Van Fund for the Destadio Girls

For those of you who know Diana Destadio, you know that she lights up any room she walks into. You may also know that five and half years ago Diana had a daughter that has done the same from the moment she entered the world. Michaela Nicole Destadio is a beautiful, smart, charismatic little lady that happens to have Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy is considered a neurological disorder caused by a non-progressive brain injury or malformation that occurs while the child’s brain is in the development stages. It primarily affects body movement and muscle coordination. Though Cerebral Palsy can be defined, having Cerebral Palsy does not define Michaela. Even with her infinite tenacity, there are still many things that Cerebral Palsy holds Michaela back from doing and experiencing. But lucky for Michaela, nothing will stop Diana from trying her best to give Michaela a life that she deserves and more. Diana is a single Mom that goes out of her way daily to do everything she can to help Michaela advance. From countless therapy appointments to making sure Michaela experiences everything she should if Cerebral Palsy wasn’t a part of her life - Diana dedicates herself to her daughter. Aside from being the best Mom possible, she is going to school to become a nurse to further better their lives. I spend a lot of time with Diana and what always impresses me most is she never complains. She possesses more strength than anyone else I know.

There is a story that Diana brought to my attention some time ago called “Welcome to Holland” by Emily Perl Kingsley that gives a tiny peephole into understanding what life is like for a parent raising a child with special needs. I urge you to read this story. It’s eye opening and incredibly touching. Get the tissues first…

As you can imagine, doing everything she can for Michaela also means excessive costs. Diana has recently mentioned that having a van that accommodates a wheelchair would help their lives tremendously. She then told me how costly something like that would be. If anyone deserves help from people who are able to give a little, it’s these two. So please, if you can, consider contributing something to help out. Every little bit helps.

If you would like more information about any of this, feel free to contact me.
http://www.our-kids.org/archives/Holland.html