Hello, my name is Courtney Denning. I am reaching out to you today regarding my best friend of more than 25 years and her family - Marcella, Mike, Brody, and Holly Stanley.

Some of you may know the Stanley family from following their stories on social media at @brodysbigadventure, maybe you know them personally, or maybe this is your first time being introduced to these wonderful people. I’m going to try to make this a quick, easy read, but want to make sure I paint a full picture!

About the Stanleys:

Marcella is a cardiology physician assistant and Mike is a chiropractor. Two extremely hardworking people who, above all else, love their family. Their kiddos are Holly, a gymnastic-loving 6 (almost 7-year-old), and Brody, an 11-year-old video game enthusiast who loves the K-State Wildcats and the Cincinnati Bengals. They’re a funny, loving family who, with so much going on, still show up to support others, whether it be through their work in the medical field or their friends and family.

Here's where the Stanleys could use our help -- and first, let me say, the Stanleys did not ask for this help; I am asking for it on their behalf (I do, of course, have their permission):

Brody was born with diastrophic dysplasia, a rare type of dwarfism. I'm listing resources below if you'd like to learn more about his type of dwarfism. To put it lightly, this type of dwarfism has involved procedures, surgeries, and therapies since the day Brody was born. With such a rare condition, this has required many trips over the years to specialists that are across the country.

How we can help financially and otherwise:

Earlier in March, Brody underwent his latest procedure that requires the family to live in a different state for more than a month while he recovers. This surgery’s goal (like many others he has had) is a continued attempt to help with Brody’s mobility and quality of life. Surgeons performed a femoral osteotomy and knee realignment. Next, he will receive a tibial osteotomy. He will recover, go home for a few weeks, and then the family will go back in June to do it all over again on his other leg.

I think we can all imagine the emotional and financial strain this process is having on this family, and it’s just one example of what they have gone through and will continue to face as they help their kiddo. As a parent myself, I would go to the ends of the earth to help my children/family, and I’m sure you would, too.

The funds of this GoFundMe will be to support this family in the following ways so they can focus on Brody and their family:

• Travel = Current and future flights, food, and accommodations for months away from home. An additional layer of complexity: the family needed to purchase an accessible van to make sure everyone can take car rides. These are extremely expensive. They will have to either pay to ship their car for the next round of surgeries or someone will have to drive the car down to Florida (again). Brody will be unable to make the 20+ hour car drive next time.

• Lost wages = Both Mike and Marcella are - and will - lose many weeks (if not months) of salary due to being away supporting their son.

• Medical Debt = It’s reasonable to expect that there are medical bill debts among other associated debts. The family is constantly talking to insurance and their medical providers about what is covered and what is not. Even with this latest round of surgeries, it is unknown if out-of-pocket costs will be several thousand or $20,000+.

If you cannot contribute financially, please consider sharing the fundraiser, sending healing energy toward Brody and the family, maybe give them a follow on Instagram at @brodysbigadventure or @the.medical.mama

Thank you for your time reading this and your consideration of assistance for this sweet family.

Dwarfism Resources:

Paley Institute: https://paleyinstitute.org/diastrophic-dwarfism/

Nemours Children’s Health: https://www.nemours.org/services/diastrophic-dysplasia/about-diastrophic-dysplasia.html