2013 WINNER'S CIRCLE

Bethanie Leigh Pirkle was born on August 31 2005, when she was about nine months old we found out that she has a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis or NF1. In March of 2009 we found out that she has four spinal tumors. In April 2009 she under went surgery to have them removed but as it would turn out the tumor's where inoperable, but her doctors were able to get a biopsy (it's benign) and decompress her spine to take some of the pressure from the tumors off of her spinal cord. She spent the next 30 days at the hospital doing rehab. Then for the next year she was on weekly chemo treatment's that proved unsuccessful as well. She then started Avastin biweekly but had no shrinkage. In August 2011 we stopped all chemotherapy. Bethanie is also partial paraplegic so she has to use a wheelchair or a walker, she is also has no control over her bladder this is caused from nerve damage due to the tumor's pressing on her spinal cord. We would ask that every one who reads this page to please pray for a cure for NF and all childhood cancer's.

Madison is 17 years old and loves to watch the Braves with her family. She travels to Disney to watch spring training games but was unable to attend any this year. She was born 10 weeks early and has been without sight since birth and has CP. She can't play ball but is a very big cheerleader.

Will is a great 12 year old kid, that has Asperger sydrome and Tourette Syndrome. He loves to meet new people and is a big Braves fan! He has some difficulties making new friends due to his tic disorder and challenges with social skills.

Isaac is my friend. He is a student at Kennesaw Mountain High School. He loves movies, church, music and having fun. He likes to smile at everyone. He would love to go to a Braves game!

Elijah will be 9 years old on July 7th.He is a huge Braves Fan and is on the Autism spectrum. Elijah couldn't speak until he was about 31/2 years old. Now his favorite topic is the Braves! He knows their schedule, the players and watches every chance he gets with his grandaddy ( in the picture with him). His greatest desire is to meet a Brave player and have his picture made with him. Freddie Freeman is his favorite and also Dan Uggla... although he often pretends to be one of the Upton brothers when we play in our yard. We never thought we would be able to listen to him cheer on the team, watch him play a game of baseball or converse with him about his favorite player. Please help us make his dream come true and meet one of the players!

My name is Cole Allen, I am 16 years old and the Atlanta Braves #1 fan!! I have Cerebral Palsy, but that has not stopped me from teaching myself how to swing a bat with one arm and throw fastballs. I watch every Braves game on television and when I am away, I keep up with them on my iPhone. So vote for Cole and GO BRAVES!!!!

Dillon is 19 and a senior at North Cobb High School and is a wonderful student. He enjoys playing baseball and kickball in the Horizon League with his friends. Aside from baseball, Dillon enjoys many other sports and activities. He takes pride in working in the school coffee shop (Java Junction), as well as doing other jobs for his class throughout the school. He is courteous to his co-workers and customers alike. He is a true leader and is always ready to help anyone in need. He is a very loving boy and everyone is a "friend". He is very outgoing despite his disabilities. He is loved by everyone that gets the chance to meet him. Dillon is a wonderful young man that would greatly enjoy watching a Braves game in the Superior Plumbing seats. Thank you for doing so much for his class!

Rhonda graduated from McEachern High School earning a Special Education Certificate. Rhonda attended Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute and is currently working as a stock clerk for Target. Rhonda also sings in the McEachern United Methodist Church Choir.

Ryan is 34 and he is Autistic. Besides Loving his multiple Rubber ducks and books ,Ryan is a HUGE baseball fan, NASCAR fan, and football fan, throughout the day he will say multiple times, "you’re out" "safe" "show me a strike". If you give Ryan his yellow plastic baseball bat, he will hit a whiffle ball (or his rubber duck) out of the park. We are always going to baseball games around the community, where he likes to sit right behind the catcher, just so he can hear them say you’re out and safe. I have been a caregiver for Ryan for a year now and he has truly become one of my best friends. He deserves this opportunity just as much as everyone who has been nominated does! Thank you Superior Plumbing for giving such a great opportunity to individuals with special needs to get out and involved on the community!

Julia is an amazing girl she has a rare genetic condition called "Soto Syndrome" it is a malfunction of the 23rd chromosome that causes her to Grow Rapidly as a toddler, because she is so busy growing her motor skills and speech are delayed. Her spirit is incredible and she helps everyone out she comes in contact with, you will often find her helping out in her special needs class and in the school office. She has was the Mr. Owl Safety award from her school bus driver for helping others off the bus, she also is the ONLY GIRL who plays Baseball on her Miracle League Team at Cole Mountain. This past fall Julia participated in her First Special Olympics and won 2 Metals , 1 gold and 2 Silvers in Swimming. I nominate Julia because of her Delightful Spirit and her love of Baseball and the BRAVES !!! Don't let her CUBS jersey full you, she Loves the Braves!!

Parker is a 10 year old downs syndrome student. He lives in Marietta with my brother Richard and his mom, Barbara. They have worked very hard with Parker and were able to keep him regular education schools until last year. Due to the testing pressures of public school they felt he would better suited in a Special Education school. Parker is a mild mannered little boy that has fought many medical setbacks in his short 10 years of life. He loves to throw the ball and enjoys watching the Braves games.He would love the experience of going to the Braves game.He well-behaved and smiles all the time. He also enjoys going to the movies with his big sister, Casey. She just turned 22 and she has always been there for Parker to help him with his struggles too. This is a loving, hard working family and would greatly benefit from a special night out.

Russell is a senior at South Cobb High School. Russell was born with Downs Syndrome. That doesn't stop him from being Mr. Popularity at school. Russell fist bumps everyone he meets in the hall. Everyone knows his name. Russell is very athletic and loves sports. Adapted PE is Russell's favorite part of the day. Russell loves to show off his muscles and ability.

Tye is a 6 year old wonderful boy with cerebral palsy.He was born early and has had numerous operations and medical conditions.His smile makes everyone's day. He loved the one Braves game I was able to take him to.He is in a wheelchair.He recently started playing t-ball. Thank you.

Brandon has Prader Willi's syndrome. He is on of the kindest kids around. He is a huge Braves. Brandon has been participating in the Miracle League Baseball program since the age of 5. He has played in North Fulton, Forsyth and now in Peachtree City. Brandon is 15yrs old and attends East Coweta High School.

Mary Dillard is a junior at Sol C Johnson High School in Savannah, Georgia. Mary was born with cerebral palsy. She is an avid sports fan, especially of the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs. Mary is a hard worker, and a great kid. As her dad, I'm proud to nominate her.

Morgan was born with Aperts Syndrome, which is a crainiofacial disorder. She was born with her head plates fused together and had to immediately have surgery. In addition, she was born without any fingers and has limited mobility in her arms (she now has fingers after many operations). She looks different. Despite these obstacles, Morgan participates in 3 sports at her school and is entering the 9th grade! Go Morgan!!!

Brody is a 4 year old little boy that was diagnosed at the age of 2 months with a rare developmental disorder called bilateral opercular dysplasia. The doctors told mom to never expect him to walk or to talk. Brody has undergone and continues to undergo many therapies to catch him up to his peers. Brody is now able to not only walk...but he is able to talk!

I was born September 21, 1993 in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida while my parents were on vacation. I was born at 28 weeks and weighed 2 lb, 7 oz. Within hours I was transferred to the neo-natal unit at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. There my parents learned that I had suffered brain hemorrhages. On a grade of 1 to 4, with 4 being the worst, I had a grade 3 bleed on the left and a grade 4 on the right. The doctors did not offer much hope that I would survive, and if I did, I would not have a good quality of life. But God has a plan for me! I have had many surgeries since that time, with the first one being at 3 days. I have Cerebral Palsy, Scoliosis and Hydrocephalus. I require much care and many hours of therapy. I am very active in my church youth group. I am also THE #1 Braves Fan! I've been in a wheelchair all my life. I had my first powerchair at 3 and my dad modified an electric jeep for me to ride around in. I love life and love the freedom to be able to get out and be with others. I am graduating from high school at the end of May and will begin at Reinhardt University in June to pursue a religion degree. I want to be a hospital chaplain. With as much time as I've spent in a hospital, I should be pretty good at it :) I'll require assistance and therapy the rest of my life, but I believe there is nothing that I cannot overcome. As Randy Pausch said "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." My favorite bible verse is John 9:1-3.Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him

Colin is my older brother who is 18 years old, I am 16 and couldn't ask for a better brother. Colin was born with a mild form of down syndrome. When he was 2 he lost all of his hair because of a disease called alopecia. Then, during a family vacation in Hawaii when he was 8, he became diagnosed with diabetes. Despite all that has happened in his life, he has been a blessing to everyone he's met. Colin is a huge sports fan and an even bigger braves fan, and would love the opportunity to experience the braves game with the help of Superior Plumbing!

