Chris and I went to school with Charlie and Kelly Butler at Cincinnati Christian University. Though we weren’t close friends with them, it was a small enough school that everyone pretty much knew and was friends with everyone. The Butler family has experienced a lot of heartache in the past few years, and we have been following along with them and their story. There is an opportunity for them to be recipients of an Extreme Home Makeover, and I ask that you please take a few minutes to read their story below, and send an email on their behalf.
Meet the Butlers
Kelly and Charlie Butler are the proud parents of Brooklyn and Boston. A beautiful family of 4 that has had more than their fair share of heartache. Brooklyn is 4 years old and is cute as a button, always smiling. Just before her second birthday the Butlers were hit with some devastating news, Brooklyn was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome. Rett Syndrome is a severe neurological disorder that takes seemingly healthy little girls and robs them of their ability to walk, talk or use their hands. They require 24 hour care for the rest of their lives. Kelly refused to let the diagnosis of her daughter break her, she started looking for ways to get involved with finding a cure and is currently working for a non-profit called Girl Power 2 Cure raising funds for Rett Syndrome research. She works tirelessly for her daughter and the thousands of girls with Rett Syndrome and does it all with a smile.
Last May disease struck the Butler household again when Charlie was diagnosed with Behcets Disease, a multisystemic disease that affects almost every organ in the body. Again, Kelly and Charlie took the diagnosis in stride, believing that things would look up.
They were pregnant at the time and were looking forward to welcoming another blessing into their household. That blessing came sooner than they had expected when complications arose and Kelly gave birth to a son named Boston on September 12, 2009 - 10 weeks early. Boston weighed in at 2 pounds, 3 ounces. Charlie and Kelly joyously welcomed their sweet preemie into the world thanking God for his blessings.
Boston spent 10 weeks in the NICU where he went through a rollercoaster of tests, procedures, and complications, including NEC (Necrotizing Enterocolitis) – a life threatening condition for preemie’s. Just when things were starting to look up the Butlers were hit with more hard news - Boston was diagnosed with Down Syndrome.
Imagine, 3 incurable, rare diagnoses in 1 family would just about crush most of us but the Butlers continue to stand gracefully. Charlie and Kelly are now juggling therapy, doctors and specialists for both their children. You can follow their stories at: www.bostonclarkbutler.blogspot.com and www.brooklynbutler.blogspot.com
I have been following the happenings of the Butler family for about 2 years now and continue to be inspired by Kelly. Though any one of these things could easily crush a person’s spirit, she has managed to maintain her optimism and faith, and delights in the same things as any other parent: time with her family, the smiles of her children, and the progress of their development.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition would help the Butler’s tremendously. Their home is not handicapped accessible and though Brooklyn is currently confined to a chair, she will soon be moving to a wheel chair. Additionally, Kelly works for the non-profit organization girlpower2cure which raises money to help find a cure for Rett Syndrome. Her old office has been turned into a nursery, and she is currently working out of a closet. Furthermore, Charlie’s prognosis regarding the Behcets Syndrome is unknown. He currently experiences daily chronic pain, and it can progress to a crippling disease, even leading to blindness. It would be so helpful to this family to receive a home makeover that would meet their needs, help their lives to be just a little less stressful, and be of no cost to them. Every time that I read Kelly’s blogs I want to do something to help, and this is an easy thing to do that could help them out.
Please take 5 minutes to send an email on behalf of the Butler family. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is looking for a family in Indiana, so please include that they live in Angola, IN, 46703. You can email your letters to kristinsmith8405@yahoo.com (Kelly’s sister) or directly to the show at castindiana@gmail.com. (It might be a good idea to send it to both places.) Unfortunately the deadline is TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 10, so please take a minute to write an email today.
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