Bringing Smiles to Families in need

This little guy has a medically necessary need for a safe seating system for everyday use andfamily interaction. The preferred seating system is the P Pod Postural Support System with the Lap Tray. This will help him engage in family life and play safely. It is hard for him to interact with toys when lying flat on the floor, therefore he needed a seating system that supports a comfortable midline postural alignment for his head, spine, and pelvis. Thank you so much to all of our Smiles from Joey supporters for making this possible. ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you to all of our Smiles from Joey supporters as well as a non profit called Keep Punching for helping us with this purchase requested for a teen patient with a BRAF-fusion positive cervical medullary ganglioglioma.

The scooter is medically necessary to support her mobility and independence due to ongoing neurological and respiratory challenges.

Bringing smiles to families in need! Smiles from Joey

You have made it possible to help this family receive The convaid cruiser stroller. This young 6 year old is dependent on all medical care and activities of daily living due to complex medical needs and developmental delays. This Adaptive stroller comes with accessories that will benefit the child and family. Due to its light weight, It will also help the family with easy transportation.

Thank you again for all your support!  

This young lady diagnosed with Dysgraphia and Reading Disorder struggles with reading, writing, and spelling. Thanks to all of our supporters, Smiles from Joey was able to help the family obtain the Surface Pro, Copilot+ PC, with keyboard and mouse. This adaptive computer set up will assist with features  such as talk to text, highlighting, dictation, e-books, and increased storage needs. This young lady will benefit from the technology to support her learning and communication. Sending out BIG Smiles to all our supporters!

Smiles from Joey is so happy to be able to support this family with a child in need of an adaptive Safety bed. Because of the child medical conditions elopement and entrapment risks are high. The family has trialed numerous bed arrangements which have not been safe or workable for their child. It’s heartbreaking that insurance is still denying equipment like this. 

Thank you so much to our smiles from Joey family of supporters for helping us with the funds for this purchase!

Thank you so much to our supporters for helping us bring smiles to another family. 

This young child received complex medical treatment for a rare form of cancer known as Maxillary mesenchymal osteochondroma (sarcoma of the jawline). Undergoing surgery to the face and jaw to remove the cancer which affected the development of permanent teeth. Unfortunately, the cost of dentures is not covered by the families insurance. Smiles from Joey has provided the funds for the family to help this child Smile bright again!

It means so much to us to have family, friends and supporters like all of you that help make things like this possible. 

Thank you to all of our smiles from Joey supporters for helping us bring smiles to another family in need. 

This young 6 year old suffering from Trisomy 21, Hirschsprungs disease and a host of other complicated medical conditions has difficulty with ambulation and walking long distances. Unfortunately, the stroller is not covered by medical insurance and the family needs support with this purchase. We are so happy to be able to help.

Sending  out a big thank you to all of our supporters for helping us bring smiles to 2 families in need of adaptive equipment. 

These 2 children have complex medical history and behavioral autism. Both of these children are in need of a Gus Gear Central Line Vest in order to keep their central lines safe and to protect them from line infections. Both often pull at lines or tubes that they see. This product helps to keep it hidden and secure. 

Thank you and Many smiles!

This sweet 10-month old boy is diagnosed with trisomy 1, autism, IDD, has a g-tube, and is wheelchair dependent. He was previously using a Rifton activity chair which he has now outgrown. An upgraded activity chair with a headrest, straps, and elevated off the ground would provide with the stability he needs in a seated position to eat, play, and improve his quality of life.
The foster family unfortunately does not have the financial resources to purchase the activity chair and Insurance will not cover the chair because the child should not have grown out of his first chair so fast. 

We are so happy to be able to help this family  get the activity chair they need for their child. 

Thank you to our smiles from Joey supporters for helping us bring smiles to another family.

This little guy suffering from autism is at risk of injury during car rides with mom. Unfortunately he is able to unbuckle himself while mom is driving. Not only does he impair moms driving but also puts himself in danger. The safety harness will help keep him buckled in with no chance of escape during car rides. 

Thank you to our smiles from Joey family and supporters for helping us bring much needed relief and support to this family.

This young lady suffering from gross motor delays, lower extremity hypertonia and hip dysplasia limits her ability to participate in daily activities.She is unable to use a traditional bicycle, requiring a tricycle which has a seat back and can accommodate her. Unfortunately this is not something that is covered by insurance, we are so happy to be able to help her continue to thrive and enjoy a bike with her family and friends. 