Damon is a 19 year old eleventh grader at East Paulding High School. Damon was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 10 month of age. Damon's family was told that he would never walk or talk and to not expect much out of him. Today, Damon walks with the assistance of a walker and uses an IPad to communicate. He is a social butterful and will roam the halls of his school whenever possible to "chat" with his friends. Damon never meets a stranger and brings a smile to everyone's face. Damon is a huge sports lover and is the honorary manager for the East Paulding Raider football team. Damon loves the Braves and his dream is to meet Chipper Jones.

Brian Murkison is a 2nd grader at Evansdale Elementary in Dekalb County. He is a Traumatic Brain Injury survivor. In 2011 he was playing baseball, running 5K races, and enjoying 1st grade. After a car accident in December of 2011, Doctors did not think he would survive. Brian was checked into a hospice, and later checked out. He is a survivor. Talking, walking, eating a normal diet, consciousness, and attending school were all things he was not going to be able to do again. He is doing all of that. He completed over 600 hours of physical, occupational, and speech therapy in 2012. A highlight in 2012 was when Brian, along with his brother, was able to run the bases at Turner field in the last regular season home game. An amazing feat because he was wheelchair bound at the beginning of the baseball season. Brian still has some physical disabilities that leave his left hand and arm with little control. He is unable to play baseball for now, but always cheers when he hears that the Braves win. He still goes to therapy 2-3 times a week and works very hard to get better. A special trip to see the Braves would be a great reward for his hard work. Be warned if you sit next to him. He loves to talk and wish you well. This is amazing, considering he was never supposed to talk again!

Braeden is my sweet little 6 year old boy. He is autistic and has a speech delay but he doesnt let that stop him from being the most lovable and happy little guy around. He is always smiling and always happy!! Braeden comes from a family of Braves fans and gets his middle name from Brian Mccann, so its no surprise that he LOVES the Braves, especially Brian Mccann. Braeden's favorite thing to do it to put on his Braves hat, jersey and his red baseball shoes and head out the Whitfield County Miracle League to play some baseball.

Jenny Durio is developmentally delayed and also non verbal she loves to watch the Braves with her brother who has Cerebral Palsy and is in a wheel chair. It is a nightly routine at our house.

Tyler is 21 years old. His mother died about 3 years ago and he now lives with a caregiver as his dad is in a nursing home in another state because he is a paraplegic and cannot take care of himself and/or Tyler. Tyler loves the Atlanta Braves and if someone asks him to do something, even if it is a lot of fun, he still will not go if it means he would miss even a small part of a Braves game on TV. Tyler cannot really talk and the few words he says are very difficult to understand, but you know when he is excited about something,especially the Braves. Going to see the Braves play is not really something Tyler can do because he does not have a family to take him to one, except for a few of us who try to take him out on outings as he is such a neat kid, so this would be really special to be involved with Superior Plumbing

Randell is a third grade student with Autism. He lives with his mom, who works very hard to make ends meet for the 2 of them. Randell is not afforded many opportunties due to lack of money in the household. Please consider Randell as a recipient of this Dream Come True Opportunity.

Aiden Strickland Story Time Line: Birthday: December 9, 2007 Adopted by Tim and Loretta Strickland Began showing signs of disorder: November, 2011 Aiden Strickland is a happy five year old that loves to play ball, swim and play with his friends. He just finished his pre-K school year at Hampton Cove Christian Academy. Aiden suffers from ubiquitin disorder, a rare genetic neurodegenerative condition. In November 2011, just before he turned four years old, he began experiencing trouble using his right hand. Knowing his biological family’s history, the Stricklands sought help from Dr. Martina Bebin at North Alabama Children’s Specialists in Huntsville. Dr. Bebin immediately took up the fight to solve the mystery of Aiden’s condition. Aiden’s biological family has suffered the loss of several family members from the disorder over the past sixty years. His twenty-four year old biological mother currently resides in a care facility in north Alabama and is in the advanced stages of the disorder. After local testing, Dr. Bebin enlisted the help of Dr. Edward J. Lose, department of genetics at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Dr. Bebin and Dr. Lose met with a group of family members to gather DNA samples and to discuss the family’s history. Dr. Bebin coordinated with the genetics lab at Harvard University for testing to determine the true cause of the condition. What would have normally taken six weeks stretched out to over four months. Speculation was that the condition was a form of ALS, but in the end it was determined that it was ubiquitin disorder, a newly discovered condition in which the spent protein isn’t flushed from the neurological cells by the ubiquitin system. The protein becomes a tangled mass that blocks the signal from the brain to the muscles, eventually affecting the use of the limbs, swallowing, speech, breathing and other bodily functions requiring muscles. Aiden’s troubles began with his right hand, followed several months later by his left hand. In May while playing tee ball, his left leg began to show signs of the disorder. In just one short month he had lost his ability to walk. He has recently been fitted for a power wheelchair. During a recent visit to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Dr. Davis placed Aiden’s name on the Magic Moments list, an organization that helps make the wishes of terminally ill children come true. Aiden’s wishes include meeting the Alabama football team and getting a jersey and a signed football, a golf cart to get around to his friends’ houses, or a visit to meet the Atlanta Braves and get a signed baseball (Aiden played on the Braves tee ball team). Since Aiden is one of the first in the world with this diagnosis, there are no support groups. This rare and fatal disorder claims the lives of its victims within a few short years. One of our goals is to connect with others around the world with this diagnosis to share information and offer support

Charlie is a young man I have come to know this year on my caseload. He is famous and everyone knows that Charlie is about his business. Diagnosed with special needs at a young age, Charlie as well as his family have worked to give him the best life possible. Charlie is famous around the halls of Campbell for his knowledge of sports, especially baseball and football. Charlie even serves as the baseball manager, and like everything, he does it with pride. He also takes pride in himself and even scolds other kids when they are disrespectful or not working to their potential. Charlie can often be heard saying "you can do it, it's not that hard" or "If you want to graduatae, you gotta get to class on time!" There is no better influence, motivator and student deserving that Charlie Hamilton.

Born May 2. 2003 Matthew is autistic. He currently attends the AU unit at Bullard Elementary.Matthew plays for the Brewers in the Acworth Horizon League.Matthew had the first hit at Horizon Field in Acworth.Matthew served as a delegate for the city of Acworth in Kansas City for the All American City awards in 2010.Matthew along with his parents Marlon and Libby gave a speech during the city’s presentation to the All American City judges.

Colby is a very energetic and happy 6th grader at Woodland Middle School in Stockbridge, Georgia. He was born with a micro deletion on chromosome 2. This rare mitochondrial gene deletion (Colby was the first diagnosed case with this particular deletion) is accompanied by many developmental and physical obstacles, including speech apraxia, hypotonia, sensory integration and developmental coordination disorders, ADHD, and a seizure disorder. Colby also has an unidentified gastrointestinal disorder (previously diagnosed as Chron’s) which led to an ileostomy in January, 2012. In December of 2010, Colby’s mom suffered a stroke while at the hospital with Colby. She died on May 1, 2011, leaving her husband Tim and her older son Nick to care for Colby. Despite this traumatic experience and the 5 surgeries Colby had between 2011 and 2012, Colby is an A/B Honor Roll student. In his spare time, Colby loves playing with his iPad, shooting hoops and skateboarding with his brother, and going to Turner Field to watch the Braves play.

Casey is 10 years old and Autistic. Midway through the school year we were told she may have to be held back as she is not developing the skills needed to raise her GPA enough to qualify. Her mother and I asked her what goals we could set for her that would give it purpose. She said she would like an iphone like the other kids that she wants to be friends with. Her mother and I made an agreement with her that if she raised her GPA 20 points we would make the sacrifices needed in order to make it happen. Her mother and I dont have one. Casey was given the concept as a goal and with our help Casey has done it. She went from a 61 math average to an 83 and her over all GPA is 79. What determination and focus she dedicated to her goal and for that her mother and I owe her all that we can.

