“Brittany seemed healthy when she was born in 1996, the
fourth child of Rochelle and Art Chieze. But her parents began to worry when
she was slow to start walking, and fell down frequently as a preschooler,”
reports the Edmond Sun. After repeated trips to a number of medical centers in
Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Cleveland, she was diagnosed with spinal muscular
atrophy, a genetic condition that inhibits the control of muscle movement and
limits her to a wheelchair.
“Brittany’s muscles continued to atrophy and, by age 8, when she was in third grade, she began to lose her ability to get around.”
“Brittany’s muscles continued to atrophy and, by age 8, when she was in third grade, she began to lose her ability to get around.”
Mrs. Chieze admits she panicked at first when she learned
her daughter had been placed on Shenango High’s Homecoming ballot.
“I started thinking about the germs from being around so
many people and how tired this would make her,” Rochelle said. “Even though she
was thrilled — we all were — I went back and forth. I thought maybe we should
say no.”
But Brittany, wise well beyond her 17 years, knew what she
needed to do.
“Let me live, mom,” Brittany said resolutely.
And so it was that Brittany was able to spend two days that
may turn out to be the most beautiful of her life — days that also likely will
rank among the most beautiful of everyone’s lives who were lucky enough to be a
part of it.
Brittany has not been able to attend High School since a debilitating
neuromuscular disease left her fighting for her life three years ago.
But members of the school’s student body never forgot about
the beautiful brunette who lights up a room with her smile, rallying around her
during what would have been her senior year of school — first voting her onto
Homecoming court, then showing their selflessness by naming her queen.
She was crowned during an emotional ceremony at halftime of
Friday’s game against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, then reigned at Saturday’s
Homecoming Dance.
Please Share Her Story!