Thank you to our smiles from Joey supporters for helping us out a smile on this child’s face!

We are so happy to be able to provide TWO families with a Technology hubs for their cubby beds. The Cubby Technology Hub provides remote monitoring and soothing sensory inputs. Features include a circadian light, speaker, camera, mic and sensors all controlled via IOS and Android apps. These features provide unimaginable benefits and safety features to the cubby bed.  Thankfully medical Insurance has started covering the cubby bed in some states however the technology hub is not.

Thank you so much to our smiles from Joey supporters for helping us with the purchase of these tech hubs. What a difference this will make for the family.

Smiles from Joey is so happy to be able to support this family with an adaptive safe bed for their 5 year old girl with autism and a global developmental delays. This young lady has been diagnosed with failure to thrive since birth which has impacted her growth and development. She has no safety awareness, no awareness of stranger danger and tries to get out of her bed at night while her feeding tube is connected to her delivering her nutrition. Due to her diagnosis of autism and her attempts to elope in the middle of the night and remove her feeding tube, she is desperately in need of an enclosed safety bed. This safety bed will bring some much needed relief to a family that wants to protect their child. Unfortunately insurance has denied the claim. 

Thank you so much to our smiles from Joey family of supporters for helping us with the funds for this purchase!

This mother of 2 children in wheelchairs required the family’s need for the installment of a ramp at their home. Both children diagnosed with infantile epileptic encephalopathy and autism with resultant developmental regression are unable to walk and rely on wheelchairs for mobility. Unfortunately their insurance company does not see the ramp as a medical necessity although they can not get into their home without one. 

This young lady with Neurofibromatosis type II has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation for lesions on her spine. She has lost the ability to ambulate and walk up and down the stairs, therefore her family has to carry her up and down 3 flights.  This chair is a safe way for the family to move her up and down, however their funding source will not provide this safety device as they feel that is a caregiver’s convenience and not medically necessary. 

Thank you so much to our smiles from Joey supporters for helping us purchase this for the family.

Thank you to all of our supporters for helping us purchase an adaptive car seat for this 6 year old suffering from a neurodevelopmental disorder along with other severe medical conditions. Without the additional support that comes with this special needs adaptive car seat, this little guy just is not safe in the car. Unfortunately I hear this too often, Insurance would not cover the cost of this seat, so thank you to all of our supporters for making this happen! This seat will bring much needed relief and safety to the family while driving!

You have helped us provide a  new car seat and stroller  to this medically fragile child who suffers from Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum with Peripheral Neuropathy Syndrome as well as Aicardi Syndrome. 

This family was seeking an age-appropriate and size appropriate car seat and stroller as the she has grown out of her current seats. This child requires an accessible means of mobility outside of the home that allows for transportation in a car, and or walking to and from appointments. The family is unable to provide the funds needed for these purchases so thank you once again for bringing Smiles to another family in need!

You have helped us provide a new car seat and stroller to this medically fragile child who suffers from Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum with Peripheral Neuropathy Syndrome as well as Aicardi Syndrome. 

This family was seeking an age-appropriate and size appropriate car seat and stroller as the she has grown out of her current seats. This child requires an accessible means of mobility outside of the home that allows for transportation in a car, and or walking to and from appointments. The family is unable to provide the funds needed for these purchases so thank you once again for bringing Smiles to another family in need!

This beautiful young lady suffering from Cri du Chat Syndrome as well as complex neurodevelopmental disorder, was desperately in need of a Cubby bed to help keep her safe.  After years of denials and appeals through their insurance,  we are so happy to be able to assist in the purchase of this bed.

A note from Mom, “She sleeping so well! You can tell she’s comfortable and feels safe. I feel such a huge sense of relief knowing she can’t get hurt in there and I can see her so easily. I was nervous til the very end because I couldn’t believe that there are people out there that just want to help just because of the kindness in their heart.“ 

Thank you so much to all of our family, friends and supporters for helping this family! Many Smiles! 

This little cutie suffering from Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele, the most severe form of the snowflake condition. While great strides were made for equipment to help  stand, brace, his legs, help him sit up, the secondary diagnosis like partial paresis and hip dysplasia, have hindered his progress and prohibits him from using the DME. Most recently after a major operation, combined with procedures, he was placed in a body cast. The insurance will not provide the necessary seat for a baby positioned flat. 