Kaiden was born with bi lateral club feet and has gone through multiple surgeries and thearpies tohelp correct his legs. At being healthy,at age 6months kaiden had 16 seizures in one day,after being a patient at CHOA SCOTTISH RITE he was diagnosed with epilepsy. Kaiden had more seizures at 8 months (15). Kaiden has a speech and developmental delay. Kaiden is a loving boy who loves sports and people. He is very social. in. his own way :)

Lily is a fun-loving young lady who enjoys being with her friends and family. She grew up in Cobb County and is currently a senior at Kennesaw Mountain High School. Lily is a member of the Varsity cheerleading squad, enjoys acting and participating in the Drama Club, as well as using technology. She values the friendships she has made in cheerleading and other school activities. Lily has many friends that have supported her since elementary school. During her free time, she enjoys seeing movies, making movies on her Ipad, swimming and tennis. Lily lives with her mother, brother and sister, and her dog: Patch. Although she was born with Down Syndrome, she does not let her disability get in the way of making friends and participating in fun activities.

Kelsey is a 14-year-old who has a moderate intellectual delay. She participates in Special Olympics bowling and track and field events with her school district each year, and will also be attending Georgia's Special Olympics residential camp, Camp Inspire this summer. Kelsey is very active in sports as well, and has participated in Acworth's Horizon League baseball program for the past 5 years. She takes swim lessons as well, and would like to swim in the Olympics "like Michael Phelps" when she grows up. At her middle school, though she is in a self-contained classroom for academics, she loves going to PE and participating in the Chorus program. They are actually going to sing the National anthem this weekend for the Rome Braves game! Kelsey has a very positive, friendly outlook on life, and loves everyone she meets. She gets excited over things others take for granted. To win a trip to a Braves game would be thrilling to her.

Jake is going to be in the Third grade. He does well in school and makes really good grades. He is 8 years old, an LOVES sports, especially the Braves. Jake suffered a Spinal Cord Injury when he was 11 mos. old. He is paralyzed from the neck down and ventilator dependent. Jake is full of life and loves to go. He has never been to an actual sporting event and this would be an awesome opportunity for him, one I know he will never forget.

Carson Johnson is a ten year old boy who sees himself as being no different than his school mates. He attends North Cobb Christian School in Kennesaw, GA along with his two sisters Taylor (17) and Hayden (15). Carson enjoys people, video games, and sports of all types. He pitches for his baseball team in the Horizon League at Kennworth  Park in Acworth, GA. He also enjoys riding four wheelers with his dad on their property in Emerson, GA. Even though Carson enjoys being mainstreamed, he is quite a unique young fellow. Carson was born in January of 2002. He was diagnosed in utero as having Arthrogryposis. Arthrogryposis is a skeletal condition characterized by curved joints and low muscle tone. In addition, Carson was born with a broken femur bone in his leg and one leg twisted behind his back. His two hip joints were out of joint and he had two club feet. He was unable to speak until he was four years of age. He was in a body or leg cast the first twelve months of his life. He endured numerous surgeries to correct his skeletal deformities up until the age of eight. He attends therapy to help him cope with his handicaps. He is confined to a power wheelchair to move about. He wears orthotics on both feet to help them develop properly. He wears a knee brace at night to aid the development of his left knee. He recently had the braces on his teeth removed…….. and with all that Carson is a happy positive kid trying to do his best and always has a great attitude about life. Carson requires assistance with most every day activities such as dressing himself, taking baths, going to the bathroom, and most importantly walking. He is able to feed himself and he is an avid video game player (which is excellent therapy for his small curved hands and fingers). He loves watching and following the Braves on TV and in his video games. Chipper Jones, Dan Uggla, John Smoltz, and Jason Hayward are a few of his favorites. Carson can hold and write with a pencil, but his teachers prefer that he use a keyboard. He requires the assistance of a “buddy” or para-pro at school to help him navigate the hallways, use the elevator, and go to his locker. Carson is well liked by his peers and has a lot of friends. He is outgoing and loves life. He has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and knows that he was made in the image of his heavenly father. He loves his family and his mom is his favorite person on earth. So while Carson is hampered by his physical condition, he doesn’t let it hold him back. He meets all challenges head on without hesitation. He is indeed a special young man and a blessing to experience life with.

Brandon was adopted into our family as a toddler. He was born with CHARGE syndrome which included several physical challenges such as a cleft pallet and vision/hearing impairment as well as a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum. There was question as to if he would even learn to speak. Brandon (or Bran-man) as he is known by most people showed us all wrong though! Not only did he learn to talk, he now will happily talk your ear off about your favorite color, song, number, and roller coaster. He loves the color red, the number 20, and any song with a great beat. He has never met a stranger and sees only the best in every person. Many people say "man is Brandon lucky to have been adopted by your family", but TRULY its an absolute blessing to our family that he has found his way into OUR lives. He shows us all what true love and compassion looks like everyday. Brandon would love the opportunity to go to a Braves game. He would probably prefer to stand and beat that big old drum the whole time and show off his dance moves. He will be the one screaming every chant and will keep score better than any score keeper the team has ever had.. (did I mention his unbelievable math skills?)

Joe is a 13 year old affected by daily seizures and CP. He is quite bright and a delight as well. He loves to go to sports camp in the summer and watch his favorite team play on TV, the Atlanta Braves of course. He intently watches the entire game!

Sierra is a beautiful 10 year old girl who has grown up at the baseball field watching her big brother play ball. She has fallen in love with the sport and has even kept the scoreboard at some of her brother’s games. Sierra was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Sydrome at birth and has overcome so many challenges in her life already. Baseball is a love of her own. She even wants to have her next birthday party at a Braves game.

Taylor's Dad has raised her independently since 1 year of age. She was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and is in a class for student's with Intellectual Difficulties. She enjoys school and learning. She has overcome many challenges and dreams of being a dental assistant or working with children one day. Her hobbies include computers and her dogs. She has 4 dogs total and they range in size from a Chihuahua to a 100 pound mastiff puppy. Despite her challenges she always has a sunny disposition and look forward to many challenges. She has won several gold medals fro bowling with Special Olympics and enjoys swimming.

Chuck is 13 years old and has autism. He loves going to sports events. He enjoys the atmosphere and food. It is stressful for us since he is non-verbal and wanders but it is worth it to see his eyes light up and see what big smile when the game begins. He also enjoys swimming and running. He likes going to the lake with his friend Coleman Fuller and tubing. Thank you!!!!!

 for the Braves and watch baseball. He especially likes to talk about baseball with his brother. He would love to be able to go see the Braves in person and cheer them on with his brother!

Lily is a sweet, kind hearted girl. She loves life, but loves people more. She gives compliments and hugs out because she loves and cares for everyone. You would never know Lily has had a rough beginning because she is so positive! Lily has had asthma and pneumonia, which required her to be in the hospital; she has had eye surgery, heart surgery, thyroid issues, and knee surgery, which required her to be in a wheel chair for 5 months. Through it all , Lily smiled. She is a hard worker, who wants to become famous one day and be on the Disney Channel! thank you for your consideration!

Luke was born with spina bifida, and hydrocephalus which have hindered him from being able to run as fast as the others making him unable to be on a baseball team. Almost every evening in the summer we spend time playing catch and having batting practice while listening to the Braves on the radio. While he may not be able to physically do everything that others can do, he enjoys the things that he can do to the very fullest and does not miss a moment in life!!!

Michael is my fourteen year old nephew who has overcome many challenges and obstacles since being diagnosed with autism at the age of three. He loves the Braves, and his favorite player is Brian McCann. He only takes his Braves hat off to sleep!

Elizabeth is 16 and has cerebral palsy. She is homeschooled with her 2 brothers and 1 sister, and absolutely LOVES BASEBALL! She plays in the Acworth Special Needs League and has since it started. She is a great kid who loves God and we are all very proud of her!

Jordan Huffman is a sophomore at Lambert High School. Jordan belongs to several clubs at school including the Acting Troupe of Lambert, DECA, Raising a Star, and Young Life. Jordan was the manager of the varsity basketball team this year and a silver medal winner in junior unified basketball at the state games of the Special Olympics. Jordan likes to play drums, watch sports and also works part-time at AMC theater. Jordan is a volunteer of Best Buddies and active in his community in supporting Special Olympics and the Down Syndrome Society. Jordan was selected to represent the Sophomore Homecoming court this year at Lambert High. Jordan is a huge Braves fan and his favorite player is Dan Uggla. Jordan aspires to continue acting and also attend UGA.

