Lots of BIG news!!

We hope everybody is having a great summer! Ours has been slammed pack with lots of events and it doesn't look like it's going to slow down anytime soon!! If you remember, back in March we had a Rep from Dynaxox come to discuss the Eye Gaze Communication Device with us for Addy. Addy did great with it for the few minutes she got to play with it but we asked about renting one for her try over a period of time. It finally arrived on Monday and Addy's been playing a little on it and seems to really like it. It gives her the power to choose what she wants to play with which is definitely a good and bad thing...haha! She had speech therapy on Tuesday so we played with the Eye Gaze for a while trying to get Addy to choose things she wanted to play with but she kept picking her movies! Her therapists and I couldn’t' help but laugh because she was determined she was going to watch one of her movies!! We have the Eye Gaze until July 12 so we plan on using it a lot to determine if this is something Addy might be ready for or not!

Also back in March we had a Rep from Permobil come to discuss wheel chair options for Addy. That was set on the back burner for a while when Addy was in the hospital and we were finally able to set up an appointment for him to come back. Tony (the Rep) and Matt (DME Rep) came Tuesday to introduce the C300 to Addy and to see how she would do with it. She did amazingly well and the four of us just sat back with our mouths wide open while she figured out how to drive the chair! For the first time in 2.5 years Addy was able to “come” to me when I called her which was truly a moment I will NEVER forget! She was across the room in her chair and I called for her to come get me and she drove the chair PERFECTLY to me! James, Tony, Matt and I were speechless and I wish so badly that I had taped it. The next time when we tried it again she drove in circles (like all children do learning to drive a chair) but at least we know she can do it. I was SO proud of her and definitely had happy tears that day!!

Monday we got some very exciting news and can’t wait to share it with you all! Addy was approved by the Make A Wish Foundation to receive a wish! We don’t know what the wish will be but are definitely hoping it involves a BIG castle where a certain princess lives where ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE…haha! If you still don’t know what we are hoping it would be it’s to take Addy to Disney. As you all know she truly loves Cinderella and pretty much anything Disney! If we could take her to Disney it would honestly make mine and James dreams come true. The next step for Addy and the Make a Wish experience is waiting for the Volunteer Coordinator to set up a time where Granters can come meet Addy and decide what her wish will be. As soon as we know more we will definitely let you know!

The 3rd annual Addy Grace Golf Tournament is only a week and a half away and we are very excited! There are still a few spots available if you know somebody who would be interested in playing. This year it is in town at Ole Monterey so it’s a lot closer than the lake! If you or somebody else is playing in the golf tournament send James an email at JBG@integratedimaging.com or call him at 540-312-0586!

The Addy Grace Foundation is selling tickets to an Applebee’s Pancake Fundraiser in Salem. We know Salem is out of the way for most people but it’s for a great cause so come on out!!! Tickets are only $5 a person and the date is NEXT Saturday June 25 from 8-10! If you want to support AGF and can’t come that day you can still buy tickets! If you would like to purchase tickets for the Pancake breakfast send me an email at Jennifer@addygracefoundation.com or call me at 540-314-1416 OR you can purchase them the day of at the door!

Only 4 weeks until the BIG Bryan/Epperly wedding and we are SOOO EXCITED!!!