“I cannot think of a better place on this planet to raise a special needs kid than Brockport,” said Heather Cappadonia. “We have had tremendous support from our church congregation and pastors and from the Brockport Central School District.” As a “thank you card” to the community, she presents an art show at the Seymour Library through April 29.
Heather lives in Clarkson with her husband, Nicholas, and two sons, J.J. who is 14 and Nicky who is 17. At six months of age, Nicky was diagnosed with a rare form of encephalitis; the resulting brain damage created a high risk of seizure. Nicky’s epilepsy began at age nine and became so severe he had to be transferred from their church’s school in fourth grade to a special education class in a Brockport district school.
He was recently diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome which complicates his epilepsy with cognitive delays, Heather said. Nicky’s episodes became worse last year, “Not just nodding or blinking, but falling down,” she said, “sometimes picking and crawling.” A tall husky high school junior, he needs an adult professional to help him through those episodes. This is the second full year that the school district has provided a full time nurse to attend to him on the bus and in the classroom. “The school district has been tremendous, wonderful to work with,” Heather said.
Nicky is active with the youth group in Brockport’s Christ Community Church where his family belongs. He will soon begin to participate in a new Unified Basketball traveling team. He was inducted into the National Honor Society for high grades in his modified program as well as citizen involvement. He has traveled to Washington, D.C., as a spokesman for the Epilepsy Foundation, and has met State Senator Joe Robach and US Representative Louise Slaughter.
Heather says her thank-you is directed, not just to the school or her church, but to the wider community for an environment of support. She describes that support as, “Going out to Wegman’s or somewhere else and have Nicky be recognized and loved, and not being picked on or bullied.” It’s the people’s attitude toward Nicky, she said. “In their sensitivity to the developmentally disabled, they ‘just get it.’”
“God has brought us through a lot,” Heather said, with a quick reference to her family’s serious car accident in 2011, her husband’s heart attack last year, and several years of unemployment for both of them. She does not dwell on her adversity, but projects a conquering spirit in her gratitude. “He has brought us through everything, giving His grace in the form of people.”
Heather teaches art only one day a week at the Cornerstone Christian Academy in Brockport in order to have more time at home with Nicky. With both a bachelor of science and master’s degree in art education from Nazareth College, she also has taught in Rochester City Schools, Rush-Henrietta Schools, and at Christ Community Church’s day school now closed.
Library visitors can view her art show during open hours at Seymour Library, 161 East Avenue in Brockport (www.seymourlibraryweb.org). An opening reception will take place Wednesday, April 8, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