Alex has Autism but that doesn't stop him! He has a lot of angels on his side and has blessed our family with his upbeat personality and charm. He is currently going into third grade and has always met or exceeded his teacher's expectations. He has always loved sports and one of his favorite things to do is to play on the Horizon league baseball team. And guess what team he is on? That's right... the Braves. His number is "6" just like Bobby Cox and like the coach himself, Alex loves to tell people how to play the game (even if they don't want to know). Alex has been dreaming of going to a Braves game. The last one he tried to go to got rained out and he was very disappointed. Thank you for voting for Alex!

Dylan , is 8 yrs old and was born with epilepsy and cerebral palsy.He really loves to swim,listen to music, and swing and also loves watching his big brother play baseball.He would love to attend a braves game.

Davis is an 8 year old with autism. He attends school in Cobb County. He loves playing ball with his brother and friends.

Orion has continued to develop his social skills every year since being diagnosed with Asperbers 6 years ago. Although there are still challenges he faces in school with his peers, he has excelled academically. He has also just finished his 5 years in Cub Scouts earning the Arrow of Light. Crossing over to Boy Scouts in March, he ha set a goal of earning his Eagle. As his parents, we could not be more proud of our son - he is the best blessing in our life and we love him so!

Marc is a baseball nut who lives to play and watch baseball. He started playing baseball when his parents moved to GA when he was 5. He has been a Braves fan since then also. His favorite players are Chipper Jones, John Smoltz and Brian McCann. He loves all sports and plays wheelchair basketball and football, bowls and plays bocce. He lives for the next sporting event he can attend.

A fun-loving, free-spirited 7 year old first grader from Cherokee County, Sammy is quick a smile and even quicker with a hug. Sammy is very active in sports, playing for the Braves in the Cumming-Forsyth County Miracle League as well as participating in Cherokee Impact soccer. Sammy is a HUGE Braves fan whos favorite player is Chipper "Chippy John" Jones which he has affectionately nicknamed him in honor of his favorite children's books. Outside of playing sports & supporting the Braves, Sammy loves to support his older sister at her many basketball games and cheerleading events as well as our local Creekview Grizzlies High School teams. Sammy was also chosen as the Cherokee High School "Fan of the Week" for the opening game of their 2012 football season.

Eric is an 8th grade student with autism at Mabry Middle School in Cobb County. He is passionate about Mickey Mouse, word searches, the Muppets, and exotic animals. Eric is a gifted student in math, working on the 8th grade curriculum - but stereotypy separates him from his peers. The crowds in the hall at school, loud noises, and any changes in routine can upset Eric - as they often can with any child with autism. But, Eric's parents work hard to give him every opportunity possible; he works at a local gift store, takes piano lessons, and is out and about in the community whenever possible. This year, Eric participated in the school talent show and sang a favorite song from the Muppet Movie to a standing ovation. He is always concerned with how his teachers, friends, and family feel - often asking "How are you?" or "Are you happy?" Eric is an energetic young man about to graduate to high school! A chance to see the Braves in this way - free of sensory distractions and crowds - would allow Eric a rich culminating experience to cap off his middle school years!

Nathaniel was born on November 6, 1998...a little over 3 months before his due date of Valentine's Day! He weighed 2 pounds and was was the length of a Barbie Doll. He stayed in the NICU for 2 and a half months growing and becoming strong. He was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Severe Developmental Delay. Nathaniel thrives in school, loves his friends...he never meets a stranger and LOVES his Atlanta Braves. He has a younger brother, Nicholas, and his parents are Jennifer and Jason McGee of Covington.

Hannah was born with Caudall Regression, which has confimed her to a wheelchair. It is a condition that affects the lower spine not allowing the legs to develop properly. Hannah will be 5 on June 12th. She has just finished K4 and will be moving on to K5 next year. She has an "no quit" attitude and finds a way to do things that seem impossible for a child with her condition. She has a wonderful smile and a great personality. I, of course, am biased, but as her father, I would love for her to get this opportunity. She doesnt get to do alot of the things that other children do, and this would be something that would be all about her

Justin has been unable to walk since birth, born prematuraly he has Ceberal Palsey. Justin loves baseball and plays on the Horizon League in Acworth, GA. Justin has an amazing outlook, a very infectious laugh and loves school. He is a 4th grader at Clark Creek Stem Acadamy in Acworth. He is an inspiration and joy to everyone that meets him.   Second entry...Born with cerebal palsy but also has a condition called periventricular leukomalacia that has to do with the white matter in his lateral ventricles in his brain. Always smiles. You can actually learn a little more from 11Alive's link - http://www.11alive.com/rss/article/214359/3/ACWORTH-An-unforgettable-childs-unforgettable-home-run. I work at his school, though not directly with him, but I see him every day he's there. He is a tremendous young person. I believe he is 10 years old

When Mackenzie was born her mom was told she would never see, born with septo optic dysplasia. Her mom was only 17 years old when she had Mac. The doctors also told her Mac would not develop mentally or physically as a woman should... With this knowledge Ms. Beth traded all Mac’s toys for musical things, so she could hear and feel what she could not see. At 9 months old Ms. Beth said Mackenzie began to gain her sight, slowly but surely she gained the vision she have now, which is still complete blindness in the left, and 20/70 in the right. Her mom raised Mackenzie and 3 children born after her by herself, Mackenzie’s father was never there and never paid child support. In 2007, Mac’s Uncle Rick, who was like a big brother to her, passed away unexpectedly. From that point on, she started cutting and wishing her life would end. That year she also found out her adoptive dad and grandpa were diagnosed with cancer. 2009 came, and on April 3, Mackenzie watched her adoptive dad breathe his last. She was 14 then. She continued to cut, so badly she ended up in a hospital for two weeks. Then on October 30, 2009 Mackenzie’s grandpa passed away and she was the last person he looked at.. After all this Mackenzie knew that her dad and grandpa wouldn't want her to cut, so she stopped. Instead she turned to God for healing. Now Mackenzie is 18 years old, living with her mom and 3 siblings. She work 2 jobs to help pay for things. She paid her own senior dues and bought her own yearbook. Her mom is homeschooling her brothers, so she doesn't have a job. But let me tell you about Mac’s accomplishments. She lettered in academics her junior year because she kept a perfect 4.0 all year long! Mackenzie has been accepted and said yes to Point University, and she plan to major in social work, with a minor degree in developmental psychology. She has been inspired to help save teens' lives when they are down and out like she was.

Ross has been an excellent student in my classroom. He's very helpful with his students and always bringing treats to our classroom. He's very good in his academics and works very hard in class.

Selena is a first grade student. As a baby she suffered from a brain tumor. She has recovered and is an excellent student. She works very hard for her teachers and is making tremendous progress. She has never been to a Braves game and would love to go!

Jack is an 8 year old boy with a twin sister named Jill and has 2 other brothers. He is a fun-loving, energetic boy who loves the platypus. He helps count box tops for our school and shreds paper to help recycle. He enjoys watching seeds grow and caterpillars go through their lifecycle (he will even tell you about a chrysalis!). He enjoys playing on the computer and playground with his friends. Jack-Jack is the man!

Angel is a student in the Cobb County Schools SETS program. This is a vocational training program for students with special needs. Angel is an exceptionally hard worker and takes pride in being as independent as possible, learning to ride the CCT and commiting to be the best he can be. He is a great example of the hard work and dedication seen at Superior Plumbing. He is very deserving of an opportunity such as this and would be so very appreciative.

Will is 9 years old and was diagnosed with autism. Will has a huge personality and wins the hearts of everyone who knows him. He just finished 3rd grade and was definitely the teacher's pet. Will is a sweet little boy who loves affection and special attention. It would mean a great deal to Will to be honored in the Braves Ticket giveaway.

Around the age of 18 months old Mason stopped talking. Before this point, he was saying around 75 words. We had him tested through the Marcus Austim Center and he was diagnosed with Autism at 2 1/2 years old. Mason is now 4 years old and very verbal. He counts past 20, knows his abc's, can spell his name and carry on a conversation with anyone. He's a very bright and friendly little boy. We recently took him to a Braves game and he loved it!! We would be honored to participate in your program.

