Celebrating SoyBoy’s 8th
Donation protected
Dearest Friends,
This Thursday is World Rare Disease Day and this Friday, by some coincidence, is Isaiah's 8th birthday.
I could offer all the usual platitudes here but none of them seem quite right. Indeed, I can't believe he's 8. I can't believe how much he has grown this year, necessitating longer pants and bigger socks. And of course, I will forever wish him a lifetime of wonderful birthdays. But I would be remiss if I didn't tell you how much he has grown in spirit and skill this past year.
It would be a misstep if I didn't tell you that a boy who was once liimited to a handful of basic words now makes long-ish sentences and demands for all of his favourite things with resolve, confidence, and pride. That he's starting to make friends, to show interest in other children, to be more self-aware.
You would be missing out if I didn't recount how his big, bright and recently toothless smile can right a bad day, or how his rendition of "Baby Shark" can temporarily erase all of your troubles.
All of this, plus his love of French fries and pasta (sometimes separately, sometimes together) is greater than some of the world's best love stories.
Rare Disease Day isn't one I ever thought I'd have cause to celebrate: our family did not choose Galactosemia, but we chose to advance it as a cause at every opportunity.
Now for my plea: I would also be remiss if I didn't tell you that I credit almost 100% of his gains to his classroom and teachers at Nelson Mandela Park Public School, right here in the heart of Toronto's Regent Park.
If you know Isaiah, you have seen, first-hand, how much he has improved on all fronts. How much more confidence he has, how much his language skills have improved, how much his lovely demenour and beautiful smile have been unwavering throughout.
Isaiah turns 8 on Friday, March 1st. For him, it will be like any other day, for you, if you're reading this and you want to help, it can be a day that contributes greatly to a wonderful cause - providing some much-needed funding to the intensive support programs at Nelson Mandela Park Public School - helping them to furnish their Snoezelen Room with comforts for all of their students, to equip their playground with more gear that pushes the children's learning limits and inspires them to work hard every day.
Instead of buying Isaiah a bunch of plastic stuff for his birthday, I'll be giving some money via this authorized GoFundMe page to Isaiah's school for their sole use, and I encourage you to wish this amazing boy a happy birthday by doing the same - I might even suggest a contribution of $8, or multiples of 8 - something to capture each year of his life on this rock.
Thank you for helping us to mark Isaiah's 8th birthday in a meaningful way, and for brightening the days of the staff and students at Nelson Mandela Park Public School. Without the school and their programming, I don't know where we would be today, and frankly, I don't want to think about it because I never want to see that smile extinguished.
Happy Birthday, Isaiah, you are loved by so very many.
This Thursday is World Rare Disease Day and this Friday, by some coincidence, is Isaiah's 8th birthday.
I could offer all the usual platitudes here but none of them seem quite right. Indeed, I can't believe he's 8. I can't believe how much he has grown this year, necessitating longer pants and bigger socks. And of course, I will forever wish him a lifetime of wonderful birthdays. But I would be remiss if I didn't tell you how much he has grown in spirit and skill this past year.
It would be a misstep if I didn't tell you that a boy who was once liimited to a handful of basic words now makes long-ish sentences and demands for all of his favourite things with resolve, confidence, and pride. That he's starting to make friends, to show interest in other children, to be more self-aware.
You would be missing out if I didn't recount how his big, bright and recently toothless smile can right a bad day, or how his rendition of "Baby Shark" can temporarily erase all of your troubles.
All of this, plus his love of French fries and pasta (sometimes separately, sometimes together) is greater than some of the world's best love stories.
Rare Disease Day isn't one I ever thought I'd have cause to celebrate: our family did not choose Galactosemia, but we chose to advance it as a cause at every opportunity.
Now for my plea: I would also be remiss if I didn't tell you that I credit almost 100% of his gains to his classroom and teachers at Nelson Mandela Park Public School, right here in the heart of Toronto's Regent Park.
If you know Isaiah, you have seen, first-hand, how much he has improved on all fronts. How much more confidence he has, how much his language skills have improved, how much his lovely demenour and beautiful smile have been unwavering throughout.
Isaiah turns 8 on Friday, March 1st. For him, it will be like any other day, for you, if you're reading this and you want to help, it can be a day that contributes greatly to a wonderful cause - providing some much-needed funding to the intensive support programs at Nelson Mandela Park Public School - helping them to furnish their Snoezelen Room with comforts for all of their students, to equip their playground with more gear that pushes the children's learning limits and inspires them to work hard every day.
Instead of buying Isaiah a bunch of plastic stuff for his birthday, I'll be giving some money via this authorized GoFundMe page to Isaiah's school for their sole use, and I encourage you to wish this amazing boy a happy birthday by doing the same - I might even suggest a contribution of $8, or multiples of 8 - something to capture each year of his life on this rock.
Thank you for helping us to mark Isaiah's 8th birthday in a meaningful way, and for brightening the days of the staff and students at Nelson Mandela Park Public School. Without the school and their programming, I don't know where we would be today, and frankly, I don't want to think about it because I never want to see that smile extinguished.
Happy Birthday, Isaiah, you are loved by so very many.
Organizer
Charlotte Dobo
Organizer
East York, ON