Thank you to our Smiles from Joey family, friends, and supporters for helping us bring a wonderfold wagon to this family. The wagon will assist with Hospital and clinic days. Mateo El Fuerte can now enjoy the spring and summer with his sibling and friends outdoors.

Mom said, "A few days ago,  He went out on his first real outdoor adventure in a month and I have seen my son smile, laugh, enjoy and become more like himself." 

Sending out a big thank you to all our family, friends and supporters for helping us provide assistance in purchasing a Cubby bed for a family in need. 

This little guy, diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and multiple developmental delays,  requires a specialized bed for safety reasons. He has outgrown his crib and can't sleep in a typical bed due to elopement risk and sensory concerns. This bed will allow the child to sleep safe and provide his family peace of mind knowing he’s safe and secure. The bed comes at an extremely high cost, together Smiles from Joey,  Cerner Charitable Foundation and the family who organized a Go fund me page we were able to pull together all the funds needed.

We are so blessed to know this family will sleep alittle better every night knowing their child is safe. 

This beautiful young 10month old suffering from cerebral palsy, severe hypoxic Ischemic encephalopathy (lack of oxygen), dysautonomia (nerve disfunction) and quadriparesis (muscle weakness) Currently requires ventilation support for respiration and demonstrates a lack of head and overall muscle control. A tumble form chair will allow her to be in a safe and secure position to access her environment giving her appropriate support but allowing for free movement. The chair is great for allowing her to participate in therapeutic interventions, home exercises and time spent with her family.

Sending out a big thank you to all of our family , friends and supporters who have helped us purchase a specialized stroller/wheelchair. This purchase was for a little 2.5 year old boy suffering from infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy which is a devastating life-limiting neurodegenerative condition. The family was much in need of our help as their medical insurance would not cover an adaptive wheelchair. We are so happy to bring some smiles to this family! 

This young boy was born with significant medical complications, including a heart condition associated with Down Syndrome.  He was also diagnosed with Leukemia at four years old. 

He underwent re-induction chemotherapy, followed by CAR-T Cell therapy and a bone marrow transplant in 2020.  His disease relapsed again a year later.  He received a new treatment followed by a second transplant. He is miraculously in remission again. 

After beating Leukemia for a 3rd time, he began attending a specialized therapy center where he is now receiving specialized one-to-one therapies.

The financial assistance provided to purchase this special needs stroller with expanded seat width, accessory upgrades, headrest, foot positioners, rain cover, utility bag, push handle and axle attachments allows the parent to continue to focus on her son’s care. This will allow for long walks that are often met with difficulty and disregulation. It will also allow him to go to school and be more integrated in the school activities.  His extensive treatment has deconditioned him. The stroller is crucial to help the child adapt to any changing environment. 

We want to thank all of our smiles from Joey supporters for helping us bring smiles to another family!

Sending out a big thank you to all of our Smiles from Joey supporters for helping us Bring smiles to another family.

This child has a progressive diagnosis called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which has impacted lung function and control over the body. Because of this, it is often difficult to hear her speak even when up close. She is not always able to be heard if she needs help which is extremely frustrating for her and has led to often sitting in pain. This amplification system will be so helpful, unfortunately this is not a piece of equipment that insurance will pay for.

Meet this beautiful little 12 Mo old baby girl suffering from CDG. This family was in need of a stroller to help get baby around especially during doctors visits. Currently Mom carries her while someone else pushes her stroller around with the vent, suction, oxygen, feeding pump, milk, diaper bag, trach bag, and all the other supplies it takes when they have to go somewhere. The family needed a stroller that could accommodate all the supplies as well as a place for her to sit and be comfortable. Sadly, This type of necessity is not covered by insurance. 

This family has never been anywhere out of their neighborhood besides the doctor office, so Thank you to all of our Smiles from Joey supporters for helping us provide them with this stroller!Sending out a big thank you to all of our Smiles from Joey supporters for helping us Bring smiles to another family.

This child has a progressive diagnosis called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which has impacted lung function and control over the body. Because of this, it is often difficult to hear her speak even when up close. She is not always able to be heard if she needs help which is extremely frustrating for her and has led to often sitting in pain. This amplification system will be so helpful, unfortunately this is not a piece of equipment that insurance will pay for.