Jonas is a 16 year old student with cerebral palsy at Hiram High School. On a daily basis Jonas has to work so hard just to keep up with his peers but Jonas never complains. He has such a passion for life and inspires everyone around him. He does not let his disability get in the way of succeeding in high school! Also, Jonas is the BIGGEST Braves fan on earth! He wears his lucky Braves t-shirt almost every day and constantly is telling me the latest and greatest in Braves news. If Jonas could be a part of Superior Plumbing's Winners Circle it would make his day!

Evelyn was born with Aicardi Syndrome. She had lesions on her brain and optic nerves, in addition to experienceing seizures on a daily basis. She can not walk or speak (in the traditional sense) and has a magnetic switch in the upper left quadrant of her chest to help mitigate her seizures. She has a GI tube for feeding and last March received a tracheotomy to assist with breathing. Evelyn (Ev's) turned six in May and has just successfully completed kindergarden at Lake Windward Elementary. Like most six year olds, Ev's enjoys movies, music, books,swimming,and has played baseball. She loves to shop and was quite the kindergarden "fashionista". Ev's most admirable characteristic is her strength of character, and a personality that is the perfect mix of sweet and sassy. She could try and fail at something a thousand times, and continue to try until the task is mastered. For me, she is a continual source of inspiration! Ev's communicates and learns via computer and a pushbutton switch (thank you technology), and for a quick yes/no answer a "tongue wiggle"(Mom taught her). The boys at Ga Tech's Biomed Engineering Dept. are currently working on a oral switch, which will allow Ev's to, via computer, have a voice, the ability to communicate her feelings and thoughts! Amazing! Ev's was blessed 3 years ago with a happy, healthy little brother, Owen (he's a mess), and two weeks ago another happy, healthy baby brother, Ian. An opportunity to escape the "snakes and snails and puppy dog tails that boys are made of" and spend some quality time with Dad, well a Braves game could be just the ticket. I am Ev's Grandad, and the consumate, die hard Braves fan. I have always lived some miles away from Ev's, first Florida, and currently in Hawaii (thanks MLB.TV). I visit with my Grandchildren weekly, via Skype (thank you again technology) and when personally visiting the grandbabies, try to attend a game. Ev's and family have attended a few over the years and the handicap facilities at "the Ted" are very accomodating, as well as the ushers and most everyone associated with the Braves organization. Whether Ev's is selected to attend a Braves game, with her Dad or not, I would like to commend Superior Plumbing for sponsoring such a worthwhile program. For recognizing that our children with special needs are not just special, but extra-special! Our children are our most valuable assets, much work has been done with MS, Downs, and SIDs. Let's add yet another malady that affects an ever growing number of children - Aicadi Syndrome. Thank you for your time and consideration. Michael Wylie

Justin has a moderate intellectual disability. He never meets a stranger and will give someone the shirt off of his back if they need it. He loves Nascar, the Braves, UGA football, and eating. He is from a small town in South Georgia where he knows everyone and everyone knows him!

i was diagnosed with charge syndrome and i have learing disability i love sports due to my disbility i cant drive a car because of my low vision it not good enough to drive i special oylmpics things like bocce ball basket ball bowling special events we do i enjoy all of the things it gives me something to do i have friends to hung out with it fun

I’ve known Nathan for 5 years. I’ve had the privilege of being his teacher for 3 of those years. Nathan attends a small group special education class in a Cobb County school. He was born with Down syndrome and lives with his parents and brother Matthew. Nathan has a very outgoing personality and is known by everyone at our school. He has made major gains in his speech and life skills since I’ve known him. Nathan loves to play baseball and talks about it often.

Graham is a 17 year old freshman at Johns Creek High School. He is a huge baseball fan and an even bigger Braves fan. He rarely misses a game and his favorite player is Justin Upton. He loves the game but his Cerebral Palsy makes a simple game of catch difficult. Nothing would thrill Graham more than to be able to see a Braves game in person cheer on his favorite team.

Josh is a 16 year old Special Needs student at Whitewater High School in Fayette County! He is a blessing to everyone he meets! He loves to direct music on special occasions at Harp's Crossing Baptist Church! Josh loves the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves!! Please vote for the special young man to win a trip to see the Braves play!!

Jake is an 8 year old with Down Syndrom who makes everyone feel "Up"! He is a community celebrity, and is greeted everwhere like a rock star. He loves baseball, and plays in the local Challenger League. He loves to hit and pitch, and go to games.

Nathaniel is a second grader in Kennesaw at Pittner Elementary. He loves music and going to see the Atlanta Braves and Rome Braves. He is very familiar with the Braves roster and has even had the opportunity to meet some Atlanta Braves at events this year.

Chris has been in my class for 3 years and he is an oustanding young man! With the support of his Dad, Chris has overcome many challenges and is on his way to high school next year.  Chris is kind to his peers and very respectful to adults. He loves sports and has participated in baseball himself.

Sully was born with a rare brain disorder called hemimegalencephaly. About ten kids per year are born with this disorder. Sully’s left brain is enlarged and abnormal. He was diagnosed in his second week of life, as he began having seizures. The neurologists told us the seizures would continue, Sully would not crawl or walk until he was five, and his mental development would be severely delayed. Most kids with his disorder have seizures that are uncontrollable by medication. They eventually have 300 or more seizures daily and must have a hemispherectomy surgery. In this seemingly barbaric procedure, one-half of the brain is removed entirely. This procedure was developed by Dr. Ben Carson at Johns Hopkins (he’s world famous for separating twins conjoined at the head). The hemispherectomy procedure is a miracle for kids with intractable seizures. Their seizures stop, and their remaining half of the brain takes over most of the functions of the missing half. Some of these patients go on to college, participate in sports, and even drive cars. Some don’t do as well and are severely delayed physically and mentally. To treat his seizures, he began taking phenobarbitol. We spent months trying to get him properly adjusted, and we spent many nights at Children’s Hospital ER here in Atlanta. One night he had 300 seizures, and we thought we were going to lose him. They even sent in a Chaplain. Sully pulled through, and amazingly, the meds started working. His seizures became more infrequent, and he began to develop. Now we want to tell you a story that’s hard to believe, but we swear it is true. On September 11, 2003 we were feeling kind of down. We were thinking a lot about a friend that died in the Trade Center attacks – about how unfair life could be. We were playing with Sully. Then something amazing happened: he began crawling across the floor!!! A miracle on 9/11. Call it what you will, but we do think Sully’s guardian angel was looking down on him that day. Sully has taught us many things. Most importantly, we have learned to appreciate every single day and take nothing for granted. We have come to expect miracles in our lives, and we are rewarded more than most. We appreciate the love and prayers of our family and friends, and we recognize that these are what make Sully so strong. FAST FORWARD to 2012. Sully is now 9 years old. After the hemispherectomy, Sully truly blossomed. He learned to feed himself, to walk, run, and play soccer. He learned to use the potty. His vocabulary became that of a "normal" kid. He made it to 2nd grade. He knew numbers, the alphabet, and even sight words. While he had occasional medical issues, he was a healthy, happy boy. Until September of 2011. Most every kid who has had a hemispherectomy requires a shunt to regulate the fluids in the skull cavity. Sully was no exception. From time to time, the shunt would malfunction, requiring the surgeon to replace it or adjust it - a relatively minor surgery. In September of 2011, Sully was having balance issues. He would wobble a bit, and he fell down in school. He didn't harm himself, but it caused us to take him to the hospital for an exam. The doctors found that a cyst had formed in his left-side skull cavity, and it had to be drained with a shunt. After the surgery, Sully had his first seizure since 2008. He slipped into a coma and was taken to PICU. It was a difficult time for everyone who loves Sully (a lot of people, BTW). After many weeks, however, Sully emerged with a smile. We were overjoyed, and we fully expected he would soon be back to his old self. We were wrong. It is now April of 2013. Sully can no longer walk or talk. He has a feeding tube, a wheelchair, a hospital bed, and tons of other medical equipment. Our new journey has begun, and Sully continues to smile. Time will tell how it turns out...but we're accustomed to miracles.

Bryson is a 7 year old sports loving boy. He was born 5 weeks early. He is epileptic and has a mild case of cerebral palsy. He has never been to a baseball game and would LOVE it if he could attend one rather than watch it on T.V.

