Albany County Correctional Facility for Children's Benefit Albany NY

Connor Menneto Reaches a Milestone Despite Pain

  
Connor Menneto age 18 Plays Varsity Baseball!

                                                                                                                          

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

Mom's update March 2011-

Hi Everyone

I wanted to drop a line to let you know all the good news.  Connor made the varsity baseball team here. He has gotten a chance to pitch and the fields here are amazing. He is having a great time. I can't help but sit in a amazement when I see him in uniform. You all made it possible and I hope seeing a picture of the amazing progress makes you all smile.  He has been accepted to a few schools and we are in the process of choosing.

 

His is an amazing story that you all had a part of creating. He continues to lead a life with pain but pain is part not his whole life.  The life is much bigger then the pain. 

 

My best to all of you

Rosemary

Big Night For 18 year old Connor Menneto a NY Yankee Fan Battling Disease....

Click on Photo for news story Link....

Keep up the Great Work Connor, your friends @ ACCFCB!

Excerpts from a previous Times Union article-

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

VIDEO Link- Connor Menneto To Receive Cleveland Clinic's COURAGE AWARD

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

Connor Menneto (17) Making Amazing Progress and The News..........‏

Uplifting Message From Connor's Mom Below-

   
Connor Menneto makes amazing Progress against CRPS  

"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

Friday January 15, 2010- 

Hi everybody,

Hope you all had a great holiday. It was a great holiday for us and January 9th went by without a problem.  January 9th was the anniversary of Connor's CRPS.  To celebrate he went snowboarding.  He bundled up and went out to enjoy.  It took him 4 days to get back to status quo but he did it. 

Connor and I are going back to Cleveland this week. The clinic is making an informational DVD and they want Connor to be a part.  The DVD will include footage from when he first went there until now.  They want to show his amazing progress. The local news in Cleveland (channel 3) also wants to interview him.  His story is one of their best successes.  Since you are all a part of his story I hope that I will be able to get a copy of the DVD and make it available if you want to see it.  Our family is so very grateful to all of you who made Connor' progress possible. Connor continues to fight everyday to get his life back and he grows stronger with every new accomplishment..  We don't want to think about where he would be if you all didn't help.  As I told the ACCFCB who were there with support, it took a village to get Connor well.  There is no way to thank everyone enough. I think of your help every time I hear Connor laugh or pound down the stairs. We know he will have to battle this disorder but where he is today is an amazing place.

We wish you all a Happy New Year

Rose Menneto

   

"Knowing you were there gave us comfort and support"- Rose Menneto (A mom's message to ACCFCB)

Connor Menneto Update 

From:	Rosemary Menneto Connor's Mom ([email protected])
Sent:	Tue 11/17/09 3:57 PM
To:	John Smith ([email protected]) ([email protected])

Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009

Hi John,

Connor is doing great. He has had a few problems.  He got the flu after the first week of school, he had problems with an irritated spinal nerve, and the last was pneumonia.  He just finished the antibiotics from the pneumonia.  The stress his body has been under seems to make him susceptible to everything but he is getting stronger.  He has missed school for these problems but not because of the CRPS.

Hillary Clinton wrote "It takes a village to raise a Child".  In Connor's case it took a community to make him well.  There is no comparison between Connor when I first talked with you and Connor now.  He is able to live with the pain he has and live the life he wants to live.  He goes to school, plays video games, lifts weights, runs, drives, and is planning for the future.  All things that were impossible for him to do when I first talked with you.  He got to this point because of the aggressive treatment he received from Dr. Appicella and Dr. Argoff.  They got Connor to the best place he could be medically before we went to Cleveland.  Our friends who worked so hard to raise money for Cleveland.  The people that donated money after they read his story in the paper.  Your organization stepping up to help.  Your offer meant that we could take Connor to Cleveland and he could stay as long as needed.  Connor worried as his stay kept prolonging about the cost.  I would tell him not to worry the Correction Officers were there if we needed them.  That safety net let Connor relax and work on his rehab. The staff at the Cleveland Clinic are amazed at how well Connor has progressed. They gave him a lot of credit for pushing forward even after he left the Clinic.  His determination to get his life back was key to him fighting through the pain. 

We still do not have the final bill from the Cleveland Clinic.  Our insurance is now paying for some of the last days of his stay.  The portion that remains may be within our families means to pay.  We will not be sure until we see the final bill.  We have been able to pay the other bills as they have come.  Our family can not thank all of you for being there for our family.   Knowing you were there gave us comfort and support.  It would be great if our insurance paid and you were able to help another family.  Even if we do not need any financial help, your organization has been an enormous help to our family.  You helped to relieve some of the stress our family was experiencing.  Please let everyone know how grateful we are to all of you. I will know soon where we stand with Cleveland.  We will keep you updated on Connor.  Thanks for all your help.

All the best,

Rose

_____________________________________________________________________________

From:	John Smith ([email protected]) ([email protected])
Sent:	11/18/09
To:	Rosemary Menneto ([email protected])
Bcc:

Hi Rose,
 
It appears based on your e-mail that the current medical issues Connor is coping with pales in comparison to the pain he previously suffered from CRPS. We are most pleased with your latest update. Thank you very much for the uplifting e-mail regarding Connor.
 
We are very thankful for your feedback regarding the "safety net" that our children's foundation gave to your family during your critical time. Your kind words go a long way with our volunteer group and shows us that we are making a small difference along the way. Your words gave me goose bumps, thank you so much for that on so many levels. It is obvious that you are a strong mom with a deep love for your son and family!
 
We are honored to be a been of your family and we will await future updates on Connor's progress.
 
Please let us know when you receive the Cleveland Children's Hospital invoice and we'll be more than happy to assist you.
 
Sincerely,
John

John R Smith, President

"Albany County Correctional Facility for Children's Benefit, Inc."

806 Huntingdon Drive

Niskayuna, NY 12309

H 518 280-4055

C 518 588-5055

www.accfcb.org