Fulton and Teddy Mantoan are two of my grandsons. Fulton is 7 and Teddy is 5. They both have Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). SMA is a degenerative neuromuscular disease equivalent to ALS in adults. Their parents are our daughter Kelly and her husband Tony Mantoan. They have three other older children, another boy and two girls. As parents they obviously have their hands full with two children with special needs along with their other three. Fulton and Teddy require complete care from feeding to all personal hygiene around the clock. Even though the older children are a tremendous help in caring for them, it is a never ending labor of love for all to care for the two younger boys.
Fulton and Teddy both have power wheelchairs that are a great help in letting them get around most of the time by themselves. Kelly and Tony had to get a custom van with a wheelchair lift that is required for them to travel as a family. Their home had to have special work done to accommodate the boys in their power chairs (ramps and wider doorways). Some of their expenses are covered by insurance or governmental aid, but there are many necessities that are not. And that is what this benefit performance is all about. We simply ask that in attending this performance you try to imagine what it would be like to be in Kelly and Tony’s shoes facing the continuing expenses and unexpected future expenses they will be incurring. As Fulton and Teddy’s grandfather, I am doing this performance in the hope that you will give a donation to help Kelly and Tony in their continuous care of my grandsons with SMA. Thank you.