Ryan is a happy healthy 12 year old boy, although he had a rough start to life. He was born 3 months early at only 2 1/2 lbs. He is now a vibrant, fun loving and very creative child. He never complains and makes everyone around him smile and laugh. Ryan loves to play video games and sports through the Horizon League in Acworth GA. He attends Brookwood Christian Language School and is doing fantastic.

Adam is 13yrs old.  He has cerebral palsy.  Adam will be attending Union Grove high this fall. (freshman)  Adam is a good student and is dedicated to his studies.  He was voted student of the month twice is 2 years.  Adam is also a wheelchair athlete.  He competes for the Henry Hurricanes wheelchair sports team.  He competes in wheelchair Football, Basketball and Handball. The Hurricanes were state JV championships in all 3 sports!  Adam loves the Braves and his favorite player is Freddie Freeman. He loves to do the Tomahawk Chop.  He would be soo excited to win a visit to the Superior Plumbing Club.

Coleman is a 12 year boy with severe autism. He is non-verbal and has a hard time participating in social events and large crowds. An opportunity to see the braves in a private section would be great.

Kim is my sister. She has a rare metabolical inversion and an amino acid disorder. She is 21 years old and is obsessed with the Atlanta Braves, especially Freddie Freeman and Justin Upton. She will watch every game and tries her hardest to understand everything, even though sometimes it is hard for her to fully understand. She gets so excited that she cries when she sees Turner Field, and is the first fan to jump out of their seat when a great play is made. She would be the best Candidate because her love is true and forever. She would appreciate more than any of us will ever know. Please select Kim!!

My son Jordan was diagnosed with Autism at age 3 ..Jorda plays special needs baseball for Horizon League in A with and would LOOOOVVEEE to go to a Braves game ..

Roy is the tall (handsome) young man in the center of this photo. He is 15. He is blind and autistic. He is ALWAYS VERY HAPPY. He inspires everyone he is around because no matter what, nothing ever gets him down ... he just keeps smiling. I am hoping his teacher (4th from the left) that has been an incredible addition to our lives can go with him. She is constantly trying to open new doors for him, even when the school day is over. When she found out how much he enjoys the sounds of a crowd at a sports event, she acquired season tickets for our family of 5 to all the home high school football games. It would mean a lot to me for them to get to enjoy a Braves game together!

My name is Dan Smith and I am the Director of Troy Parks and Recreation. Although I live in Troy, Alabama, I grew up listening to the Atlanta Braves on AM radio at night. Now that the Braves are on XM radio, that is when I heard the commercial for Superior Plumbing, and their support of special needs children. I immediately thought of Sheldan Sanders of Troy. We constructed and opened a Miracle League Field here in Troy, Alabama two years ago, and without question the child that led the campaign for this new ball field was Sheldan Sanders. Sheldan, now age 13, has cerebral palsy but gets around every day and night at a ballpark in his wheelchair and/or his walker. Although the Miracle League did not open until the summer of 2011, Sheldan played baseball in our Dixie Youth Minor League for 9-10 year olds before joining the Troy Miracle League. It is Sheldan's spirit, smile and attitude that has brought so many people to support and love our Troy Miracle League, in addition to all of the children that now have the opportunity to play baseball for the first time. It was his spirit and enthusiasm to continue to ask for this, as he played in the Montgomery, Alabama, Miracle League, and he wanted a field in Troy. It is my hope and request that Sheldan and his mother, father and brother can be the guests of Superior Plumbing at an Atlanta Braves baseball game, as Sheldan is an absolutely huge Braves fan. I am attaching two pictures, one when our Miracle League was guests at a Troy University baseball game, and Sheldan posed for a picture with the catcher, and another picture where Sheldan is dressed in his Braves uniform after a Miracle League game. It was Sheldan's suggestion that his team be named the Braves. If only one image uploads please let me know and I will send the other one later. Thank you for your consideration, and I am available should you have additional questions.

April 11, 1997 Eric Krug was almost killed in a drunk driving car accident. He played baseball all throughout high school and he was playing ball at Oglethorpe University, and his dream was to go to the majors. Eric is now 37 and he can only walk with a walker and he uses an ipad to talk because he can't actually talk. However, he travels to high schools all around the United States to warn students of the dangers of riding with a drunk driver. Every time I see Eric he has a smile, and he is always happy. He is such an inspiration to me and all the people he encounters.

Tamiah wasn't diagnosed with her visual disability until 2 years ago, and since then she has lost 95% of her vision. However, she graduated this year with a solid GPA and she plans on going to school to become a nutritionist. She has been a light in my life, and every time I see her she has a smile. I'm so encouraged by the fact that she has every right to be down but she is always kind and smiling! I couldn't ask for a better best friend.

My sons name is Michael and he has Down Syndrome and Celiac disease. He is 16 years old and attends Lassiter High School. If you were to talk to him he would just melt your heart.  Everyone knows Mikey. His main goal in life is to be treated normal, have his own place and a huge pick up truck. He is a true inspiration to others. He has 2 brothers and 1 sister. He loves country music and the Braves. His favorite player is Freddie Freeman. He really wants to go to the Braves game with his Dad, eat peanuts and drink Rootbeer.

James is a ninth grade student at South Forsyth High School. James plays Special Olympic baseball, and loves the Braves almost as much as he loves him Mom. James has epilepsy, fine motor skills delay, learning disability, but is a full of life, funny, loving kid. He reminds people every day this year of how many days "until the braves opening day against the evil Phillies". To whoever wins, have fun...and thank you so much to Superior Plumbing for this opportunity!

Ryan is a 17 year old student with Down Syndrome. He loves school, and participates in chorus and key club. He enjoys singing in the choir in church. He sung the national anthem at the Buddy Walk for 2 consecutive years. Ryan enjoys attending sporting activities with his family. He would love the opportunity to attend a Braves game and cheer on his favorite baseball team.

Dominick is a 4 year old with Wolf-Hirshhorn Syndrome which is a rare chromosome 4p deletion syndrome. Dominick has Reactive Airway Disease and a feeding disorder. I have never met Dominick, but I have met his father Jesse. Jesse works with my husband and is a very hard worker. Jesse cares for Dominick so much. This would be a great opportunity for Dominick to attend a Braves Game with minimal stimulation.

Ashlynn is a fun and energetic 8 year old who has 4 older siblings. She is the life of any party! She has Down Syndrome and will be a second grader in the fall. Ashlynn participates in swim, dance, cheer leading, Special Olympics gymnastics, and Girl Scouts.

Corrie was born with a genetic disorder called Galactosemia, Cerebral Palsy and a hearing impairment. Her favorite thing in the entire world, besides going to Grandma and Grandad's, is the Atlanta Braves - HER TEAM. Just ask anyone that knows anything about her, and without hestiation, they will tell you she is the biggest Braves fan, ever, hands down! Corrie is happiest when her team is winning and never seems to give up - although she will turn off the television if they are behind in the game, wait a few minutes and then turn it back on. She just can't stand missing a pitch. We tease her that she will one day need Tommy Johns surgery because she "pitches" each pitch. She is thankful to each of you for the votes and says "Go Braves"!

Christopher was born with Down syndrome but he hasn't let that hold him back. Christopher was the first person to be recognized for his art (photography) at the state level from his elementary school. He has been published for his art and he is only 9 years old. He is an inspiration!

I've known Ryan for quite some time and he's never failed to put a smile on my face. Ryan is a currently a senior at Kennesaw Mountain high school; the same high school I attend. I knew him growing up but we were reconnected in a theatre class. Ryan was so fun to work with and always made that class one I looked forward to. Ryan enjoys theater and even writes his own plays which friends and family perform in his home. I can always count on birthday wishes from him because he has the amazing talent of remembering everyone's birthday. He is active within the school and you can always find him cheering on the football team at the games. He's friends with practically everyone in the high school and will never fail to make your day better. And I almost forgot to mention he has autism.

He is an energetic 6 year old who is incredibly friendly and loves everyone and everything. He is very eager to learn and questions everything. Gabriel was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at the age of 3 and has battled many obstacles since. Though he no longer suffers from seizures, he does have developmental delays which he works very hard with everyday. He has had speech therapy since the age of 2 as well as coordination issues. He was born at 32 weeks but looking at him now, you would never believe that he was an early baby. No matter what is going on in his world, he always greets people with a huge smile and wants to talk to everyone. He is very inquisitive and loves to experiment. He dreams of one day owning a pet of his own, preferably a cat or dog.

