It’s Rae Singleton’s 8th birthday – one his doctors thought he’d never see.
“He was sick when he was born, and it just got missed, and when he was 13 days old he was re-admitted to the hospital,” says his grandmother and legal guardian, Sue Bozart. “And we weren’t so sure that he was leave the hospital. But he came home a month later, he has done fantastic.”
Rae is paralyzed, and he has cerebral palsy.
He requires 24-hour medical care. His grandmother is building an addition to her home to accomodate his wheelchair and other medical supplies.
To help offset the huge loan she’s taken, they held their first fundraiser — Super Bingo at Alert Fire Company in Manchester Twp., York County.
“We picked today because it was his birthday, but this is enough to make you cry,” says Bozart. “It’s wonderful to see all this support because up until now we have never done a fundraiser.”
Hundreds turned out for the event, and Rae had three giant birthday cakes to feed them.
The new addition will cost more than $100,000 because of its handicap-accesibility. It will have a new therapy area for Rae, and a wheelchair lift required as he grows. His family will hold more fundraisers in the future. If you want to help, you can also donate at to his account at People’s Bank in Leaders Heights, York County, under his name, Rae Singleton.
“He just shows you what resilience is,” says one of his nurses, Terri Kronmeyer. “And just smiles when you know he doesn’t feel well. I know I’m not like that so just… He’s special. If anyone knew Rae, he would be their hero. Like he is mine.”