Frankfort Family Needs Your Help to Win Wheelchair Accessible Van

The 7-year-old daughter of Allison and Bill Brya, Bella (Isabella), collapsed of a brain aneurysm when she was just 2 years old. It left her with severe brain damage. Her 4-year-old brother Liam was diagnosed with Goldenhar Syndrome (underdeveloped ear, small jaw-line and spinal deformities); he also has a tumor that's inoperable due to its proximity to the brain stem.

For most families, one child with severe disabilities poses life-changing difficulties, but the Brya family got a double dose of hardship. Today, in between the time that Allison and Bill spend loving their children through the tedious care-giving tasks, they invest an exorbitant amount of energy into organizing and promoting fundraising activities to pay for the expensive special-needs equipment and apparatus that the children require.

The most current opportunity is designed to help Bella get the customized wheelchair she needs. This May marks the 2nd annual celebration of National Mobility Awareness Month, and Allison is working to promote awareness of "mobility solutions." Her children, of course, drive that spirit.

The latest effort features Bella as a "Local Hero," who needs your vote to win the wheelchair. Voting is open to the public and at least three customized wheelchair accessible vehicles will be awarded to the Local Hero Winners.

Voting is underway and will be open till May 10. Contest rules allow participants can vote once a day.

Vote here: Isabella Brya at Mobility Awareness Month, fill in your name and email address.  

Bella is a student at Lincoln-Way Area Special Education District 843. She is homebound and currently receives physical therapy, occupational therapy and sleep therapy.

For more information about the disabilities that mark lives of the Brya family, visit For Bella and Liam.

To learn more about "moving forward" with disabilities, visit National Mobility Awareness Month website.

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