Alex is a gorgeous 20 year old that was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in May of 2004. Since that time she has undergone eight bowel resections, colostomy placement and reversal; and several other surgeries. She now suffers from SBS, or Short Bowel Syndrome. This is in part due to only having two feet of small intestines and three feet of large intestines still intact. In the past seven years, Alex has spent over 1900 days in Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital. She attended Duluth High School for a short period of time where she qualified for both the football and basketball cheerleading squads. Unfortunately, due to her medical condition she was not able to complete her school studies there. She enrolled at Faith Academy where she graduated six months early with a 3.84 GPA. She attended college for a short period of time before having to forgo classes due to a decline in her health. Alex enjoys being outdoors, arts & crafts, watching her favorite football team, The Georgia Bulldogs, hanging out with friends and being a positive role model for others. For the past nine years, Alex has also attended Camp Oasis, a camp for children with Crohn’s and Colitis that is sponsored by Camp Twin Lakes. The past three years she has been a counselor at camp. “Besides God, family and friends, Camp Oasis is what keeps me going. It is something that I look forward to every year. Knowing what these kids are going through and feeling the pain that they feel is something that others do not understand. Just because we don’t look sick on the outside; doesn’t mean we are not very sick on the inside. This camp helps kids realize that they are not alone.” “Admit it, who really wants to talk about butts and guts.” Alex’s health recently took a turn for the worse. She and her family are focused on making memories; and enjoying spending quality family time together. “I want to be an inspiration to others while I can; and after I am gone. Life is short so make the most of it. I want those that know me; and those that never will understand that I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Clayton Carroll is the middle son of Tonya and Paul Carroll. They are VERY proud of him and feel privileged that God picked them to be his parents. We have all learned as much from him and he has learned from us. Clayton is 14 and currently in 7th grade at Arnall Middle School in Newnan, GA. He has such a free spirit, is very outgoing, and has a heart as big as all outdoors. He loves music, movies, camping and fishing. Thanks to our Coweta County Special Education program he also gets to enjoy basketball, baseball, riding horses, swimming, track and field events, and bowling. Three cheers for Clayton to be a winner --- we would love another opportunity to take him to see our famous Atlanta Braves!!!

We were blessed twelve years ago when our son, Jonathan, was born. Upon his birth, the medical staff delivered the news that he was displaying the characteristic traits of Down syndrome, and then in the next breath, they told me that they were calling in a pediatric cardiologist at 3am. It was in this moment that I so sorely could appreciate how fragile and fleeting life can be. How we must learn to better live in the moment and appreciate it. Turns out that our Sweetpea is a fighter. He was able to breathe room air within the first twenty four hours and was able to increase his platelet count within three days. His heart problems steadily improved and the doctors decided he could step down from the NICU and be released after four days in the hospital. Again, this little baby taught me a valuable lesson about how much a person can fight to improve his situation. Sometimes he just needs a little help. Jonathan is also a trooper. He started therapy at 6 weeks old. He has had physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, aquatic therapy, hippo therapy, music therapy, and group therapy in a social setting. Even after twelve years, he continues to have an aggressive therapy schedule of five therapies a week. When other children go outside to play after school, Jonathan is going to therapy. Although I am sure he would sometimes love to never worry with therapy again, he continues to do his best. Week after week. Year after year. My sweet boy has taught me perseverance. To be strong when you would rather be weak. Over the years Jonathan picked up a few more diagnoses along the way. Most people with Down syndrome have speech related problems; however, Jonathan also has verbal apraxia which means he has a very hard time motor planning for speech. When he was four years old, I was told he would never be able to speak intelligibly. I was fine when we found out he has Down syndrome but I cried for two days straight when we got this diagnosis. I just saw his world becoming so much smaller than it already was. But I was wrong. This amazing child has found ways to successfully communicate. He had so many little friends at his elementary school that he received more applause and encouragement from the student body, staff, and audience than any other student at his 5th grade graduation last spring. My child demonstrated to me two things – “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” and “Love crosses all boundaries”. I have learned so much from our young man. He lives in the moment, he forgives quickly, he finds joy in the little things, and he looks for the good in everyone. There are many people who see our child with Down syndrome and decide he is limited in the way he thinks. I am convinced that it is really the rest of us “typical” people who are the ones who are limited. We have a lot to learn from people like Jonathan. And I am blessed and thankful to be able to learn from him every day.

At 2 years old Sammy was diagnosed with Speech Apraxia amongst other physical disabilities. His parents, Rachel and David became very involved in the community, educating parents and organizing a charity walk every year. Now at 5 years old much of that hard work is paying off. Not only has Sammy gained greater physical mobility and significantly improved his speech...His family has raised over $20,000 this year from their Apraxia charity walk. Their dedication to the cause and Sammy's inspiring story deserve much praise. “While we do our good works let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary.” %u2015 Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah

Student's Story Michael is a loving empathetic child who has overcome many challenges in his life. He was removed from his biological parent's at a young age because of severe abuse and almost starved to death. He did not talk until 3 plus years old. He is mildly intellectually delayed. Despite the obstlacles that have been placed in his way he has a love of life. We do;t tell him you can't we say try. He loves to help others and loves Special Olympics. He says it is his place to play sports, where I make friends and no one laughs at me. He has competed with a broken arm and after bilateral open jaw surgery all with a smile. He works hard at everything he does, on job sites at school he laughs "I get to dust because I can reach up high." His smile lights up every room he enters. He loves to go to baseball games and watch the tool race and the jumbotron, he just knows he will be up there one day. Michael lights up my life everyday and reminds me how lucky I am to have had the chance to adopt such a wonderful son.

This is taken from the blog of Jerry Grillo, Joey's dad.“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” – Henry David ThoreauMy desperation is sometimes quiet, and sometimes loud and messy, and keeps me awake at night (like, lately). Why do you think I post all those pictures of my kid in living color on the social network? Because I’m trying to impress you? Well, I am, sort of. What it really boils down to, I think, is a measured form of loud desperation.Like so many other parents of children with special needs, I’m leading a life of many decibels of desperation. Those pictures of my son, recklessly plastered all over the social network? I’m desperate for you – for the world, really – to fall in love with him, or, at the very least, respect him, maybe even develop a sense of responsibility for all kids like him. And by kids, I mean human beings, so please don’t get wrapped up in ageism. We’re all kids, and I want the world to love mine, because someday I won’t be around to take care of him.Love may endure, but I don’t think my enduring love can ensure clean clothing, good food, superhero stories, and a warm, safe bed for him when I’m not around, or when my wife isn’t. We know our daughter is the best big sister he could possibly have, and she’ll step up when and if the time comes, but you know, this is a marathon that requires many people to help one person run a good race, and that’s why I post the photos. Big love is way better than no love, and too many caring hands are better than two or too little.If you look at the pictures of him in his baseball uniform, or greeting people somewhere in the community (he is “Joe on the Go,” after all), or doing whatever, you can see that he is a worthwhile person, someone interesting that you’d like to know; that he is one of the universal us, and you can see that he (and we who care for him) don’t need or want pity, or regret, or any of that bull****. Love and respect and open minds, empathy and a sense of responsibility, though, are entirely different (and valued) matters.I’ve got a lot of company in the world – fathers and mothers and caregivers of children with special needs, and some are of the quiet desperation model, which is what the world historically preferred.Some are stubbornly quiet in their desperation. “Ain’t no one’s business, this is about me and mine!” To them I say, sincerely, “Good luck,” but I could give two sh**s for their quiet desperation.You want to suffer bravely in silence somewhere, wallow in your own personal hell at your child’s or family’s or your own expense, disengage from the world you are inevitably sucking from anyway, that’s your choice. Go for it. But this is my son, and I don’t expect to outlive him, and therefore haven’t afforded myself the luxury of false pride, or private, misanthropic self-pity. So, my wife and I are out of the closet with him, putting him in front of parades, posting his picture (and the fact of him, and his peers) wherever we can.There was a time when kids like my son were placed in isolated corners like potted plants, watered and fed and grown, and little else, and that was just fine (when it wasn’t the only choice) for some parents, and that was the upside. Massive swaths of humanity lived unseen, people suffering unimaginably, often lacking the capacity to understand the excuses for why.I’ve met enough 60-somethings who survived such corners, such dark rooms, and it can be both heartbreaking and uplifting to see their phoenix beauty in front of you while knowing the ashen horror behind them.The good thing is, desperation isn’t a constant, nor is it often, and it may not even be the right word, but sometimes it is, at 3 or 4 in the morning, when the thought-track goes, over and over, “What about when you’re not around?”We’re working on getting his room in the world ready. It’s a lifelong chore, enlightening, difficult, lonely, worthwhile, sometimes wide-open joy (there is at least as much joy as there is desperation), and a lot of impossible-to-answer questions. The pictures and the tireless PR on the boy’s behalf, that’s just one way of hedging our bets. For now, the only guarantee I can make my son is that he will never experience a shameful hidden corner at the hands of other humans while I’m around, because no one wants to mess with a desperate man.