 This request was made for an eight-year-old girl who has had delays and roadblocks obtaining her equipment throughout the years. Due to funding changes and funding restrictions she was not able to get the requested foot platform for her existing manual wheelchair. The request for a foot platform with high mount hardware and brackets will provide the necessary clearance for her ability to participate in transfers daily while continuing to use her personal wheelchair. 

We want to thank all our Smiles from Joey supporters for helping us obtain the foot mound needed. 

This young nine-year-old boy began treatment for a brain tumor beginning in February 2019 at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. . He was initially scheduled for surgical resection of his tumor with a plan for short recovery. However, His surgery had severe and unexpected complications that  required placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus, a gastrointestinal tube for feeding, and a complex regimen of medications, subspecialty care, and intensive rehabilitation. Since this devastating incident, he was hospitalized for 15 months. His neurological and endocrine system are devastated.  

At this time, His complex care team includes: oncology, neurology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology, primary care, and rehab medicine. These unexpected and severe complications have made his recovery arduous and his medical status tenuous. The young boy is a total care child with exceptional needs. 

The request was made for a cubby bed.  He has significant physical limitations, and narcolepsy that keep him awake at night and without the respite from OPWDD keep him at risk of falls.  The cubby bed is a smart bed that allows the family to check on him virtually, and remain in his bed safely.  Given the lack of adequate insurance, your support to Smiles from Joey has allowed us to be able to purchase this bed for the family.

Thank you to all our supporters!

This chair is for a 17 month old with a diagnosed of Aicardi syndrome and epilepsy. Her diagnosis makes it challenging for her to complete basic Standing, sitting and traveling. This chair will support her head and trunk, allowing her to maintain her limited bodily function. Unfortunately insurance will not cover the cost for this chair and her family has limited funds, we are so incredibly happy to be able to help!

My name is Charlie and thanks to Smiles from Joey, I can now sit up and see the world! I have Down Syndrome and Epilepsy and my body just isn’t quite strong enough to sit up without a little extra help. Smiles from Joey helped me get my brand new Special Tomato Soft Touch Sitter in my favorite color! I love sitting in my chair to eat, play, and watch all the farm animals out my living room window. Thank you so much Smiles from Joey for making this possible!! ​

Smiles from Joey received a request from one of our the pediatric hospitals on a toy adaptation program. They are trying to educate staff and students about electronics and pediatrics rehabilitation. It’s an opportunity to learn how to modify toys so they could be used with a variety of different switches depending on the needs of the child. These two types of toys would be great for the staff and students to learn on and gift to the children here at Hospital to have a toy modified to their own needs they can operate. The goal was to obtain 15 of each toy. We are so happy to be able to help with this program. All of our supporters make this possible!

-These two young ladies have Rifton Activity Chairs to give them support while sitting  and doing activities at home. 

-This young man has a new  transportation wheelchair to get him around to places that are not as easy to access in his regular wheelchair. 

-This little guy has arm and hand braces to help him drive is new power wheelchair among other things.

-And this little cutie has fun adaptive toys, to help her learn and play like her peers now.

We are beyond grateful for Edison's tomato chair for feeding. Since day one Edison has been a fighter. Having a stroke at birth made for an eventful start to life. Edison has dysphagia that led him to getting a gtube. We have to keep him upright to prevent aspiration even with the gtube. Edison has hypotonia that makes sitting up for long periods of time difficult. This chair will help reduce the many hospital stays for aspiration pneumonia and make feeding him much easier. When the hospital told us insurance would not cover this chair so we reached out to Smiles from Joey and were able to get this chair fast for Edison. Thank you so much! -Edison’s Mommy

Valentina is a 3-year-old with multiple medical issues who is wheelchair/bed bound. Valentina's mom was struggling to find ways to prop her up during the day so that she could be more involved. The family had been using blankets and towels to prop her up, but inevitably she would slide back into an uncomfortable position. Mom found the P-Pod Chair by Inspiredbydrive and knew that this would provide Valentina exactly the support and comfort that she needed to sit up. Unfortunately, insurance wouldn't cover the chair and the expense was too much.
Thanks you once again to all our Smiles from Joey supporters, you have helped us provide Valentina with her new P-pod and her quality of life has been significantly improved.

