"The harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph." - Swami Sivananda
We have all hoped for a second chance in our lives. Another try at a relationship or fixing a mistake we made. For Isaiah Custodio, a teenager from South Carolina, his second chance came in the form of surviving a brain aneurysm.
"Isaiah is a miracle!" His mom Christina admits.
She knows more than anyone how fortunate the family is. Isaiah's second chance came at a cost though. After a long rehabilitation process he managed to learn to talk and walk again although now he suffers from Aphasia and struggles to communicate verbally the way he wants. This is especially painful for Isaiah who loves to sing, tell jokes and talk to anyone he meets. He also still doesn't have full function of the right side of his body, especially his hand.
Despite this Isaiah exudes kindness, love and joy. Most of us walk around never smiling, so stressed by everyday life that we are consumed by our own perceived misfortune. Isaiah has been through such pain and he still chooses to treat everyday with an optimistic outlook. Not a sappy Broadway musical optimism but a true unfiltered happiness that anyone who has met him can attest to.
As I ate lunch with the Custodio's, Christina, Isaiah's dad Ozzy, his sisters Olivia and Abrianna, I could feel their love for each other. It's the love of a family that has been through a tragedy and became stronger because of it. When an event so random and devastating happens it's family that helps us get through it.
The family has had to make many sacrifices to pay for Isaiah's on-going treatment, most of which is not covered by their insurance. Christina had a successful photography business that has been put on hold as she takes care of her son night and day. "I love being home with Isaiah", she tells me. Despite this they admit this has taken a financial toll on the family. As medical costs mount up the family remains as close as ever, their commitment to each other only strengthening with each new challenge.
Isaiah has always chosen to help others over himself. He volunteers at soup kitchens, is a Big Brother and plays his trumpet for elderly people. Why a person this giving has to overcome something so difficult can be hard to accept. Now Isaiah's hope for a normal life lies in the advance therapy in California he desperately needs. If he can't raise the money he may never be able to live the full life he deserves.
This is where YOU come in. In a partnership with LittleThings and GoFundMe I searched out people who were in need of immediate help. People like Isaiah who brings nothing but joy everywhere he goes. So now it's your turn, please watch the video BIG DREAMS: ISAIAH and help this family. I am personally asking for your help to Isaiah Get The Treatment He Needs.
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