Our family hosts an annual fundraiser on behalf of our 13-year-old daughter, Cammy<\/a>, who has Rett syndrome. This year\u2019s event was held this past Saturday, and all proceeds are going to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation<\/a> to help fund research into potential treatments<\/a> or even a cure. The fundraiser gives us back some of the control we\u2019ve lost due to Rett.<\/p>\n During the event, we give out two awards: the Angel of Hope, which we first gave out in 2016, and the Ripple of Hope, which we added in 2018.<\/p>\n The Angel of Hope is given to an adult who keeps Cammy in their heart and mind constantly and goes above and beyond to unselfishly and humbly carry us through<\/a> our journey. This year\u2019s recipient is Cammy\u2019s emergency room nurse Craig, whom I will share more about in a future column.<\/p>\n The Ripple of Hope is typically given to a young person who brings my family hope and joy just by being themselves. They give us hope for a future of inclusion, acceptance, and embracing one another\u2019s differences.<\/p>\n This year, we are giving the award to a family because they all have filled our hearts with love. The Martinez family came into our lives when their dad, Lionel, began building our accessible house in 2019. Even if he wasn\u2019t our builder, we know this family still would\u2019ve found their way into our lives and hearts somehow.<\/p>\n Lionel built our house with love, crafting every part with Cammy in mind. He\u2019d call during the planning process with ideas about how to make things more accessible. His wife, Stacey, has been a constant cheerleader for Cammy and our family. She is selfless and dedicated to helping others. They both deserve part of the Ripple of Hope award because they\u2019re wonderful people who have also raised four incredibly kind daughters.<\/p>\n First, there\u2019s Lydia, who\u2019s in elementary school and is always genuinely excited to see Cammy. Lydia doesn\u2019t view her as a person with a disability; she just views her as Cammy.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s Peyton, a middle schooler, whose smile lights up Cammy\u2019s face. Peyton knows exactly how to communicate<\/a> with Cammy, who\u2019s nonverbal, and cheer her up.<\/p>\n Natalie, a high schooler, wears her love for Cammy on her sleeve. She always finds a way to represent Cammy. Most recently, Natalie placed a \u201cCammy Can<\/a>\u201d sticker on her softball helmet.<\/p>\n Rachel was Cammy\u2019s partner in art class, Cammy\u2019s first extracurricular activity. Rachel, also in high school, quickly learned how to work with Cammy and help her participate, and their artwork was beautiful. Rachel would probably be most embarrassed by the attention of this award because the motive behind her actions is that they\u2019re the right thing to do; she doesn\u2019t do things for awards or attention.<\/p>\n Just by being themselves, the Martinez family creates a ripple effect<\/a>, inspiring others to rise up and be inclusive and kind. We are extremely grateful for them.<\/p>\n Note:\u00a0<\/i>Rett Syndrome\u00a0News<\/i><\/a>\u00a0is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice,\u00a0diagnosis, or\u00a0treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice,\u00a0diagnosis, or\u00a0treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of\u00a0<\/i>Rett Syndrome News<\/i>\u00a0or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to\u00a0<\/i>Rett syndrome<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"PTP1B](\"https:\/\/rettsyndromenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Megaphone_700x350-150x0-c-default.png\")
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