Ted Cordtz is a 16 year Special Needs 9th grader at Alpharetta High School (Ausberger's/Autism). He loves to go to Braves games - especially dancing to the music between innings. In 2012 Ted was diagnosed with a degenerative hip disease that left him bed ridden for 6 months. He was unable to go to a Braves game last season. In January, 2013, Ted had full hip replacement surgery (in the same hospital on the same day as A-Rod...he recovered much better than the Yankee...). Ted is walking again, went back to school in March, and is VERY MUCH looking forward to going back to a Braves game this season. We would welcome the opportunity to have Ted enjoy the game on the Superior Plumbing program - and applaud Superior for sponsoring this program. Thank you!

Shauntell and Ann Unger are 10 year old twins. Both have always struggled at school. Over a year ago, their single Mom, Miriam was diagnosed with cancer.

Daniel is a 10-year-old boy who is full of life. He is such a blessing to our family and everyone he’s around – he really cares about people and loves to be with them. Even though he has Down syndrome, it does not prevent him from doing whatever he wants. He loves to play with his sister and his cars. He also loves school and reading. Daniel enjoys participating in the Georgia Special Olympics as a swimmer and is a huge baseball fan!!

Davis Tillery is a third grade student at Burnt Hickory Elementary School in Paulding County. He is 10 years old. Because Davis has such a great personality and loves people, he is very popular at our school. Davis was born with down syndrome. He lives with his mom, dad, two older sisters and younger brother in the Bentwater Community where he is very well known and recognized by everyone! Davis is a Cool Dude that loves to play baseball, swim and dance! Davis was in my general education kindergarten class for 2 years. He has grown into such a great student by learning to tie his shoes, read and do math!

Chelsea is a special needs student who has taken my Marketing classes for the last two years. She is an avid Braves fan and will develop all of her class projects around the Braves. She knows the names of many of the players and watches every game. Chelsea is such a positive and enthusiastic person, that I love to have her in class. She makes a difference in my day with just a smile. I think she is one of those kids that deserves something special like this and it will be such a lasting memory for her.  Please consider Chelsea for nomination. I am sure her aunt and Special Education teacher can add to this nomination as well.

Joshua is 16, he has Kabuki Syndrome and is profoundly deaf. He loves the Braves and would appreciate your vote!

Jake is an amazing young man with Cerebral Palsy. Jake is a blessing to everyone who knows him! His sense of humor and smile brighten everyone's day. I was lucky enough to have Jake in my class for 3 years before he went to middle school. I have missed him every single day since he left. He has a wonderful supportive family and winning these tickets is something they really deserve!

Dylan is a bright 8 year old boy who enjoys life to the fullest. I am so blessed to be his Aunt La la, and have him in my life. Dylan has taught me so much! I could never repay him for all the love that he gives, for teaching me kindness, patience, and why we are all different. He was born with Downs but doesn’t let that stop him from doing the things he loves. He does therapy horseback riding, softball, loves to dance, LOVES his Disney movies and is the cutest BRAVES fan I know!

Cooper is a 15 year old with Down syndrome and is the light and love of our lives. His two siblings Annika and Nash think he is the greatest, too. Cooper loves to play baseball, basketball, soccer, and bocce in his hometown Heroes league. Cooper never touches home plate with his foot, but with his pointer finger ever so gently. This has been his signature move ever since he started playing baseball over 8 years ago. He supports his younger brother and sister in their athletic adventures and they love to help out on his Heroes teams! It is a family affair with mom and dad helping out too! Vote for Cooper because he is an awesome athlete!

Josh is 10 years old and he is Autistic since birth. Josh attends the Special Needs School of Gwinnett. He does not speak at all and gets around by leading his parents and others by the hand to get things he wants or needs. Josh requires constant watching and attention by his parents. Despite all this, he is a blessing to all who get to know Josh. In addition, Josh also lives in his own little world where he can focus attention for a long time on objects or things. One love that he has is for the Atlanta Braves. Josh can watch a Braves game on TV and never take his eyes off it. When his Dad takes him to a Braves game, he will just sit there and watch the activity oblivious to those fans around him. As his Grandpa, I believe Josh and his Dad deserve this opportunity to win this trip to see the Braves play. Thank you Superior Plumbing for doing this for special needs students in the Atlanta area and also for doing this to recognize the parents who love them and support them and elevating the students and parents to the “Winners Circle.”

Zachery is a wonderful little boy who was born with Prune Belly Syndrome. He has no stomach muscles.He has some developmental delays as well. He gets around in a wheelchair. Zach is a remarkable little man. He has adapted to life without a muscle core. He struggles with lung and kidney issues daily. Zach is such a joy to be around. He is always smiling and gives the most adorable hugs.As his teacher I look forward to our morning hugs. I think Zach would enjoy a ball game with the guys. Zach loves to throw the ball. It would be great for Zach and his dad to enjoy America's favorite past time. Guy's night out. So lets take him out to the ball game. Vote for Zachery Tuttle.

Armoneya—we call her Moni bear—was born Feburary 14th, 2005 (yes, our valentines baby) and was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. She has an older sister who is an extreme help and a younger brother who she thinks is her baby. She is so flexable and loves to dance, sing, and do gymnastics. She makes sure to put on a performance at any family gathering. Moni is in 2nd grade and is making a lot of progress. She loves to read with her big sister and play house, cooking for her many baby dolls. Our family has been through a lot in the last few years—from health problems, therapy, and some financial problems—but Moni's one of the strongest, sweetest, happiest 8-year-olds I have ever seen. She is speech delayed, but that has never stopped her from letting us know what she needs and wants, even if she gets frustrated. My husband and I have been through many hardships, but without her smiling, loving face by our side, we would not have been able to laugh and smile through each day. She is truly our Valentine miracle!!!!

Charles is 10 years old and suffers from a very rare disorder called cockayne syndrome. Charles is a happy kid and has friends of all ages. He loves to watch the Braves on TV and his favorite player was Chipper Jones and now he loves watching Jason Heyward. Please vote for Charles as he would be so surprised and excited to go to a live game and see his favorite players. Charles may be small in size but his heart can fill a ball park! Go Braves!

Archer is a sweet four year old boy who attends Isle of Hope K-8 in Svannah GA. He has unspecified developmental delays and a sensory integration disorder. He loves to learn and share. His first Braves game was in Sept of 2011. From then on he has loved to chop and chant. His four silver teeth and blue eyes are infectuous.

The person I am nominating is Jackson. Jackson is best friends with my son and plays baseball outside with us everyday. Jackson was born with Microcephaly, epilepsy and vision problems, but that doesn’t stop him from playing and watching baseball. Jackson loves the Braves, he used to give me a spring training count down every morning. His favorite player is Tim Hudson and he has gone trick-or-treating the last three years as Tim Hudson (twice) and Martin Prado (his mom told him he couldn’t be Tim three years in a row). Jackson is a great kid and would love an opportunity to sit in The Superior Plumbing club.

Kyleigh is a beautiful 11 year old girl with a great sense of humor, a heart full of love and a body that would love to participate in a variety of activities. However, she is a person who uses a wheelchair to move and a communication device to speak. She loves the Braves! She deserves to be nominated because she has had a fantastic year in school, ending the year with another A/B honor roll certificate to her credit. Her positive attitude and her hard work make her a great candidate for someone who deserves a fun outing with the Braves this summer.

10 year old twins, Katie and Jessica, have learning differences and attend Brookwood Christian School in Acworth