PROUD TO SUPPORT LUCY VAN KENDALL & FAMILY – RECIPIENT FOR 3RD QUARTER 2020

100Brokers • September 19, 2020

100Brokers Members voted and we are very pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to Lucy Van Kendall & Family Recipient of the 3rd Quarter vote of 2020.

 “Thank you so much for thinking of us and submitting our family for the 100 Brokers Who Care grant. It was a wave of positivity and support that we needed. It’s been incredibly challenging fighting through this and knowing that a group of complete strangers had a group discussion & selected us means so much. Please pass our love to the rest of the team!”

Lucy was born in April 2020 and diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) 5 weeks later. SMA is a genetic disease affecting the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and voluntary muscle movement (skeletal muscle). Most of the nerve cells that control muscles are located in the spinal cord, which accounts for the word spinal in the name of the disease. Her life expectancy is 2 years without treatment.

Lucy is a good candidate to receive a groundbreaking gene therapy treatment for SMA called Zolgensma which could save Lucy’s life. This will NOT cure her, but it will hopefully replace 40-60% of the missing gene and allow Lucy to live, but there will be many costs for them for the long term, from wheelchairs, to treatments, nurses, care, help, and more. I am hoping that this $10k can help them with all the extra costs.

Thank you to Laura MacCormack for bringing this Cause to our attention.

Nomination Story
 The “Van Kendalls” – Laura, Scott, Sullivan (2017) & Lucy (2020). They live in Vancouver and they are my clients.

In 2015, they got married and started their family in 2017. Lucy was born in April 2020 and they found out 5 weeks after she was born that Lucy has SMA. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease affecting the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and voluntary muscle movement (skeletal muscle). Most of the nerve cells that control muscles are located in the spinal cord, which accounts for the word spinal in the name of the disease. Her life expectancy is 2 years without treatment.

Lucy is a good candidate to receive a groundbreaking gene therapy treatment for SMA called Zolgensma. Zolgensma could save Lucy’s life. They started a fundraiser and Lucy is getting the treatment in September. But this will NOT cure her, it will hopefully replace 40-60% of the missing gene and allow Lucy to live, but there will be many costs for them for the long term, from wheelchairs, to treatments, nurses, care, help, and more. I am hoping that this $10k can help them with all the extra costs.

Currently they are living in a small 2 bedroom apartment, with 2 kids, and nurses there on rotation and Scott working from home for his job to keep the family going financially (working from the kitchen, as Lucy sleeps in the living room as they need the space for all the machines required for breathing at night, feeding through a tube, etc).

Lucy will need a lot of care for the rest of her life.

PROUD TO SUPPORT Crystal Richelle & Glen Gordon Spark RECIPIENT 4TH QUARTER 2024

By Brokers Who Care • December 11, 2024
Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to Crystal Richelle & Glen Gordon Spark , our Recipient of the 4th Quarter 2024 vote. Thank you Carmela Addante for bringing this Cause to our attention. Their Story: The Sparks family is enduring immense financial and emotional strain due to Glen’s ongoing health challenges, including a cancer diagnosis, treatments, and a recent spinal surgery to address a fracture. His recovery will require at least six weeks, during which family support is critical. Glen, despite his severe symptoms, continues to manage his self-employed business whenever possible, even from his hospital bed. However, his reduced capacity has significantly impacted the family's income. Crystal works at a local preschool but has had to take time off to care for Glen and manage his appointments, leaving her unable to fully meet the household’s financial needs. The family, including their three children, is working tirelessly to maintain stability—balancing school, work, and providing care. Unfortunately, they are now two mortgage payments behind, with overdue utility bills on payment plans, and their mortgage renewal is looming in February. Their situation worsened recently when their daughter was involved in a car accident, totaling the second family vehicle. Thankfully, everyone is unharmed, but the loss of the car adds to their challenges. The vehicle was essential for Glen’s medical appointments and the daughter’s job. Crystal is overwhelmed, trying to hold everything together under these crushing circumstances.  This grant would provide vital relief, covering overdue expenses to secure their mortgage renewal, and help stabilize their finances during this difficult time. Supporting the Sparks family now will ensure they can focus on recovery and rebuilding without the constant weight of financial uncertainty. Thank you for considering this family in their time of need.

PROUD TO SUPPORT Jaden Marchand’s Recovery RECIPIENT 4TH QUARTER 2024

By Brokers Who Care • December 11, 2024
Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to Jaden Marchand’s Recovery , our Recipient of the 4th Quarter 2024 vote. Thank you Deborah Hall for bringing this Cause to our attention. Their Story: In 2021, Jaden suffered a severe anoxic brain injury on just his fourth day at a new job at the age of 21. Initially, doctors at Sunnybrook Trauma Centre told his family he would never recover and suggested organ donation. But slight signs of progress gave them hope, and they chose to fight for Jaden’s recovery.  Due to limitations in Canadian rehabilitation programs, Jaden’s family sought alternatives. In June 2022, he underwent five months of intensive therapy at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas, where he made significant strides. However, his progress plateaued with community rehab upon returning home. Now, Jaden’s family has found a promising new treatment with Dr. Crawford in Austin, Texas, a functional neurologist specializing in repairing the central nervous system. During an initial consult, Jaden responded well to innovative therapies like PRP stem cell treatment, which aims to help the brain form new neural pathways. To pursue this life-changing treatment, the family needs $53,000 USD for a one-month stay in Austin. They are working tirelessly to raise the funds and give Jaden his best chance at further recovery. Every contribution helps bring them closer to this goal.

PROUD TO SUPPORT Kim S RECIPIENT 3RD QUARTER 2024

By Kirista Berry • August 14, 2024
Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to Kim S, our Recipient of the 3rd Quarter 2024 vote. Thank you Sabeena Bubber for bringing this Cause to our attention. Their Story: Kim is a member of our mortgage family. She was trying to get a divorce and her ex husband tried to kill her because of it. In the process, when he fled, he took his own life. Kim is trying to pick up the pieces for her and her 3 daughters they shared. With the ex now being deceased she has no financial support in the way of child or spousal and now has to battle his executor to divorce from his estate and get what’s rightfully hers and the girls. She has two attorneys she has to pay; a divorce attorney and an estate attorney. He was the primary income earner. Her ex-mother in law is blaming her for his death and does not want her to receive the funds. She is also looking at having to go for reconstructive surgery for the nerve damage in her face plus counselling for the children all while being self employed and supporting three young girls. There has been an outpouring of support from many people in our industry. Let's show her that Brokers Who Care will help her to get through.
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