CBS4 Viewer Changed The Lives Of Twins In Need Of Cranial Helmets
MIAMI (CBS4) - CBS4's Community Partnership, Neighbors 4 Neighbors, recently received a letter from the Salvation Army explaining that a woman with twin one year old boys had fallen on hard times.
Click Here to read the family's story.
Erika Oldenbrook had a hard life growing up. Her mother died when she was 13 and she got mixed up with the wrong crowd doing drugs and living a dark life.
After she had twin boys Ethan and Joshua she turned her life around.
With the help of the Salvation Army she was able to find a job and start living a productive life when she learned of a traumatic problem; Her twins had deformed heads. The back of their heads were severely flat. Doctors told her if they did not get fitted for cranial helmets immediately they faced the possibility of having severely deformed faces as they grew.
CBS4 Anchor and Reporter Cynthia Demos found out about the family's plight through Neighbors 4 Neighbors.
After featuring their story, viewers began calling in within a few hours offering to help.
One viewer offered to pay for everything needed for the twins to get the helmet and go to the doctors. The total bill was $5300. The viewer immediately handed over the money, wanting to remain anonymous. Oldenbrook was overjoyed at the news
"We appreciate it.. we really do." She said. "A lot of people don't do things without wanting something out of it. It's pretty amazing." Therapist Aryuri Camargo in Ft. Lauderdale says the helmets are light and comfortable and the boys will have no problem wearing them. CBS4 was there when they put them on and the boys were more delightful than ever, immediately used to the new contraptions that would change their lives.
