PATRICK BERTON is a smart, funny, once athletic young man from Washington, Pennsylvania. He is the oldest son of Tom and Pattiann Berton. Patrick is currently a Freshman at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. He is proof there is hope for success after a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
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Seven years ago, a strong, athletic and active boy came home from school with a bad headache. His headache did not go away. To this very day, Patrick suffers with an incredible headache each and every day. Patrick’s diagnosis is linked back to a football Concussion or Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). He no longer has any balance, cannot stand or walk and is confined to a wheelchair. He is legally blind due to visual disruption in the brain. At his very worse, Patrick lost his cognitive self along with his vison. A long road of recovery, with excellent assistive technology educational resources provided through the Intermediate Unit 1, a regional educational agency providing educational support to students, parents, educators, school administrators and local communities in southwestern Pennsylvania, Patrick relearned how to learn and became an independent and successful student and member of society. Through our foundation and with the help of people like you, we are able to purchase thousands of dollars of assistive technology for the students this year in Southwestern Pennsylvania who suffer with vision disabilities and concussions/TBI enabling them to reach their own personal best and potential.
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​Answers 4 Patrick Foundation, Inc.'s purpose is to raise awareness and money for Patrick Berton and others like him with rare and unidentified illnesses. Families, like Patrick’s, travel extensively and endure costly procedures and tests to no avail, but they never stop looking for answers. It is through efforts like this, we can help Patrick and this Foundation spread the word offering help and hope. In 2016, a form of an answer came and the goal is to move the foundation towards awareness and advocating on behalf of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)/Concussion injuries in youths and young adults.
In researching for Patrick, it became apparent that many families like Patrick's have similar situations. All sharing the unbelievable fact that, some cases are never diagnosed and incredible debt is inherited by many families. It is our hope that we can spread Patrick's story and share in helping other families find the necessary answers they so desperately need to save their children. The search never stops.
Proudly this foundation has given back to individuals and groups already. Local families who are suffering with intense medical debt due to massive medical needs have been awarded monies. Answers 4 Patrick Foundation, Inc., also has given to Make-A-Wish to help other families get a break from the stress of sickness. Patrick's foundation also has given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and others in order to find cures for rare childhood cancers. The needs are endless.
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Several articles written by writer Karen Mansfield, from the Observer-Reporter, are available to purchase from the OR Archives .
Click here to search the Observer-Reporter ARCHIVES for stories about Patrick.
Teenager’s illness remains mystery to area family
Author: Karen Mansfield, Staff writer
Date: May 9, 2014
Publication: Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA)
Page: 2A
Fourteen-year-old Patrick Berton loves football.Ask him about the NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ chances of making the playoffs this year or the career statistics of NFL players and he’ll respond with Adam Schefter-like knowledge about the game.At nearly 6 feet, 2 inches tall, Patrick would like to play football at Trinity Middle School, like he used to, but for more than two years, he has been battling an unknown illness that has left him in a wheelchair and fighting a variety of other...
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Diagnosis gives no comfort to area family
Author: Karen Mansfield, Staff writer
Date: October 14, 2012
Publication: Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA)
Page: 1A
For a year, Tom and Pattiann Berton took their son Patrick to doctors at some of the most respected children’s hospitals in the country, in search of the answer to one question: What’s wrong with Patrick?
Patrick Berton has been diagnosed with SCA8, a degenerative, progressive disease that has left him in a wheelchair and unable to do the things he loves. Many in the Trinity community have rallied around the family with fundraisers and are helping out.
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Teen’s illness a mystery
Author: Karen Mansfield, Staff writer
Date: September 23, 2012
Publication: Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA)
Page: 1A
One year ago, Patrick Berton was a typical 13-year-old boy: He played football, earned straight A’s, enjoyed playing video games and wrestled with his little brothers.
13-year-old trinity student has undiagnosed illness, has left him in wheelchair, out of school. Dr. at Children's working to find out what's wrong.
Fast forward to September. Patrick, an eighth-grade student at Trinity Middle School, now uses a wheelchair. He suffers from migraines daily. Blurred vision makes reading...
Click HERE to read more about Patrick becoming a Wishmaker following the Answers4Patrick Foundation donation to Make-A-Wish in Dec 2015.
Click the player to the right to listen to Patrick's appearance on WSHH FM during the Make-A-Wish campaign in December 2016.
Patrick's Interview on WSHH for Make-A-Wish
ABOUT PATRICK