On February 18th in 2002,  we beat the odds -- only we didn't know it.  Our daughter Anna entered our lives with her round face and tightly closed fists.

On February 18th in 2003, we became suspicious as typical milestones for a 1 year old weren't being met.

On May 18th in that same year, at her 15-month checkup, our pediatrician sent us to a neurologist for tests.

July of 2003, 2 months later, our daughter was confirmed to have Rett Syndrome.  Our lives have and are taking a new path, not the original path, but all the same, an adventure, just as life is.

Today Anna is 10 years old, thriving as a fully integrated 5th grader, with many 'BFF's as her bracelets prove.  She does water therapy, hippotherapy, PT, OT, and speech.  She is non-verbal but knows and uses her eye gaze as a powerful communication tool.  She can bear weight and take a few assisted steps but is mostly wheelchair bound.   She still has her round face and beautiful brown eyes.  She still has tightly closed fist, a symptom of Rett Syndrome.  She has her family and many others wrapped tightly around her finger.  Her favorite color is pink.

1 out of 10,000 children born have Rett Syndrome.  Every hour 3 children are newly diagnosed with Rett Syndrome.  That's 74 children a day, 523 children a week, 2266 children a month, 27199 children a year. 

That's too many children, too many families.  Join us as we raise funds in Anna's name to find not only a cure for Rett Syndrome, but solutions to help alleviate the symptoms of Rett Syndrome.  It is having the symptoms of Autism, Cerebral Palsey, Parkinson's, Epilepsy and Anxiety disorders all rolled into one little girl - our little girl in her pink wheelchair.

No donation is too small.  We appreciate you taking the time to help us help our daughter and others like her.  We cannot thank you enough.