We congratulate Maia Santoro on a wonderful job!! Maia along with everyone at Tina Marie's dance academy performed to raise much needed funds for Albany County Correctional Facility for Children's Benefit's seriously ill children (www.accfcb.org). Maia's video is a wonderful example of the talent that was on display January 27, 2012, at Voorheesville,(NY) High School Performing Arts Center. A Job well done by all involved!!! With Sincerely Appreciation, John R Smith, President
Exclusive Video of Buddy age 14 Flying Helicopter (Video by Altair Roland)
Video sample highlights from our 6th Annual "Teed Off For Tots" event below. Check back for photos soon too!
We take this opportunity to say a very BIG THANK YOU to all of our sponsors, donors and participants of Albany County Correctional Facility for Children's Benefits 6th Annual "Teed Off For Tots" golf event held on Friday, June 25, 2010 at the Fairways of Halfmoon golf course to support seriously ill children around Albany, New York's Capital Region.
The highlight was when our "Courage Award" recipient- Buddy LaFontaine age 14, went for a surprise helicopter ride to make his "Dream Come true" of flying a helicopter! Buddy wants to be a pilot when he grows. Our very special Thanks to Mr. Bruce Tanski, owner of Fairways of Halfmoon for arranging the helicopter to land at the golf course so Buddy could fly the helicopter! We were honored to have Mr. Parker Bohn III, Pro Bowlers Assoc Hall of Famer in attendance at this years very successful event.
Buddy looks forward to co-piloting Attorney Terry Kindlon's Cessna one day soon at the Selkirk airfield. We will keep you posted!
Helicopter arrives at Teed Off For Tots event 2010
Buddy LaFontaine watches Helicopter land June 24, 2010 at Golf Course
John Smith Talks with Buddy LaFontaine after Buddy touches Down
Hall of Fame Bowler, Parker Bohn III meets Baby Aiden Torres at Teed Off For Tots June 25, 2010
Olivia Howlan, age 7 Sings "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus to end our Teed Off For Tots golf event
At the age of 8, Hunter complained of leg pain which doctors diagnosed as Bi-Lateral Legg-Calve Perthes Disease- (a rare disease that causes bone death in the ball of both hips due to a lack of blood flow). He went from being a very active child to confinement in a wheelchair.
Hunter had surgery in January 2007 and spent 5 months recovering @ Sinai Hosp in Baltimore, Maryland. He was finally able to come home in May to face a year long extensive Physical Therapy regiment.
On July 6, 2007, Hunter received the Albany County Correctional Facility for Children's Benefit's "Courage Award" at our 3rd annual "TEED OFF FOR TOT'S" Golf Classic Event. The award highlighted the tremendous courage Hunter displayed during his long ordeal and was well DESERVED!
The following is an UPDATE from Hunter's mom Noelle (2010):
Hi John (Smith),
The last year has been rough for Hunter with his pain getting worse and worse.
In May 2010 Hunter is scheduled for his 1st of 4 surgeries to take place approx. over the next three years.
Hunter's femoral head on the right is wide and flat and has outgrown the acetabulum. His acetabulum has taken on a flat shape also. Not good. They are going to cut down and resurface the femoral head. He has no femoral neck on the right and very little on the left.
They are going to move the greater trochanter down and make a femoral neck for him. 2 screws to reattach the greater trochanter (which come out later) and One support screw up the new neck they make him, which is permanent .
It's an 8 hour surgery. Much longer than fixators but easier recovery (we pray). 2-3 weeks (HOPEFULLY) in Baltimore and 3 months recovery at home with Full time Physical therapy. He will have a brace and crutches.
Without Hunter's 1st fixator surgery in 2007, this one would not be possible.
Hunter was able to play 2 years of baseball and pitched last year.
We were blessed with the Nassau Baseball Assoc. and His coach Brett Doty who worked with Hunter's Limitations to give him the best playing experience he could have.
Hunter is OK with all of it. He just wants the pain to go away. Sorry I couldn't update you with great news but I am certain one day I will send you an email that says he is all done, mostly pain free and walking well.
The Cleveland Clinic recognizes 3 children every year out of the thousands they treat with their Courage Award- This year Connor has won the award! It is the first time someone treated in the pain program will be recognized. He will receive this HUGE honor at a black tie gala in Cleveland in April, 2010.
Cleveland Clinic: Pain clinic last resort for children
CLEVELAND -- Most of us have experienced physical pain but imagine it being so intense you can hardly move or be touched. That's life for some teenagers at the Cleveland Clinic Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program. Click to view Connor's Channel 3 News Interview- Cleveland Clinic
ACCFCB takes this opportunity to CONGRATULATE Connor, this courage award is absolutely EARNED! Keep up your tremendous effort and please share photos with us of your Courage Award so we can post it here on our website. Sincerely, John Smith- President
(E-mail Tue 3/02/10 10:32 PM)-
Hi John (Smith), Please share with your group Connor's honors. They are a very important part of his story. Connor finds the courage everyday to get up and live knowing he will be in pain and that the CRPS is spreading but more importantly that he has people that believe he can get beyond that. He knows there are people that believe he is more than his diagnosis. I can not tell you how much it helped him and I do know we had your support. When it comes to illness and children, miracles can happen with the help of caring people.
Thank you
The Menneto Family
Connor Suffers with "CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), first discovered in the Civil War, is still barely understood. But it's known to come about after multiple injuries to an extremity -- such as the breaks in Connor's leg.
Like the phantom sensations experienced by an amputee, the disease causes the brain to send out pain signals for trauma that doesn't exist. And the pain is far worse than any trauma might be." Times Union Staff Writer ALAN WECHSLER
