Brittany was born a normal child who reached all her milestones early in life. She started out life as normal as any other child teething, crawling, talking, walking, a happy little girl. After she turned three she started to become hyper active. At this time she also started forgetting alot of things she already learnt in her three short years. She also became clumsy and then began experiencing seizures in early December 1994.
Her parents brought her to numerous specialists to see what was wrong with their little girl. Going through different tests and procedures to find out what it was that she had. At first doctors thought she may have epilepsy or some other illness. It wasn’t until after a skin and nerve biopsy that the doctors concluded that it was something much more serious. Britt may have Batten Disease. They ran numerous tests, spinal tap, nerve and skin biopsies. Her parents were explained the complexity of the illness and asked the doctor to do whatever it took to help their little girl. The doctor diagnosed Britt with having late infantile variant form of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (NCL) also commonly known as Batten Disease. in March 1995. He told the family that her life expectancy would be to the age of 8-12 years old. As hard as this was on Brittany it was just as hard on the family to accept the fact that their little girl had this incurable illness. To have to accept things that they could not change was devastating for her parents. But in her short years they have found that she has taught them alot more than they have taught her.
Brittany had a tube inserted so that she could be fed in 1997 and from that point on her mother has made her own meals and pureed and liquefied all that Brittany consumes. She is not experiencing pain at this time and goes to school three times a week for half day sessions. She has a one on one worker at school and a nurse who accompanies her. She is also on several anticonvulsant drugs to help her with her seizures. Her medications consist of, tranxene 3 capsules 3 X a day, nitrazapam 2 tablets 2 X a day, and 3 cc of depkane twice a day.
Brittany was granted a wish by the Make a Wish foundation of Canada. She went to see Mickey Mouse in Florida, and her favorite was Barney. Brittany was accompanied by her mom, dad, brother and grandmother and grandfather. A fun time was had by all, and most importantly Brittany got to meet Barney.
Brittany has many school friends in grade 2 and at recess all her classmates want to push her in the wheel chair. Making Britt smile and smile, knowing how much they care. The disease has taken away her ability to walk, has deteriorated her speech to non verbal sounds. But nothing can take away this courageous little girls smile, and her ability to make others smile as well. Her mother gets her ready day to day as she is unable to even dress herself. Through the aid of a home worker (Teresa) who works with Brittany regularly , she is able to enjoy making crafts. She spends weekends with her grandmother and gives her mom time to spend with her younger brother Jared. Gramma also makes all of Brittany’s food and purées them so it can be fed through her tubing. She likes to listen to Teresa read story books to her and to the top 40 on the pop charts. Her favorites are Brittney Spears, Spice girls. and most of the upbeat sounds the teens listen to today. She is older sister to Jared who is 5 and lives at home with her mom Eadie and dad Tony, also their Silky Yorkie Terrier Lucky.
Brittany is the light of her parents eyes along with her brother Jared. Despite her condition, it has made her family stronger within. Her family is blessed with a pretty little angel who is different and very special in every way. Brittany’s parents remain optimistic that a miracle cure will one day be found. The love that surrounds this little 7 year old girl is enormous. Please help in keeping her days bright. Take a few minutes of your time and send her a card or letter, maybe even a little gift. She will most certainly appreciate your efforts and the feeling within you knowing how you helped her keep on smiling will be irreplaceable.
Brittany lost her fight with Battens on October 31 2002 and will be remembered
always by her family and friends, as well as all her internet family and
the many who cared enough to send her numerous cards and gifts. Thank you
all for caring.