Stephen Monaco Medical Fund

The Stephen Monaco Medical Fund

Hi.

I am Stephen Monaco. Many of you knew as a happy, healthy little boy - a boy with a great big smile that enabled me to charm my way into your hearts and homes. I loved playing with my cars and trains, and watching "Clifford the Big Red Dog." As much as i enjoyed the outdoors, snuggling on someone's lap and reading stories made me happy too. My life is very different now. You see, I was born with a metabolic disorder called Isovaleric Acidemia. No one knew I had his disorder, because Virginia does not do comprehensive newborn screening. If it did, I would be just fine today, with proper diet and medications. When I was three and a half years old, my body couldn't hide it any longer, and I suffered a Metabolic Crisis. It left me with severe brain damage....damage that took away my physical abilities. I'm still a little boy inside but I can't tell you my needs or feelings. I can't walk and can't even sit up by myself. I get all my nutrition with a gastrostromy tube in my belly. I have come a long way, since my crisis. I know you're there, and can sometimes smile to let you know. I can even pull my head up with some help. My needs and expenses are very great now. I go to lots of doctor appointments and require lots of therapy, some of which are not covered by insurance. Your contributions to my Medical Fund will help my mommy and my daddy give me a chance to become the best I can be. I hope people will learn from my experience and insist that all babies benefit from expanded newborn screening.

Love,

Stephen

The Stephen Monaco Medical Fund was founded in 2001 with the intention of helping the Monaco family offset the medical costs of continuing to support Stephen through therapy and hospitalizations. Stephen has been able to benefit from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy that aids healing in the brain and is now participating in a program called Brain Net. It is an intense, specialized therapy program for children with brain injuries designed for his specific needs. Both of these are just a few things that insurance does not pay for. If you would like to make a contribution to Stephen's Medical Fund please send a check or money order to:

Stephen Monaco Medical Fund
c/o 3175 Ironhorse Dr.
Woodbridge, VA 22192 USA