“The department of Social Work and Care Coordination at New York Presbyterian- Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital would like to thank Smiles from Joey INC for their assistance in helping one of our patients obtain a DME that is not covered by his health insurance. Our patient has a complicated medical history and is developmentally delayed. This equipment will be of much benefit for her and will aid with her home therapies as well as overall growth and development enabling safe seating and positioning. Thank you Smiles from Joey once again, this patient’s family as well as our department are very grateful for you.”

“We have been beyond blessed again today. Smiles from Joey Inc in New York and Grace Lutheran church in Thompson, Ohio have donated the money for our own home chamber. Im am completely beyond words. I am so grateful for the amount of support Jacob has received. I can't even describe the feeling that I have. So blessed beyond belief!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!! Always with  [❤]  Jacobs mommy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, is a type of treatment that can help in Jacobs recovery. He suffered a hypoxic brain injury from lack of oxygen. He has had such a great response to hyperbarics and we wish Jacob and his family much success with this treatment

The department of social work and care coordination at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital would like to thank Smiles from Joey Inc. for their assistance in helping one of our patients. Due to his extensive medical history this patient finds it very challenging to walk and hence chooses to stay home instead of being outdoors. A wheelchair is not covered by his insurance. Having this lightweight wheelchair will help him enjoy more time in the outdoors and with fresh air. Thank you smiles from Joey once again this patient’s family as well as our department are very grateful

“The department of Social Work and Care Coordination at New York Presbyterian- Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital would like to thank Smiles from Joey INC for their assistance in helping one of our patients obtain a DME that is not covered by his health insurance. Our patient has a complicated medical history and is developmentally delayed. This equipment will be of much benefit for her and will aid with her home therapies as well as overall growth and development enabling safe seating and positioning. Thank you Smiles from Joey once again, this patient’s family as well as our department are very grateful for you.”

This 14-year-old had a Pediatric transport wheelchair that recently broke. The family needed a lightweight folding transport chair for a quick use when going to and from appointments as they have a difficult time managing his personal propulsion style chair outside the home. Unfortunately the family was informed that Insurance will not pay for the wheelchair. SmilesfromJoey is thankful to be able to help and would not be able to do this without all of the help from our supporters! Thank you so much

This one year old was born with a neurological disorder that limits her physical strength and mobility. This makes it difficult for her to play with commercially available toys like her peers. She has been hospitalized most of her life and cannot breathe on her own. Despite her medical challenges she is a social little girl, eager to interact with people in the world. Right now, she is so weak that she does not have the strength to hold or manipulate toys, but switch adapted toys and speech generating devices are used in her occupational and speech therapy sessions to help her be able to play and communicate more effectively. The jumbo switch is easy to press and can connect to other adaptable toys. The red big talk enables her to press a button and say a pre-corded message. These devices will have a huge impact on her development and quality-of-life by improving her ability to interact with her family, stimulating her brain development and helping her learn new tasks when she is limited to accessing typical toys. This little girls insurance does not cover the cost of adaptable toys, we are so happy to be able to help.

“This 4 year old has fair control of his head and trunk with weak muscles in his arms and legs. He needs maximal assistance to stand up. He has never exhibited the ability to walk until he tried the Rifton Pacer gait trainer. By his age, most children have the ability to independently explore his environment. Thank you to Smiles From Joey for funding the Rifton Pacer gait trainer that was denied by his insurance.”

This 3 ½ year old nonverbal child was seen at Blythedale Children’s Hospital for an Assistive Technology/Augmentative and Alternative Communication evaluation. At that time , an iPad mini with a communication app (Touch Chat HD-ACC with Word Power) was trialed and he used it successfully. 

Thank you Smiles From Joey for funding his device and communication apps. This was denied by his insurance but will enabled him to participate in activities, make requests, express wants and needs, label items and state how he is feeling. He is now able to communicate in school with teachers and peers and at home with family and friends.

“Thank you to Smiles from Joey for helping this family and their sweet 3 year old boy who has complex medical needs. He depends upon a ventilator and 24 hour bedside care. His mother asked for help to set up a bathing system in his room at home close to his medical supports to allow for his bath care. This will make bath time alittle easier for the family.”

We are so happy to share these stories with all our supporters. It is an incredible feeling to be able to help in such sweet memory of Joey.

