Easter Brunch to assist Mark with a Stroller

Mark is a 14-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, seizure disorder and prolonged QT syndrome (a heart condition that can lead to a very abnormal heart rhythm). Mark unexpectedly lost his mother several years ago. His mom had the prolonged QT syndrome also. Mark is being raised and well cared for by his grandmother. He is very much loved by everyone who meets him.

He attends school and receives physical and occupational therapy through his school. He is able to crawl and to stand with support. Recently, Mark has started to take steps with the assistance of physical therapy parallel bars. He does not know sign language but is able to make certain sounds that his grandmother is able to interpret. Mark also loves to smile.

Since Mark is not independently ambulatory he requires a wheelchair or stroller for transportation. His wheelchair, although perfect for school, is too cumbersome for his grandmother to use for him for transport to and from doctor visits. Mark’s grandma is a petite lady and therefore needs a stroller for Mark that she can easily assemble, disassemble and carry. Because Mark already has a wheelchair his medical insurance company will not cover the cost of a stroller.

Mark is followed at The Medically Complex Children’s Program of Good Samaritan Hospital Subspecialty Center in Babylon (Suffolk County, Long Island). After meeting with representatives from a local, family owned medical supply company and reviewing what each stroller had to offer the decision was made that Mark would benefit most from the Stingray Stroller. This particular medical supply company has pledged to offer one piece of durable medical equipment per month at cost. Since this company has made such a generous and very much needed pledge it is the hope of the Medically Complex Children’s Program team that charitable organizations would help to bridge the financial gap in order to bring to fruition the provision of very much needed medical equipment to medically complex children.

The Ariane Foundation for Traumatic Brain Injury has agreed to raise funds to purchase this stroller for him. These specialized strollers can cost up to $4,000 US. We will be having our fund raiser Easter Brunch on Saturday April 7, 2012 from 10 am – 2 pm. If you would like to make a donation please visit us at www.arianefoundation.org and click the “donate” button. For tickets please call 917 324 0746 or any of our board members.