Branyon family medically complex great hearts online digital learning

This mail is adapted from a letter that LaVernia parent Kristin Branyon wrote to abet for funding digital learning in 2021–2022 school year for her medically complex children and all families in their state of affairs. For context, run across the main postal service, "Texas Needs to Be in the Top Tier Amidst States for Digital Learning," Jonathan R. and Mariah 50. Hornok,San Antonio Charter Moms, July 19, 2021.

My proper name is Kristin Branyon and I am a certified teacher too as a mom of iv. I am writing this regarding funding for online charter schools, specifically Swell Hearts Online. The reason that nosotros are so desperate to transport our children to the online campus for Great Hearts is considering we really take no other options. You see, I have a son who is handicapped, equally well as two other children who are medically complex.

Our story is a crazy one, so delight acquit with me as I give you lot our history. In 2009, at the age of half-dozen months, my son Luke was diagnosed with CVID, which ways he has no immune system, no fighter cells and nearly chiefly no retentiveness cells, which means that every sickness, virus, etc., is brand new to his niggling body every fourth dimension. At the age of ane year he started receiving IVIG treatments every month. Then, in 2022 he got very, very sick. He was dying and we couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. Through extensive testing and lung biopsies, he was finally diagnosed with GLILD (Granulomas Interstitial Lung Illness). It was unheard of for a child to be diagnosed at the historic period of five, equally most people are diagnosed at the age of 15–20 and have a life expectancy of 15–20 years. Currently, through constant chemo treatments and IVIG treatments, past the grace of God, he is now in "remission" although his disease will never go away, and eventually the granulomas will start growing again. For these reasons, he has to be homeschooled. Our other iii children as well have to exist homeschooled because nosotros can't take the chance of them bringing home something that could ultimately kill Luke.

In the past year, my other two children were diagnosed with profound dyslexia, my 6 year old has also adult CVID because his allowed organization has also quit working, and my oldest son became Blazon 1 diabetic subsequently contracting COVID. To say that nosotros are a medically challenged family is an understatement.

God knows I accept tried my all-time to homeschool my children to the all-time of my abilities, but with all the doctor appointments we have to exist at as well every bit our fiscal limitations due to medical expenses, information technology has proven to be near impossible. I know that I accept non been able to provide my children the education that they deserve, but we honestly had no other options. Equally a teacher and mother, this is devastating. Nosotros discovered Cracking Hearts Online last twelvemonth and it was an answered prayer. The charter school has an amazing special needs department so my children with dyslexia would be receiving the best intervention under the circumstances, also as therapy options to aid my son Luke deal with his medical trauma. My children would finally be ale to attend classes with their peers and I honestly cried tears of joy. At that place was FINALLY a identify for my medically challenged children to fit. They FINALLY had the chance to be "normal."

Imagine my complete and full destruction upon hearing that funding for Bully Hearts Online had been stripped. The current of air was completely knocked out of the states. Nosotros are back to square one. My handicapped child and his medically challenged siblings don't belong anymore. There is no place for children such every bit mine, and believe me there are more of us.

Every bit a female parent of a handicapped kid and medically complex children, through no fault of their own, as well equally an educator, I am asking that funding for Not bad Hearts Online be reinstated. Please I beg you to give my children a home among their peers. Delight I beg you to assist me requite them the teaching they deserve. Not just for my medically challenged children, but for all of us moms and dads of medically challenged children.

Thank you, Ron, Kristin, James, Luke, Owen, and Emily Branyon

For context almost Kristin Branyon'south letter advocating for digital learning for her medically complex children, see the primary mail, "Texas Needs to Be in the Top Tier Amongst States for Digital Learning," Jonathan R. and Mariah L. Hornok,San Antonio Charter Moms, July 19, 2021.