This 5 year old boy is diagnosed with a Miller-Dieker Syndrome and is tracheostomy and Gtube dependent. A Tumble form chair is a Durable Medical Equipment that will highly benefit him at home however it is not covered by health insurance. We reached out to Smiles from Joey, immediately received a favorable response and were able to obtain the chair for our patient. Thank you Smiles from Joey, we truly appreciate your contribution and support!”

This request is for a 15 year old girl that sustained an acute infarct of the spinal cord and Anterior Cord Syndrome. She was left with no function of either of her legs and overall weakness with pain in her body. She is working hard with OT and PT sessions and has regain the ability to walk with a walker and participates in her self-care with use of a shower chair. Thank you to Smile From Joey for supplying the shower chair that is allowing her the independence and safety to perform her self-care hygiene without assistance in a safe manner.

Sending out a big thank you to all our Smiles from Joey Supporters for bringing more smiles to another family! ❤️

“The Social Work and Care Coordination Department at New York Presbyterian- Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital would like to thank Smiles from Joey for their generous contribution towards one of our patient’s. This 9 year old boy with a genetic condition associated with progressive limited body movement was in need of an equipment for home that is not covered by health insurance: a tumbleform chair. We reached out to Smiles from Joey and immediately received a favorable response and were able to obtain the chair for our patient. Thank you Smiles from Joey, we truly appreciate your contribution and support!”
​

Miguel is 8 years old with relapsed Neuroblastoma. He has undergone a significant amount of therapy involving chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and a stem cell transplant. Despite this, his disease has persisted. Miguel is currently receiving palliative therapy as well as hospice care at home. Miguel’s disease has affected his ability to ambulate and is in desperate need for a new stroller, financially unable to provide and is not covered by insurance. 

Smiles from Joey was able to provide the new stroller and it has been such a huge relief for them. Miguel is so much more comfortable and this has made a difference in his ease of coming and going to the hospital. His mother and grandmother are so grateful for your organization!

Thank you Smiles from Joey for the
Theraplay - Cycles for Life Tracker 20 adaptive bicycle! Brian is a vibrant eight year old boy, who loves finding new adventures. Brian has Ataxia-Telangiectasia which impacts his body systems in many different ways. This bicycle will not only be great exercise for Brian, but will also allow him to keep up with his peers and cruise around town on bike rides! It will help him continue to break down barriers and allow him to continue smiling and laughing with his friends and family. Thank you! We are so grateful!

Thank you so much to all of our Smiles from Joey supporters for helping us bring more smiles to children in need of adaptive medical equipment.

Last year we started working with Blythedale Children’s Hospital. While visiting with the equipment team we it was brought to our attention a family who was in desperate need for a loaner chair as their child had grown out of their own chair. The insurance company was stalling the process for months. Things like this are incredibly frustrating when your already dealing with so much.

Smiles from Joey was thrilled to be able to provide 2 in house adaptive wheels chairs for Blythedale, we also purchased 2 iPads with communication device for children that need help with nonverbal communication.

None of this would be possible without all of our supporters and we want you to know how much we appreciate you and all the families you help us bring smiles to!

Brianna is a 12yo who was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia June of 2017. Unfortunately, Brianna has relapsed and has been in and out the hospital the past 6 months. Due to these frequent admissions and strong chemotherapy drugs, she has become severely deconditioned with difficulty walking. We struggled with getting a wheelchair via her insurance but thanks to Smiles from Joey, Inc., we were able to get her a wheelchair just in time for her discharge. Brianna is a vibrant young girl whose only wish is to visit all the museums in the city and be with her family during the time she has left. Smiles from Joey continues to make our patient's lives better with their assistance.

“The Social Work and Care Coordination Department at New York Presbyterian-Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital would like to thank Smiles from Joey for their generosity towards one of our patients who is being discharged home for the first time. She is 3 years old and due to her medical complexity has been residing in a hospital for the entirety of her life. In the attempt of obtaining all the durable medical equipment she will need for home, we came across one that would not be covered by her insurance. We reached out to Smiles from Joey who after reviewing the situation immediately agreed to cover the expense so that this patient can get the tumbleform chair she needs for home. Thank you so much Smiles from Joey for meeting this patient’s need and for all that you do.”

