Exciting Fundraising News!!!

As many of you know, Brenna is an all-star cheerleader at East Celebrity Elite in Tewksbury, MA. This is her second season there.

At the end of the season last year, we got to know a few people in the gym as well as a couple of the owners. I was asked if they could do a fundraiser for our family. One of the great things about this gym is they teach the athletes that life isn't all about cheering! They are taught to become good people on and off the mat. They are constantly reminded that they are very lucky to be a part of such an expensive and time consuming sport and that there are plenty of children who aren't able to do what they do for one reason or another. Last year they held a "tumble-a-thon" for another little girl who became an amputee due to a rare bacteria. ECE was able to raise over $13,000 to help defray medical costs and to contribute to and extreme home makeover making her house handicapped accessible. This year, they have chosen us.

First off, I was completely overwhelmed, and again very humbled that people actually care enough about our family and genuinely want to help. As you can imagine, I am sure, after reading some of the more recent blog entries, is that things are again becoming increasingly difficult for Brigitte and therefore financially for our family.

A tentative date of August 12, has been set as a Stunt-Fest at East Celebrity Elite! It really sounds like a lot of fun! I am so grateful to all of the parents, cheerleaders, coaches and owners for helping us with this!

Brigitte LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to be outside! A kind gentleman, Eric Buck, from Pollock Land Planning has donated his services to plan a new deck and patio for us. As many of you who have been following the blog for a while may remember, a year ago Brigitte got a nasty infection in her central line that came from a bug that only is found in the dirt. We have no idea how she got this, but now have to be very careful about where she plays. We are hoping that we can somehow incorporate an outdoor play area next to this so that she can go outside and enjoy the fresh air. Pollock Land Design has almost everything donated for labor, but has struggled with getting decking materials. We are working with Santosuosso/Applewood Construction to get some decking material at cost and we will be using the funds from the Stunt-Fest to help pay for this, as well as helping to defray costs associated with our constant trips to Boston.

I cannot emphasize enough how generous people have been to our family. I would strongly encourage anyone who needs construction work to utilize the services of Santosuosso/Applewood Construction or if you are in need of a great landscape designer, please call Eric at Pollock Land Planning.


Our other fundraiser is "Saving Brigitte Bracelets!!" They are pink and we have two versions of them. They are being sold for $5.00. If you would like to purchase one, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to me! Shannon Kaiser 1 Chestnut Hill Drive Londonderry, NH 03053 I will ship them right out to you! Or you can also purchase one at East Celebrity Elite in Tewksbury!

On a medical note, Brigitte is being admitted to Children's Hospital Boston on Friday, June 24. She is going to have an endoscopy, laryngoscopy and a bronchoscopy done. Her voice has become excessively hoarse over the last few months and is slowly getting worse. We aren't sure if there is a "problem" going on in there or if it is muscle deterioration. She is also going to have some botox put in her pylorus to see if her stomach can empty a bit faster, as well as have her GTube switched over to a GJ tube. We are hoping that we may be able to get her to tolerate feeds better by bypassing her stomach and putting the formula directly into her intestine. This is going to be a very long procedure and the last time we tried it, it didn't go very well so we could really use your thoughts and prayers for this to be successful and that she tolerates the anesthesia well.

I will continue to keep you posted! In the meantime, enjoy this wonderful weekend. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there....especially, mine! Dad, I love you!!