Meet Helena
Meet sixteen-year-old Helena. Helena was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of one. She is unable to move without assistance and unable to speak. Helena uses an eye tracker to allow her to communicate.
Of course, she is more than a diagnosis. Helena is a passionate lover of all things Theatre. Especially if it was written, directed, or starred, Lin Manuel Miranda. Her devotion is such that she recently traveled to Puerto Rico to visit the town where he grew up. She has seen Hamilton, In the Heights, and read books based on Hamilton’s life. Her love of theater began around age four when her parents took her to her first Children’s Theatre experience. Since then, she has seen many shows at both the Kimmel Center and the Arden Theatre in Philadelphia. Like most Philadelphia natives, she is also a sports fan, pulling for her favorite team, the Phillies. She also enjoys learning about American History at the Museum of the American Revolution.
More than anything, Helena’s friends and family are moved by her spirit. Helena is brilliant. She faces more daily barriers than most people do in a lifetime. Even with the use of an eye gaze as her means of communication, she is able to communicate humor, nuance, and devotion to the people and projects she cares about.
Helena is in need of a manual Wheelchair to allow her greater mobility. Please be her sponsor!