Oryan is a 7 month old who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at only 4 months old. He has spent half his life in a hospital bed. After a few difficult brain surgeries, he was able to receive PT/OT to work on his motor skills, strength, and connection with his family. His mother was finally able to hold him after months of not being able to do so. This led him to start utilizing a tumble form which has allowed him to be moved out of bed and sit with support. Oryan continues to be weak from all of the treatment he has received and the tumble form has provided support and better quality of life for him. Unfortunately, tumble forms are very expensive and not covered by insurance. Thanks to Smiles from Joey, Oryan now has a tumble form he can use at home. Thank you so much, Smiles from Joey! Mom is decorating the chair for when he comes home this week.

Thank you so much to Smiles from Joey for Elena’s cricket stroller. Elena is a nine-year-old girl who is missing part of her brain. She is able to move around by herself but needs somebody with her to make sure she is safe at all times. Elena needed a wheelchair that could fold so her mother could take her out of the house, Running to the store or going to community events. Her insurance company would not fund a cricket stroller because they felt it was only for the convenience of her parents. Thank you so much smiles from Joey for helping Elena

Kiki is a sweet and smart 9 year old girl. In September of 2017, Kiki sustained a stroke, which has left her nonverbal. Kiki understands everything that is said to her, but is unable to consistently and effectively express herself, which leads to frustration. Thanks to Smiles from Joey, she now has an iPad mounted to her wheelchair with communication applications. This wonderful donation allows her to participate in activities, make request, and express wants, needs and feelings.
Thank you from the Assistive Technology Center at Blythedale Children’s Hospital

Che’ is a young boy that was forced to be home schooled due to his narcolepsy (sudden falling to sleep with difficulty arousing) and cataplexy (sudden falling out with body limpness). His mother in constant stress, afraid he will be injured, was a strong advocate to obtain a Convaid Rodeo tilt in space stroller for her son’s use. Insurance viewed component/parts of the stroller request as “convenience” and not medically necessary for home use. With Smiles from Joey’s donation, Che’ is safe at home and can also go safely out of home on family outings.
Thank you from the Seating and Mobility Service of the Assistive Technology Center at Blythedale Children’s Hospital!

Isla is a 4-year-old girl with Rhett Syndrome; global developmental delay. She is unable to sit without support and requires a car seat for travel in the family car. Isla has outgrown her commercially available care seat and required a special needs car seat. Her insurance called the car seat medically unnecessary. Smiles from Joey was able to obtain the specials needs seat and allows Isla to travel safely in her family car to medical appointments and family events in the community. Isla and her family are so thankful for smiles from Joey for caring about children with Special needs

Smiles from Joey helped get our family a gait trainer which is taking away all the restrictions and limitations. It can enable oneself to walk and explore the outdoor world with the appropriate parts and with it comes the development of the brain, giving the person and all the surrounding people a chance for a better life. With a lot of appreciation we are thanking Smiles from Joey for helping make this become a reality

Daniel Francis is a 9yr male who was brought to Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian to receive treatment for metastatic glioblastoma of the left parietal lobe. Daniel has undergone surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy during the past few month to help with his brain tumor. Due to the side effects of these treatments, he has become physically weak requiring assistance for activities of daily living and requires to be transported in a wheelchair. Due to the type of insurance that Daniel has, it was becoming difficult to provide a safe discharge for him requiring a wheelchair, a commode, and a shower chair for home. His mother had to stop working and travel here from Jamaica in order to provide care for him and they are residing with her sister during this difficult time. Due to their limited funds and issues with their insurance, it was proving difficult to provide him with the equipment he needed for proper care at home. Thanks to the wonderful support from Smiles from Joey, who purchased his commode & shower chair and rented his wheelchair for 3 months, he was able to be discharge. Smiles from Joey's generosity has helped Daniel spend more time at home with his family while be safe and comfortable. The family is forever grateful for Smiles from Joey's support during this time..

Thank you so much for the iPad and communication app that you purchased for Brendin. It has literally given him a voice.

Brendin has Down syndrome. He is non verbal and understands much more than he is able to express. An IPad with communication apps was essential and has enabled him to tell us what his wants and needs are, how he feels and participate in all classroom, therapy and community activities. Since using the devise he has shown a decrease in frustration and behaviors. Brendin also has 2 brothers and is now able to interact with them in a more typical fashion.

