PROUD TO SUPPORT NICO IEMMA EASTERN RECIPIENT 1ST QUARTER 2023
Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to Nico Iemma and family, our Eastern Recipient of the 1st Quarter 2023 vote.
Thank you to Brad Lockey for bringing this Cause to our attention.
The Nomination Story:
When Susan and Patrick decided to start a family, they had a vision of what life might look like with children. They did not expect the events that would occur and change their lives forever.
Nico and his twin brother Luka were born at a 1.5 lbs each at 24 weeks gestation (regular pregnancy is 40 weeks). During a long 4-month battle in the hospital, they lost their son Luka to infection. Nico continued to fight and although there were many scary moments, he made it home.
Just as the Iemma family thought they were in the clear, Nico was diagnosed with Spastic/Dystonic Cerebral Palsy – a neurological condition affecting the muscle control in his body and all 4 of his limbs. Susan left her full-time, and growing, career to do everything she could for her surviving son. Caring for a child with significant physical needs is very challenging, and very expensive, but the Iemma’s are determined to keep Nico active and involved in all the activities any developing child would enjoy.
This means absorbing the costs of wheelchairs, special swings, adapted bikes, harnesses, walkers … you name it, they figured it out. Medical Equipment that requires significant customization (due to Nico’s physical limitations) is used for recreational purposes, unfortunately, does not qualify for funding. The family struggles to continuously modify their home (indoors and outdoors) to ensure that Nico always has a means of safe transportation (adaptive vehicle, special car seats, etc....), so that Nico can access the world as a growing, active boy.
The Iemma's have paid for extra therapies and continued on their journey to provide Nico with his best life and ensure he is never left behind. Patrick and Susan had 2 more children, becoming a family of 5; and inclusive activities for the entire family is of utmost importance.
Nico surprised the world of Parasport, and his own family, when he became the 2020 Junior Athlete of The Year for the sport of Boccia. Nico started playing boccia in 2017 and has become one of the top players in Ontario, travelling to other provinces to play at the National level. This is a huge accomplishment, but with the high-level sport came more equipment costs and rental fees for practice facilities.
This family could use the help to continue their journey to keep Nico active, included, and participating in adaptive sports.
As he grows new equipment is required.
Just this year the family purchased a new powerchair to allow Nico to have more independence at home and at school. When Nico was small it was easy to carry him and run around with him in his parent's arms to allow him to access his world.
Now that he is 13, and his parents are aging, it means they need to rely more on equipment. The Iemma family is currently making plans to create an accessible yard for Nico.
Currently, Nico cannot exit the house into the backyard in a wheelchair. He would love to be able to play in the backyard with his friends and siblings. A deck with a ramp and pathways is quite expensive and the family could use some help with all the growing costs.
We would like to help this family ensure they have what they need to provide the life that any 14-year-old boy dreams off.
I went to high school with Patrick and we met at the age of 13, around Nico's age now.
Patrick is one of those guys that no one had a bad word to say about, ever.
I am proud of what he and his wife have given to Nico and their entire family.
Please enjoy meeting Nico through the attached YouTube links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UJs40BNsK0
