Meet 2017 Rockin’ Recipient Hoang Phan!

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_5″ layout=”1_5″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=”” element_content=”” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ layout=”3_5″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=”” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text]I love featuring our Rockin’ Recipients so much! It just gives me so much happiness to share with you the very special folks that YOU all – with your support, belief & donations to our scrappy little organization – are helping to pursue their college dreams. ❤️❤️❤️ And this story I want to share with you today really tugs at my heartstrings a little…okay, a lot…
2017 Rockin’ Recipient Hoang Phan is in the Mason LIFE program at George Mason University, where he’s learning ASL so he can communicate with folks in the deaf community ???? He also works with preschool children and has won numerous awards and recognitions in Special Olympics and other areas. So that’s all pretty awesome, right? Well, read on…
You might say Hoang had a rocky start to life: At 11 months old, he needed heart surgery, as many people rockin’ that extra chromosome do. But the doctors in his native Vietnam wouldn’t perform the surgery, believing his Trisomy-21 diagnosis would prevent him from ever being able to lead a fulfilling life or contribute to the world in any meaningful way.
Ohhh my heart.
His lovin’ mama took him to Singapore for the surgery, and then, nine years later, brought him to America so he could have access to an inclusive education and other important opportunities. Hoang learned to speak English, overcame many struggles, graduated high school and then was accepted at George Mason, where he completed his first year with straight A’s.
Clearly, those doctors when he was a baby had it all wrong!! Hoang is living a very meaningful and important life!! Best of all, he knows how special it is to be rockin’ an extra chromosome. I couldn’t agree more, and the proof is plain to see! Keep on rockin’ it, Hoang!! We are SO proud of you!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Read more about Hoang here: http://bit.ly/2yRCvix
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_5″ layout=”1_5″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=”” element_content=”” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]