Brynlee and JoJo Siwa: The Bows, The Music, The Joy
“Thank you DIFTL for continuing to bring joy to those whose lives are often overcome with fear, uncertainty, pain, and frustration. We are so grateful!”
Imagine being a fourth-grader who has to forgo sleepovers with your friends, sit out dance parties, and miss out on team sports. For 10-year old Brynlee, who lives in Tennessee, this is a reality not just in fourth grade, but basically for her entire life.
She has MPS1 Hurler syndrome, a rare terminal medical condition with no cure that is characterized by bone and joint issues, cognitive impairment, heart disease, respiratory problems, and more. To help prolong Brynlee’s life and to help her live a better life, she has gone through bone marrow transplants, frequent orthopedic surgeries, deep muscle injections, and countless month-long intense rehabilitation therapies. But through all of the surgeries and treatments, Brynlee has found ways to remain positive and make it through to another day.
“One of her favorite distractions during uncomfortable treatments is to watch internet sensation JoJo Siwa on her YouTube channel on an iPad,” explained Brynlee’s mother, Melissa. “Brynlee has idolized her for years! She loves to sing JoJo songs, wear the big hair bows and make up her own dance moves.”
So when Do It For The Love granted a wish to send Brynlee to a JoJo Siwa concert (one of the most requested artists for wishes in 2019), Brynlee was ecstatic!
“She talked of nothing else leading up to the trip,” added her mom. When Brynlee and her family arrived at the hotel, they found a gorgeous custom pearl bracelet from Vincent Peach, along with delicious desserts to sweeten the day from Cocos, a gift certificate to an Italian restaurant near-by and more.
As a bonus, the hotel was close enough to the event venue that Brynlee left the wheelchair behind and was able to walk to the concert, leaving her feeling like a star in her own right. Melissa said with a smile, “Her medical condition was the furthest thing from her mind!” The shining moment for Brynlee came when she was surprised with a meet and greet by nonother than the pop star herself – JoJo Siwa!
“The seats at the concert we’re great, the VIP swag was more than we hoped for, and meeting JoJo Siwa was the icing on the cake,” expressed Melissa. “From beginning to end, the experience was absolutely incredible!”
Looking ahead to the future, Brynlee hopes to be a dancer again and prays daily for a cure for MPS1. In the meantime, because of the wish Do It For The Love granted, Brynlee was able to be a regular pre-teen for a night, allowing the healing power of music to wash over her. And that is something she will always remember.
