TOLEDO, Ohio — An ugly attempt to stop a local family's mission to cover their son's medical expenses has completely backfired as their cause has gained national attention and much-needed funds. Randy, who family and friends know as R.J. and who doctors call a "miracle baby" is stirring up a message of love, not just in Toledo, but nationally too.
"He's a happy baby. Smiling, cooing, doing all the things he should be doing for 4 months. Just a very happy baby," explained Angel Ahlers, R.J.'s mother.
Since October, Angel and her husband have been proactive about raising funds to help pay for their 4-month-old son's medical bills and future tests. R.J. was born with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (AgCC) which means the center of his brain is underdeveloped. He also has Trisomy 9 Mosaic Syndrome, an incredibly rare genetic chromosome disease, which only 1,200 people in the world have.
With such rarity, R.J. has seven different specialists caring for him, which comes at high price that even insurance and assistance from federal and local programs can't cover. Recently, the family posted signs near Westfield Franklin Park Mall, describing R.J.'s disabilities and asking for donations to be sent to R.J.'s GoFundMe account. Not long after the signs were up, a sign with a hateful message was noticed underneath one of the originals that read: "Stop asking for money. Let the baby die. It's called Darwinism. Happy Holidays."
FAMILY ADDRESSES SIGN-MAKER