This has been life changing for him and has made him so happy. Thanks again for your generosity and thoughtfulness

The Child Life department at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is so appreciative of the generous donation of equipment for accessibility and play materials to assist the children at our hospital. As Certified Child Life Specialists we work with children of all ages and abilities to ensure they have developmentally appropriate explanations of medical procedures, distraction during these procedures, and access to play materials to assist in coping with hospitalization. With these new supplies the patients will be able to use our playrooms and play at bedside in a whole new way! Thank you Smiles from Joey, we could not do our job without your support!”
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Peri is a bright and remarkable 17 year old girl diagnosed with Nemaline Myopathy who has used a ventilator since she was 2, has had 8 spinal surgeries and more than 20 other surgeries. Peri is a rising senior in high school and is part of the National Honor Society. Peri received a Wombat chair when she was younger as her power wheelchair did not fit in her home with all of her necessary respiratory equipment. Insurance will not cover any repairs or modifications on the Wombat chair as they will only cover her primary seating device, her power wheelchair. Thanks to Smiles for Joey, Peri will receive the modifications on her wombat chair including a headrest, hip guides, chest harness, foot plate, laterals and seat belt for safety and comfort. With the help of Smiles for Joey, Peri will have a chair available to complete homework, study, watch TV and sit at the dinner table with her family.  The modifications to the wombat chair will give her the support in sitting to complete her long homework assignments so that she can keep her grades up in high school, graduate and enroll in a great college!
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Quinnyiu is a 7 year old boy with sulfite oxidase deficiency, congenital quadriplegia, global developmental delay and abnormal seizure movements. He is non-verbal, non-ambulatory and dependent on his caregivers for all basic mobility and self-care.

Quinn was measured for a new chair in February 2015. His existing chair was undersized with his shoulders spilling over the sides and his knees compressed so that they were higher than his pelvis, however, Quinn was not eligible for a new stroller through Medicaid. Quinn and his family struggled for over 2 years maneuvering his wheelchair to doctor appointments and in the community before connecting with Smiles From Joey. With the support of Smiles From Joey, Quinn’s family was able to purchase a Convaid Trekker, which allows Quinn to access medical care in an appropriate seating device with optimal positioning and facilitating a more comfortable seated posture. Thank you Smiles From Joey for helping to keep Quinn safe and happy!
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Andrés is a 15-year-old boy with static epileptic encephalopathy, spastic quadriplegia, cerebral palsy and medically refractory epilepsy since age 2 months. His family fought very hard to get him an adaptive wheelchair for years, however the insurance company would not pay for the attachments that assist with his tracheostomy and G tube. Smiles from joey was able to help the family purchase the additional attachments.

“The donation helps my family move forward in life. I am so thankful for Smiles from Joey who care about children with special needs like my son. It has really helped us a lot. For 10 years I have tried to get the wheelchair, and now we can finally be able to use it.”- Mother of Andrés
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"Daniel is beyond grateful for his new wheel-chair. Daniel was born a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. He has been in and out of the hospital his whole life. He had been struggling uncomfortably in his old wheelchair which is too small and constricting for him. His Insurance would not cover a new wheel-chair for two more years. It has been a blessing to be able to get a wheelchair where he can feel free to have movement and not feel constricted. We are so thankful to Smiles from Joey for their generosity. Daniel's quality of life has improved due to this wonderful organization. Thank you."

"My family cannot thank Smiles from Joey enough for donating a brand new stander for our son, Benjamin.  He was diagnosed with Miller Dieker Syndrome, which is an extremely rare and life-limiting condition, when he was 2 weeks old.  At 19 months old now, he has spent most of his life in the hospital.  The stander is an important piece of home equipment for him, but it is often not covered by insurance.  This stander will be important for him in preventing/limiting his hospitalizations so he can enjoy more time at home with his family and friends.  It means a lot to us to receive such a great gift, and an organization like Smiles from Joey help me and my wife remain hopeful for Benjamin even with this devastating diagnosis.  Thank you Smiles from Joey for giving our family a better quality of life."

This family, with a child in an adaptive wheelchair, has no means to get the child in and out of the home without a ramp, unfortunately not something insurance will cover and the family financially cannot purchase. The adaptive wheelchair is very heavy and mom can’t get her up and down the stairs to get on her school bus without help. This ramp will assist mom in getting her daughter to and from the school bus in her adaptive whellchair. Thank you to all of our Smiles from Joey supporters for making this possible!