ABOVE: Tens of thousands dollars raised from a lemonade stand set up by a seven year old boy to help pay for an expensive procedure for his best friend was paid forward to another needy family. Linda Aylesworth explains.
VANCOUVER – We first met Brayden Grozdanich and his best friend Quinn Callander in July.
Seven-year-old Brayden of Maple Ridge has cerebral palsy and Quinn wanted to hold a lemonade stand to help his friend raise the money needed to get a procedure called Perc Lengthening in a New Jersey hospital.
The lemonade stand raised more than $60,000, which was three times their original goal.
On Aug. 7 Brayden underwent the 25 minute procedure to relax and lengthen his spastic muscles, making tiny incisions in them.
“Same day of the surgery he was able to hold his hand out… and shake your hand and put his hand straight up over his head, which he’s never done before,” said Brayden’s mom Toni Grozdanich.
“There was a lot of crying. There was a lot of crying.”
Before the surgery Brayden had to undergo painful stretching exercises, something he no longer needs.
“We were actually told that he shouldn’t be doing any stretching right now, his actual physio is to be a boy,” said Toni.
Brayden showed immediate improvement following the surgery, as he was able to walk with his feet firmly on the ground.
The young friends were also featured on the Global show The Doctors.
Quinn had an announcement to make on the show to a family who has a three-year-old daughter who needs the same surgery. “We’ve been thinking of helping someone else,” said Quinn, “so we decided we’re going to help you by giving you some of the money.”
Toni said Quinn is the most amazing friend anyone could ask for. “He’s a special boy,” she said.
Quinn’s message to everyone is simple – “if you see a friend that needs some help, you could just help them.”
– With files from Linda Aylesworth
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