Bryce's Fight Is Our Fight Too
by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle
Every once in a while, something strikes you right in the heart. With that in mind, I’d like to talk about the Derosiers family. More specifically, 1-year-old Bryce Derosiers, who is my new hero.
Bryce’s dad Jeremy is a police officer in Taunton where he and his family now live, but to me he will always be a Norton kid. That means his amazing wife Jamie, 2 1/2-year-old daughter Aubriella, and young son Bryce are also by extension Norton kids.
Jeremy has been a friend of my son for years. He is an extraordinary young man.
In a cruel twist of fate, both Aubriella and Bryce have a severe form of mitochondrial disease, manifesting in a wide variety of physical and neurological problems.
For Bryce, it became life-threatening last month when he started seizing uncontrollably and wound up in the ICU at Children’s Hospital in Boston.
He had to be placed into a coma to let his brain rest, his incredibly strong mother explained. Doctors have done virtually everything they can to keep Bryce alive, but the odds have not been in his favor. Still, he has thus far defied them and come out of his coma and given everyone hope.
Jamie has documented Bryce’s daily fight on Facebook, and it is nothing short of miraculous.
It turns out Bryce is perhaps the toughest kid ever, and his struggle to survive — supported by the unending and unconditional love of his parents, family and friends — has been beyond all definitions of heroic.
Despite obstacles that would simply overwhelm most kids or adults, Bryce is holding his own. Progress is measured in the smallest of steps, and the ups and downs are unbelievably difficult.
But over time, Jamie and Jeremy have allowed us to watch Bryce’s fight. He clings to life as only the very strong can. He perseveres in a manner only made possible by love, faith, good wishes and prayers of people from virtually everywhere.
Jeremy’s fellow police officers have selflessly donated over 100 shifts to help him and his family in their time of need. People have shoveled their driveway, provided meals and offered support of all types. A GoFundMe account set up by Jamie’s high school friends has raised a considerable sum thus far for the family’s expenses, but much more is needed.
While Jeremy, Jamie and Aubriella are eternally grateful for the love and support, they really want only one thing. They want their “Mighty Brycey” to come back home, to play with his sister and grow up knowing how many people have already loved him without ever actually meeting him.
Jamie spends virtually every night sleeping at the hospital with Bryce. Jeremy is the only one able to make his son laugh since he came out of the coma. These parents give new meaning to the word “family.”
Some of us live to ripe old ages, but never make the kind of impact on this world Bryce Derosiers already has. He deserves both a break and a chance, as do his loving parents and sister.
Those Norton kids are made of tough stuff.
Donations to help the Derosiers family can be made at www.gofundme.com/all-mighty-brycey.
Bill Gouveia is a localolumnist and lifelong Norton resident. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.
No comments:
Post a Comment