Friends of Brain Injured Children - Update from Libby

Dear Clayton

What a friend you are. The money you raised for us last year gave our funds a terrific boost. We have a few new children on our help list now, so it was most welcome.

Thank you for offering to raise some $$$ for us again this year.

The details you need are:
Commonwealth Bank
Account: 00903646
BSB: 062902

Address is

Friends of Brain Injured Children ACT Inc
c/- SHOUT Office
PO Box 717
Mawson ACT 2607

We have had a few good changes this year. Three new babies have come into the group. This will allow an early start on their intensive therapy programs. We hope this will help them make great progress. One of our lovely girls has reached 18 and moved out of the group. She has a terrific future ahead of her, disability free, I believe.

The other children are growing well. Some have made significant progress. All the others are more healthier and have less pain.

One of our little boys has been a pioneer with stem cell therapy, helped a little by our funds. we are really intersted in his progress. In four months his dribbling has stopped (this is often a problem for children with poor muscle tone), he is much stronger and can push himself upright in his chair, and has had his first winter without infections.

The kids had the best Christmas party ever. A really great Santa brought gifts for all, a choir sang and we had two magicians. The kids loved it. We get help with the costs, so our own money can go completely for children's therapy.

Our grant has been increased to $7,500 (not big bikkies, I know) for admin and we've increased our office administrator's hours from 4 a week to 8. This has proved a real help as we are now able to visit the local maternity hospitals and give the staff information about how we can help children brain injured at birth. We are also talking to pediatricians and special schools to see if there are other children and parents we can help.

Of course, the more successful we are at finding children with brain injuries the more we need to help pay for their therapies.

Thanks for offering some more help for the kids. It is really encouraging to our efforts.

Keep in touch, on my new email, though.

Have a fun run.

Cheers
Libby