#ThankfulThursday To Our Friends At Med-El, Plus CCA Teen and SuperSibs Inside!

Today we would like to thank Med-El for placing an advertisement in our most recent newsletter. This newsletter is vital in sharing the impactful stories from our community. New and existing families within our community are very grateful for your help in keeping this program alive. It is a lifeline for all, letting them know they are not alone. We cannot think of a more important message than that one especially during a time when we are being told to stay socially distant from others. 

To get a sense of the type of stories we tell in our newsletter, the CCA teen and super sibs section of the newsletter is also attached for your enjoyment. A typescript version can be found below the images to make these stories accessible to all. 
Thank you Med-El!

CCA Teen

Hi, my name is Ashanti Moore. I am 17 years old and I have Apert Syndrome. Everyone knew I would be very special when I was born because I made my surprise arrival months early on April 1st (April Fool's Day). The biggest surprise was that no one knew that I had Apert Syndrome before I arrived! Even after I was born, the doctors did not know because I was the first baby to be born at Helen Keller with Apert Syndrome! I spent my first few hours living flying to Birmingham! Since then, I have had over 12 surgeries, 10 sleep studies, and I recently got my braces off. Mom and Dad call me a “Super Trooper” because I will have a procedure and be back to my normal self a few hours later with no complaints.

I’m in the 10th grade at Sheffield High School. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic I wasn’t sure if I would be able to attend this year, but luckily, I am and I’m loving it. Art and music are my favorite subjects. I’ve participated in our local Special Olympics since the 1st grade and I have a few ribbons for softball throwing.

I love spending time with my family. I enjoy hanging out and watching tv with my dad and mom, Chris and Shan. I have three older siblings that I love dearly: my brother Dominique, my sister Katlyn, and my sister Aubriana. They have always been there to love and spoil because I am the baby of the family. In my spare time I enjoy dancing, singing karaoke, video chatting with my friends, swimming, going to Panama City Beach, and attending Auburn Football games - War Eagle! My favorite celebs are: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Cam Newton, Ellen DeGeneres, Flo-Rida, and Beyonce’.

Thanks for letting me share a little bit about me. My family and I are looking forward to next year to attending the CCA Retreat and meeting some more awesome people like me.

Super Sibs

Super Sibs: Dominique Moore

My name is Dominique Moore. I am Ashanti’s oldest sibling and only brother. I manage all the online sales at Dick’s Sporting Goods. When not at work, I enjoy playing basketball, cooking new recipes, and shopping. Being a big brother to Ashanti is one of my greatest joys in life. We frequently play board games. Our favorites to play are Jenga, Trouble, and UNO. She’s currently on a 6-game winning streak in Trouble. Watching movies together is also an activity we love doing together. Anything Disney or featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a must watch for us. Aside from the general brother/sister annoyance is how we will always show each other affection.


Super Sib Katlyn: My name is Katlyn Moore and I am 24 years old. I am a second grade teacher. I obtained my bachelor’s degree from the University of North Alabama. I also have a masters in Elementary Education and am currently pursuing a EdS in Elementary Education from UNA. Two of my favorite things in the world are being a teacher and Ashanti’s “KK”. Ashanti has always been a constant inspiration in my life. As a big sister, you’re supposed to help watch over your little sister and teach her things. Some people see it as a chore but it was always my favorite thing to do. Watching the look on Ashanti’s face when she would learn new things or explore new ideas was always one of the best feelings. The “AHA” moment in her eyes and on her face filled me with a joy that I could never explain. It led me to be a teacher and get to see that moment every day in so many students. Having a sibling with APERT Syndrome has hands down been the biggest blessing of my life. Ashanti reminds me to be humble, kind, and show love to everyone around me. Being Ashanti’s “KK” is the best part of who I am.




SuperSib Aubriana: My name is Aubriana Smith, and I am 24 years old. I graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in May of 2019, and I’m currently a second-year medical student at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, AL. I love when people ask me why I chose to pursue a career in medicine because the answer is simple – my little sister, Ashanti. She has always been my biggest inspiration and greatest motivator. Because of Apert Syndrome, she has already experienced many obstacles in her life, but she never fails to overcome them with a smile on her face. Her cheerful and silly personality inspire me to remain positive regardless of the situation and remind me to focus on the bigger picture. As a medical student, I sometimes feel overwhelmed or stressed out, but a quick FaceTime with Ashanti can completely change that. Her sass and attitude never fail to make me laugh and brighten my day. As her big sister, I hope that I’ve taught her many things over the years, but I know none of that will ever compare to how much she has taught me. She is one of my biggest blessings, and I am so grateful God chose me to be her sister.