco was born with a very rare genetic mutation (STXBP1) which has severely impacted his life and the lives of his family. Rocco’s mom, Jaime, and dad, Jeff, have had to do everything for him since birth and he has made leaps and bounds with his development and ability to communicate nonverbally. While things have always been a challenge, recently their world was turned upside down by the sudden and unexpected loss of Rocco’s father, a career firefighter and paramedic. Although Rocco is nonverbal, the loss of his father has clearly affected him and his mother quite traumatically. Rocco, a sweet little boy who almost never cries, has spent periods of time crying inconsolably; and for his mother, she has not only lost her husband, the father of her child, but a significant support system literally overnight. The emotional impact is something that will last forever, but the financial impact can be supported by the kindness of others. Due to Rocco’s special needs, Jeff and Jaime made a point to provide fewer material things in favor of experiences that the family could enjoy together. Now, more than ever, Rocco needs an opportunity to spend precious moments with his mom (and she with him) but they need your help. It takes very special people to support Rocco physically (as his mobility is limited) and emotionally. This support requires a trained professional or someone very close with Rocco who understands his needs, wants, and his communication. Additional funds can be used to provide support and experiences for Rocco and his mom which would otherwise be impossible. Things such as traveling to meet other families with the disorder, or being able to hire caregivers to help him get around at Sesame Place, or just to provide respite care. This sweet little boy and his mama have gone through a lot. Thank you for helping take some of their stress away. :-)