A mother of five-year-old special needs triplets won the Nancy Copper Sisu Spark Award on Nov. 4 at the Seasons of Sisu fundraiser.
Abigail Burle gave birth to her triplets at 24 weeks old, and each weighed about 1.5 pounds. The babies spent five months in the neonatal intensive care unit until they were ready to come home.
Then, the challenge truly began. Burle’s children have various developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy and autism. Her triplets have had multiple surgeries, including brain surgery, medical appointments, therapies and numerous hospital stays.
Brad Brown, Burle’s father, nominated her for the award and spoke at the ceremony.
“The demands of parenting healthy kids are a challenge unto itself, but adding special needs, including a wheelchair takes on a new dimension,” Brown said.
Burle received the Nancy Copper Sisu Spark Award after displaying her indomitable will to ensure her children do not suffer under societal norms that neurotypical children are held to. She created a non-profit organization called Love Your Story, which provides families with special needs children a place to stay while they are in town receiving therapy.
Love Your Story was created this year and already has hosted seven families throughout the southeast.
Burle is also a public speaker and she shares her experience and allows others to embrace their family’s story.
“With her energy, passion, and clear focused purpose, lives will be changed because she has learned to love her story,” a press release from Sisu, Integrated Early Learning said.
Sisu, Integrated Early Learning is an early intervention school that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It serves all children from neurotypical to neurodiverse. Children from six weeks to six years old learn through innovative educational, therapeutic, nursing, and family support services in an integrated classroom. The school serves 147 children from 10 different counties.
The Nancy Copper Sisu Spark Award was renamed to honor former board member Nancy Copper while she completed cancer trials. It is a community award designed to celebrate grit, tenacity, bravery, and resilience.
