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Making Brain Injury Nothing More Than a Bad Memory
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Making Brain Injury Nothing More Than a Bad Memory
Holton’s Heroes, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity, provides support, information and rehabilitative devices for children and their families affected by a post-birth brain injury.
We are Holton's Heroes, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping pediatric brain injury survivors get the tools they need to succeed in recovery.
New Hoodies for kids up to 12 years old!
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Holton's Heroes serves the community at large by connecting children who have suffered a life-threatening, post-birth brain injury with therapeutic tools and devices, enriching activities, educational information and resources for them and their loved ones.
While navigating the labyrinthine complexities of the U.S. insurance system, Holton's parents faced relentless obstacles in securing the crucial assistance their son urgently required. Hindered by disconnected policies, elusive insurance agents, and an unfortunate amount of unmotivated government workers, their journey was a challenging one.
In creating Holton's Heroes, Eric and Angela Weingrad aspire to provide essential support to children and their families, equipping them with the necessary resources to enhance both physical and emotional development, along with an improved quality of life. Holton's Heroes stands as an unwavering beacon for families grappling with the aftermath of brain injuries, assuring them that they are not solitary warriors in this struggle. This very principle propels our mission forward.
When tragedy struck our family there was nothing anyone could do or say to make us feel better. The only thing that mattered was our son’s complete and ultimate recovery.
As days went by I began a Facebook page called The Incredible Holt – Road to Recovery. I vented, screamed and cried online but mostly, I documented every painful moment of this gut-wrenching experience. I didn’t know why I felt so compelled to let everyone in on my family’s darkest days, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I made during those first few weeks.
It was there that an eclectic gathering of family, friends and mostly strangers began to lift us up. The more I wrote, the more people seemed to care. In our misery we would turn to this special community to try to make sense of what seemed eternally senseless. People sent us food, donated money and delivered countless messages of love and compassion. In a sea of misfortune we found what we needed most – hope.
What happened to our son will never make sense, but what transpired in this community inspired us and catapulted us forward in life. What seemed unbearable became manageable; what appeared like a curse became good fortune; and a world that once felt heartless was suddenly full of love. Now it is our turn to give back to that same community.
We’ve set up Holton’s Heroes to help families turn the corner when their child suffers a life-altering brain injury. Through information, resources and tangible therapy tools our mission is to supply practical assistance to families in need.
We will never be able to replace what any child has lost but we can certainly try to make their lives a little easier.
Sincerely,
Eric Weingrad, Holton's Father & Founder
“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. ”
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
THE INCREDIBLE HOLT
THE INCREDIBLE HOLT
How An Infant Inspired the World Around Him
Holton Cam Weingrad was born on October 1, 2014. In spite of being born five weeks premature and spending six days in the NICU, Holt came home perfectly healthy to his parents, Eric and Angela, and big sister Stella. For the Weingrads the addition of Holt made their family complete.
“After Holton was born, life really felt amazing. We had the set – a boy and a girl.”
It was Friday, December 19, 2014, eleven weeks after the birth of little Holt. Although the Weingrads didn't know it at the time, their lives were about to drastically change forever.
It was around 11:45 in the morning and Angela had just finished breastfeeding her seemingly very thirsty newborn. Little Holt fell asleep in his mommy's arms so she gently handed him over to the family's nanny, who had been watching over their daughter for the previous year and a half. Angela and Eric quietly snuck out to run one final errand before their two-week holiday staycation: they needed to return one of Holton's PJ outfits and buy their nanny some Christmas gifts before she began her two-week paid vacation.
About forty minutes after leaving their perfectly content and well-fed infant in the arms of their once-trusted caretaker, the Weingrads received the worst call imaginable. Holton was being rushed to the hospital because he had stopped breathing. That’s all they were told – and not by the nanny.
When they arrived at the ER they found Holton in pain and suffering seizures from a cracked skull. His eyes were rolled back and he was making strange guttural sounds. It was horrifying. His seizures were so unrelenting, eleven-week-old Holton was placed in a medically induced coma for the next three weeks until the seizures were finally brought under control.
The family spent months in and out of the hospital as Holton had suffered both a traumatic and anoxic brain injury that day. The cause of his injury remains a mystery since the case is still working its way through the court system, but the Weingrads have little doubt that the nanny fabricated her version of events that led to their son's severe head trauma. Of the many different versions of the story she told over time, Holton's doctors determined that none properly explained his severe injuries. At this point, the only truth that matters is – whatever she did – she destroyed this poor boy and his family in mere minutes.
“Over the next few months Holton’s brain shrunk to a third of its normal size. The extra space was filled with fluid after the tissue just simply died and – poof – disappeared.”
At fourteen months of age Holton has not reached any of the typical milestones such as sitting up, grabbing or crawling. Even tracking an object with his eyes is something he struggles with due to the damage to his visual cortex. Recently, surgeons implanted a feeding tube so Holt can keep his weight up as he struggled with latching and eating properly. Even though doctors were able to stop his seizures initially, they have since returned and occur between three and ten times a day.
Life is hard for Holton and his family but he’s showing improvement. Holt's parents learned that his progress cannot simply be measured against other kids his age as he’s on his own course with the same end goal. Even with all the odds stacked against little Holt his parents are hopeful, proud and most importantly, happy. They will not let their son’s disability define him – or them.
After not breathing for an unknown amount of time, Holton deserves to be praised for his sheer will to live and uncompromisable inner strength – and that’s exactly what the Holton's Heroes charity will do in perpetuity.
Holton's story is just beginning. He's already inspired thousands of people during his short time on this planet. What started as a Facebook page designed to update family and friends about Holt's condition became a movement. People have become connected and invested in his recovery. They have fallen in love with someone who could easily be their son, or nephew or grandchild.
“I believe Holton is considered family to many of his followers because of this indescribable, special bond he’s made with people from every corner of the planet. He’s truly an incredible boy.”
And it is with that attitude and spirit that Holton's Heroes was created. As Holton and his family do their best to overcome their son's brain injury, they want to help other families that are dealing with the same daily struggles. They realize the only reason they are still moving forward today is because of the support and love they've received from thousands of complete strangers.
It's time to pass that on. It's time to be incredible.
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
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“The world is divided into two classes, those who believe in the incredible, and those who do the improbable.”
Or mail donations to:
Holton's Heroes
PO Box 11173
Marina del Rey, CA 90295
💚🧡 #BEINCREDIBLE
Please note that PayPal does not allow to donors to donate "In Memory of" or "In Honor of" someone. To do that you must donate via our site directly.