MILLIE RODRIGUEZ

PHILADELPHIA, PA

Millie and her husband had a beautiful young family, they were financially secure, and everything was going perfectly. That is, everything was going perfectly until it wasn’t. Their 4th child, a daughter, wasn’t hitting developmental milestones. Something was off. Their daughter was diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease, now has been confirmed to be caused by KIF1a mutation, meaning she'd be blind, nonverbal, epileptic, and completely bound to a wheelchair and would need around-the-clock care for the rest of her life.

As the main caregiver for her disabled daughter and the other 5 children in their home, including the 2 grandkids that she’s raising at this time, Millie gives everything she can to those around her—and then some. And it doesn’t stop at her family, either! Millie makes sure her family is present to help their church community however they can, from organizing events to serving food.

In 2015, her husband lost his job and has been doing odd jobs since then to provide for their family of 9. With so many financial burdens and so many mouths to feed, they haven’t been able to afford transportation that can accommodate Julianna’s wheelchair. Despite the very real needs of her own family, Millie continues to give generously—physically, spiritually, and emotionally—to anyone who might be in need.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” — Ephesians 3:20

The Dare To Be Foundation is able to bless each honoree with something chosen to meet their needs and bring them a little much-deserved joy. We were able to provide Millie: