Miranda lovingly calls her family “The Brady Bunch.”

With six kids spanning everything from toddlers to teenagers, life in their home has always been loud, busy, and beautifully chaotic. Teens are coming and going, younger kids running through the house, sports schedules, shared bedrooms, loud conversations, and the kind of beautiful chaos that happens when two families become one.

Every person in the house brings something different to the story.

The older siblings are figuring out who they want to become. A little sister already acts like a protector. There’s a dad who lifts his daughter into the alpine coasters she loves without hesitation. And a mom, who somehow balances advocacy, caregiving, and unconditional love all at once.

And at the center of it all is Brooklyn. The little girl with the infectious laugh, the adventurous spirit, and the uncanny ability to pull everyone closer together.

“She just brings everybody out,” her mom, Miranda, said. “Everybody wants to make her laugh.”

Before Brooklyn was born, Miranda and her husband were already raising a busy blended family together. Miranda worked with children with special needs, while her husband worked for Delta Airlines. Life moved fast in the best kind of way.

Still, somewhere deep down, Miranda always felt there might be one more child meant for their family.

When Brooklyn arrived, though, life changed overnight.

Shortly after birth, Brooklyn began having seizures and was rushed to the NICU, where doctors discovered multiple tiny brain bleeds caused by a rare condition called Gould Syndrome, which affects the collagen support surrounding small blood vessels in the body. The damage eventually led to cerebral palsy.

Instead of bringing their baby girl home right away, the family spent weeks surrounded by monitors, testing, uncertainty, and fear.

“We felt like we went in normal and came out with gray hair,” Miranda said.

But even during those earliest days, Brooklyn’s personality somehow managed to shine through everything else.

“She’s honestly the happiest out of all my kids,” Miranda said with a smile. “The sweetest and the cuddliest.”

And that joy never left her.

Today, Brooklyn communicates through expressions, sounds, and body language. She experiences daily seizures, relies on a G-tube for feeding, and is still working toward milestones like sitting independently, crawling, and standing.

But her family does not measure Brooklyn’s life by limitations. They measure it by the things that make her light up.

The feeling of wind against her face on the family boat. Swinging high at the playground. Music filling the room during family gatherings. Beach trips. Cruises. The pure excitement of movement.

“She definitely likes speed and wind,” Miranda laughed.

They discovered that in unforgettable fashion during a family trip to the mountains. While everyone prepared to ride an alpine coaster down the side of the mountain, Brooklyn’s dad quietly buckled her into his lap and took her along for the ride.

As they flew downhill together, a camera snapped a photo of Brooklyn absolutely beaming.

“That was one of the moments we realized she was definitely a thrill seeker,” Miranda said.

It became one of those family memories that perfectly captured who Brooklyn is — joyful, fearless, and completely alive in the moment.

And her family has made it their mission to keep giving her those moments.

“If we can get her there, we want her to experience it,” Miranda said.

That philosophy has shaped not only the way they parent Brooklyn, but the way the entire family moves through the world together.

Her older siblings have grown more compassionate and attentive because of her. Some are even considering careers in healthcare after watching Brooklyn’s journey unfold. And then there is Blakely, Brooklyn’s little sister and built-in best friend, who seems to instinctively understand exactly what Brooklyn needs.

Blakely helps place toys into Brooklyn’s hand when her muscles tighten. She comforts her when she gets upset. She proudly helps with things like Brooklyn’s feeding tube and constantly encourages her sister along the way.

In her eyes, Brooklyn is not different. She is simply her sister.

“I really think God knew she needed a friend,” Miranda said.

Over time, Brooklyn has also opened her family’s eyes to challenges many people never think about — accessibility in public spaces, the difficulty of caring for older children with disabilities while traveling, and the importance of dignity for families navigating medical complexities every single day.

Still, even through the hardest moments, Brooklyn continues to meet life with a smile on her face.

Over the last year, she has made incredible strides through intensive therapy programs focused on helping her build strength, mobility, and independence. Miranda says one of the most emotional parts has been watching Brooklyn begin to recognize her own accomplishments.

“There’s this proud smile she gets now,” she said. “Like she realizes what she can do.”

Brooklyn is currently working on sitting independently, standing more confidently, and supporting herself on all fours. The work is exhausting at times, but her determination continues to impress everyone around her.

That is why Chive Charities is proud to support Brooklyn’s journey.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Chive Charities is funding Brooklyn’s next intensive therapy session at Rush Rehab, helping her continue building strength, confidence, and independence as she works toward exciting new milestones. 

We also got her a tumble corner chair to help with her stability. The total impact is $3,700.

 

Every family member may bring something different to the story.

Some people are the adventurers. Some are the protectors. Some are the helpers. Some are the steady voices holding everyone together when life gets hard.

And sometimes, the person teaching everyone the most is the little girl laughing hardest into the wind.

No matter which “Brady Bunch” character you relate to most, every one of us has something meaningful to offer the world. A gift. A strength. A way to show up for someone else.

Our mission has always been simple: to find the people who need a little extra support and remind them they do not have to carry life’s hardest moments alone. To be the helper. The protector. The friend. Just like Blakely is to her big sister, Brooklyn. 

Join us in making the world 10% happier — one family, one child, and one act of kindness at a time. DONATE HERE.

The Breakdown

How is Chive Charities helping children with cerebral palsy?

Chive Charities helps children with cerebral palsy by funding therapy programs, adaptive equipment, and medical support that improve mobility, independence, and quality of life. In Brooklyn’s case, donor support funded intensive therapy at Rush Rehab and a tumble corner chair to help with stability and developmental progress.

What is Gould Syndrome?

Gould Syndrome is a rare genetic condition affecting collagen support around small blood vessels, which can lead to brain bleeds, seizures, and neurological complications.

How does intensive therapy help children with cerebral palsy?

Intensive therapy helps children with cerebral palsy build strength, improve mobility, increase independence, and work toward developmental milestones like sitting, crawling, and standing.

How do siblings impact children with disabilities?

Siblings often become important emotional supports, advocates, and caregivers. Positive sibling relationships can improve confidence, emotional connection, and quality of life for children with disabilities.