Holy Family School prays, holds fundraiser for one of its fourth-graders
By Tami S. Scott, Associate editor
Teresa Thomson calls her granddaughter a “spitfire,” full of energy, smiles and laughter, and a helper in the kitchen who loves to bake with her grandma. Thomson’s voice broke as she described her grandbaby, Mia, a 9-year-old fourth grader at Holy Family School in Fairmount.
Thomson and her husband, Lynn, were at the school the morning of Nov. 22, along with Carl and Nancy Verzillo, Mia’s other grandparents, and her aunt Kara and uncle Tom Verzillo. Faculty, staff and students from pre-K through sixth grade participated in a “Marathon for Mia,” wearing purple while walking and running laps in the gymnasium to raise support and funds for their schoolmate.
Principal Daryl Hall (third from left) and staff and faculty members wear their special purple shirts for Mia.
Mia was recently diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, a rare genetic condition that causes ammonia to build up in the blood. According to a GoFundMe page set up to help the family, Mia was healthy and energetic until suddenly falling ill on Aug. 15. High ammonia levels resulted in severe seizures. She was placed in an induced coma and put on a ventilator and dialysis machine.
“It’s been a very difficult road,” said Tom Verzillo. “Three solid months.”
Brain damage has affected her ability to communicate, but she can hear and understand. She is slowly relearning how to use her hands and feet and how to speak.
Mia and her parents are currently in Westchester where she is receiving treatment, but family members hope they can return to Golisano soon.
“Mia has been a part of our school community for quite a while,” said Father John Manno, pastor of Holy Family Church. “She’s a great kid, and I know she misses being here. I know the family is videotaping [the marathon] so they can show her and show Mom and Dad … hopefully this gives her a little boost and lets her know that everybody here at Holy Family — her family — is praying for her. We can’t wait to get her back here very, very soon.”
Holy Family School Principal Daryl Hall said the school prays for Mia every day during morning announcements. Shirts were sold as part of the marathon fundraiser, and donations for the family are being accepted at the school’s main office and the church.
If you’d like to donate to the GoFundMe page, visit www.gofundme.com and enter “Support Mia’s Fight Against OTC Deficiency” in the search field.
