UPDATE: That’s all she wrote! WNY is so generous and kind and once again this community has stepped up to help! Anastasia raised the $2500 and will get her specialized bike! This will bring her so much joy! Anastasia’s mom, Lene’e Gray told me she is incredibly grateful for this outpouring of love and support, “I don’t even know what to say. I’m at a loss for words,” Lene’e said, “I never wanted anyone to donate money, just wanted votes, but people donated anyways. And then more people donated. Then people kept sharing and sharing asking, writing articles, pleading for people to donate any little amount. I couldn’t help but be excited, not for just the bike, but for how much people really care and love Ana. Then I started to imagine her excitement riding around on her bike and it gave me butterflies. She’s been through so much. She’s made great strides, but Ana also struggles every day with pain, anxiety, sleep and just being happy. She spends many hours of the day crying, but being outside and being pushed around in her wheelchair brings her joy and it may be just a bike to some, but this is a life changer for our family. We will forever be grateful.”
To top it all off – today is Lene’e’s birthday! What a gift. What a gift.
We can’t wait to see this little sweetie with her face in the wind as she enjoys every moment on her amazing new bike!!
Update: Sadly, Anastasia did not win the specialized bike in the Facebook contest – however – she can still purchase the bike at a cost of $2500. So far, $835 has been raised – but I know we can get the rest! Can you give just a few dollars to help this little girl – imagine that joy this bicycle could bring to her!? Anastasia deserves this bike and so much more!
Please share, please donate if you can. Thank you so much.
Anastasia is a spunky, spirited and happy little girl – who has been through far too much already in life. We’ve been following her story from the beginning. Anastasia Rafter from Niagara Falls, was diagnosed with an aggressive tumor in her optic chiasm in December of 2016. She was just 8 months old. The tumor caused her to go completely blind.
She had surgery in October 2017 where 50% of her tumor was removed but the surgery destroyed her pituitary gland. She ended up with a blood clot in her brain and lost the use of her left side. She was unable to eat or drink – slowly she stopped smiling and talking. She spent months in the hospital.
The family never gave up hope. A trial treatment proved miraculous. The tumor began to shrink. Anastasia slowly began eating, drinking – and is now on the move!!
This little girl who was not expected to survive even a few months – is showing how strong and amazing she is – defying all odds. Totally Buffalo’s Hope for the Holidays dropped off a Valentine’s Day Care Package for the sweetie – who was in great spirits!
One thing that will truly help this family would be an adaptive bike – which would allow the entire family to go biking together – something Anastasia would truly love. The family has a chance to win a bike valued at thousands of dollars. Whoever gets the most votes wins the bike! Let’s do this….
Anastasia’s mom, Lene’e said this, “Anastasia enjoys the outdoors. As a family, we enjoy riding bikes together. Ana is now 3 and is too big to fit in a baby carrier on a bike, but an adaptive bike will still allow her to enjoy riding a bike with the help of her parents.”
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