JoshPaul

Some of you recall that my nephew was found at the bottom of the pool by his father a little over a year ago. He survived, and is a fighter, but he has a long road to recovery. The HUGS Foundation has helped him with his recovery, and they are having a fundraiser on May 14th.

Here’s a quick link to the information for the fundraiser and the HUGS Foundation.

Also, here’s Joey’s Site.

Joey’s Current Site

Below is an email I received from my step-sister today, which lead to this post:
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Hello Family and Friends,

Every year the HUGS Foundation holds a fundraiser. The HUGS Foundation was put together for support for families who’s child has had a near drowning. Many people don’t know what a near drowning means. When a child falls in the pool, the child is either pulled out and is 100% fine, the child is pulled out and has died or the child has been pulled out and is stuck in between. Stuck in-between means the child now suffers from Brain Damage. The extent of brain damage widely varies from one child to the next. Joey is one of these children stuck in-between. He suffers from moderate brain damage. He can not crawl, walk, talk, sit-up, or function independently. Joey has great potential to crawl, walk, talk, sit-up and function independently again, although traditional therapy, in which the state pays for until he is three, is not enough to help. When Joey turns three, we will no longer get financial assistance with his therapy. Many of these children have the same potential as Joey. Non-traditional therapies help these kids the best, such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Suit Therapy, Equestrian Therapy, Vital Stim Therapy, etc., etc. These therapies however cost thousand and thousands of dollars. We have personally spent over $35,000 in a year to help Joey.

I write to you today to ask for your HELP. Many of my new friends do not have the financial help that I have been so lucky to have. The HUGS Foundation is having their annual Fundraiser to help these families get the therapies they need for their children. From the monies they raised last year, Joey received 40 sessions of HBOT. This year the HUGS Foundation wants to raise enough monies to help 4 more kids this year. If you live in the area, on May 14th at Paul’s Italian Villa they are holding their annual fundraising dinner. The cost per ticket is $15.00.

If you don’t live in the area and would like to contribute, you can send the checks to my address below made out to The HUGS Foundation, or if you, or someone you know, would like to donate items for the silent auction.

[snipped -- personal contact info]

Thank You for your support

Julie and Joey