September 27, 2010-- (Bethany, OK)--- Fletcher Burns is pretty much nobility to anyone who's familiar with The Children's Center."He's so POPular!" his sister, Maddie, giggles as she's dotes on her 5-year-old brother, a patient at the Center for most of his life.
All it takes is one little hand motion beckoning one to come over to his bed and he's got any passerby hooked. Staff members, turned loyal subjects, respond to his every desire, not because they have to, but because he knows how to turn on the royal charm in an instant. "He has thrived here," said Denise Burns, Fletcher's mother. "He's been spoiled." No doubt about it, Fletcher has stood out since the day he arrived.
Born with epidermal nevus syndrome, a rare skin disorder characterized by distinctive birth marks on the skin, Fletcher's appearance is very different than most kids'. He requires a ventilator to breathe and his body is much smaller than typically-developing children his same age.
It is Fletcher's striking appearance that made Denise nervous about taking her child from the "safety" of the Center into the public from the very beginning. "We've had some horrible reactions," she said. Recently, she's had a change of heart, but it took some convincing. When Mindy Cash, one of the Center's special education teachers, first brought up the idea of Fletcher attending public school, Denise answered with a firm, "absolutely not."
But after the Center's nurse practitioner, Julie Hale-Langmacher and medical director, Darin Brannan, M.D., brought up the benefits of attending school again, Denise and her husband, Craig, discussed the idea seriously. "He (Craig) looked at it appropriately and asked, 'What do we want for Fletcher? What do we want for his future? He deserves to go to school and learn.' And so, I had to trust that, and it's been an amazing experience."
In the autumn of 2010, Fletcher attended his first class at Bethany Public Schools...a milestone made possible through expertise and cooperation of the Center's medical, education and social services staffs who are dedicated to maximizing the potential of every patient at the Center. The communications team helped make the transition easier by preparing a video (hosted by Maddie) that introduced Fletcher to his future classmates before his arrival. "When one boy saw Fletcher the first time, he stopped and said, 'Whoa!' Then I introduced him to Fletcher and he paused and said, 'Welcome to Bethany!" Thanks to compassionate preparation, Denise says acceptance at Fletcher's new school has been amazing. "It's been a wonderful experience," she said.
The Center's little prince now holds court in two kingdoms.
Loading...
5:05
Hope TV-Jasmine's Second Chanceby TCCHopeTV2,492 views
@gemraven88 if you'd like, you can email me for more personal conversation so it's not all over YouTube, ms.jmar@gmail.com look forward to hearing from you.
MsJmar 2 months ago
@MsJmar I know there isn't much about and I have it
gemraven88 2 months ago
@gemraven88 do you know of someone with this syndrome? Not much is found online
MsJmar 2 months ago
I am still looking... :-) just want people's outlooks and what to expect, things to know... Whichever
MsJmar 2 months ago
@MsJmar Are you still looking for someone with this syndrome?
gemraven88 2 months ago
If anyone has any more information on this syndrome please let me know, it is hard to find people with this, my nephew has this. It is not as severe as this little boy but it is still early, he is only 2.
MsJmar 8 months ago
i love fletcher hee goes to my old school,and hes my freinds cousin,hes so cute
armymedic98 8 months ago
Maddie you are awesome! My special needs daughter has a wonderful big sister like you! I think God made you guys especially for them. God Bless you all.
annamarieb60 9 months ago
He is a very brave litlle man!! With a sister like her, he will go far!
groovysherrie65 1 year ago
An awesome video of a very special family :-)
austinjgale 1 year ago