Art With a Heart - December 2006
Katyana Bready
The recipient of our December Art with a Heart package was Katyana Bready, a three-year-old with cerebral palsy being treated at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Despite daily medical challenges, her family is committed to giving her a life without limitations. Their positive attitude and relentless effort to help their daughter inspired Hillary Prather, social worker at the Aaron W. Perlman Center / United Cerebral Palsy, to nominate the Casey-Bready family to receive our monthly complimentary gift package for children with serious medical issues.
Prather explained, "When I read about the Art with a Heart project, Katyana and her family immediately came to my mind. Both parents are so involved and go above and beyond the norm to make life as easy as possible. Katyana requires very involved care from her family. They deserved to have some fun as a family on a special outing. Katyana's brother, Kavon, loves the arts and is a great big brother to her. He deserves a treat, too."
The Casey-Bready family enjoyed the production of Rudolph performed by the Children's Theatre of Cincinnati, followed by dinner at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse. According to Kavonda Casey, Katyana's mother, both of her children had a fantastic time. She says, "They loved everything! Katyana was laughing so hard when the elves ran off the stage into the audience. Kavon's favorite part was when all the characters danced and sang together."
Katyana has been visiting Cincinnati Children's since she was seven months old, and is now enrolled three days each week in the the Perlman Center's preschool program for children with disabilities. Kavonda feels fortunate to have her at a place where she can feel comfortable, be around other children with similar challenges, and receive specialized care.
The inspiration behind Prather's nomination of the Casey-Bready family is obvious in Kavonda's advice for other families of children with disabilities. She says, "Let your children live as much as possible. Get out and let them enjoy things. Do whatever you can with them while you have them with you."
