2009 Musical

This was the 11th year that Emmanuel United Church presented a play starring youth from our church and the local community. The setting is a tropical island where cast members are put to the test, not only to find the true leader inside of each of them, but to learn to lead like Jesus. Each character brings his or her gifts to the challenges they meet along the way.

A free will offering was taken following the performance to benefit Melani Fu. Melani is a one year old girl with a wonderful smile who lives in Mechanicville. When she was three months old it was confirmed that she is deaf, and she has also been diagnosed with hypotonia (severe muscle weakness).

In February she was admitted to the hospital with an ear infection and a very high fever. Her liver enzymes were elevated to the point that she was transferred to Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City for a possible liver transplant. Fortunately, it was not needed. She has been hospitalized twice for several weeks and endured many tests in an effort to determine the cause of her illness. Within the last few weeks Melani's diagnosis of mitochondrial disease has been confirmed.

Mitochondrial disease is a chronic disease that affects the cell structure of the body, resulting in insufficient energy for the organs including brain, heart, liver, muscles or kidneys. It can also cause deafness and infections. The symptoms are different for each person, depending on which cells are affected.

We hope and pray that now that she has a definitive diagnosis, the doctors will develop a treatment plan so that she can enjoy life as a happy, healthy little girl. She is cherished and loved by everyone who meets her and especially by her parents and her four year old big brother, Alex.