Our household hosts an annual fundraiser on behalf of our 13-year-old daughter, Cammy, who has Rett syndrome. This 12 months’s occasion was held this previous Saturday, and all proceeds are going to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation to assist fund analysis into potential treatments or perhaps a treatment. The fundraiser offers us again among the management we’ve misplaced on account of Rett.
Through the occasion, 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.
The Angel of Hope is given to an grownup who retains Cammy of their coronary heart and thoughts consistently and goes above and past to unselfishly and humbly carry us through our journey. This 12 months’s recipient is Cammy’s emergency room nurse Craig, whom I’ll share extra about in a future column.

The Ripple of Hope is usually given to a teenager who brings my household hope and pleasure simply by being themselves. They provide us hope for a way forward for inclusion, acceptance, and embracing each other’s variations.
This 12 months, we’re giving the award to a household as a result of all of them have stuffed our hearts with love. The Martinez household got here into our lives when their dad, Lionel, started constructing our accessible home in 2019. Even when he wasn’t our builder, we all know this household nonetheless would’ve discovered their manner into our lives and hearts in some way.
Lionel constructed our home with love, crafting each half with Cammy in thoughts. He’d name through the planning course of with concepts about how you can make issues extra accessible. His spouse, Stacey, has been a continuing cheerleader for Cammy and our household. She is selfless and devoted to serving to others. They each deserve a part of the Ripple of Hope award as a result of they’re great individuals who have additionally raised 4 extremely variety daughters.
First, there’s Lydia, who’s in elementary faculty and is all the time genuinely excited to see Cammy. Lydia doesn’t view her as an individual with a incapacity; she simply views her as Cammy.
Then there’s Peyton, a center schooler, whose smile lights up Cammy’s face. Peyton is aware of precisely how you can communicate with Cammy, who’s nonverbal, and cheer her up.
Natalie, a excessive schooler, wears her love for Cammy on her sleeve. She all the time finds a method to signify Cammy. Most lately, Natalie positioned a “Cammy Can” sticker on her softball helmet.
Rachel was Cammy’s accomplice in artwork class, Cammy’s first extracurricular exercise. Rachel, additionally in highschool, rapidly realized how you can work with Cammy and assist her take part, and their paintings was lovely. Rachel would in all probability be most embarrassed by the eye of this award as a result of the motive behind her actions is that they’re the precise factor to do; she doesn’t do issues for awards or consideration.
Simply by being themselves, the Martinez household creates a ripple effect, inspiring others to stand up and be inclusive and type. We’re extraordinarily grateful for them.
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