Under the Umbrella: Raindancer Cruz
- 10 hours ago
- 4 min read
Meet Cruz, a SJGF Raindancer since he was a newborn in 2024—shared in his mom Brittany’s words.
“Cruz is all boy with spunk and charm. He has Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), or brittle bones. He was the largest OI baby born at Nemours Children’s Hospital with his condition and has had about 26 fractures in his short life.”
And yet—Cruz is busy being Cruz.
He loves to play ball, dance, and race around with his cars. And if his big sister Thea is doing something—he’s right there with her… even if that means playing Barbies.
How Does Cruz Bring Joy?
“His smile lights up a room, and his hugs calm you on the most stressful of days.”
There’s a quiet comfort in him, too— “The way he rests his head on your chest… his calming presence despite his challenges inspires me and reduces my stress after a long day.”
Word that best describes Cruz: Warrior
How Does He Inspire & Make You Proud?
Even in the face of constant fractures, Cruz keeps going.
“When he has a new fracture, Cruz is determined to live his life and get around. He pivots and finds new ways to explore the world around him.”
What brings Cruz joy?
Music. Going fast. And watching his sister do silly things.
Cruz and His Sister Thea
Thea is Cruz’s big sister—and like many siblings of children with medical complexity, she understands more than most at a young age.
“Thea is incredibly in tune with how others feel and her body around others because she always has to be sure she doesn’t accidentally bump Cruz.”
Cruz lives with brittle bone disease—a condition that means his bones can break far more easily than most. In his short life—just under two years—he has already experienced 26 fractures- more than many will in a lifetime. Because of that, even simple, everyday moments require an extra layer of awareness. And Thea has learned that naturally.
It is often said...if you want to know how to treat a child with special needs, look at their siblings. They will teach you.
And Thea is doing exactly that.
When she plays dolls, “she considers all her babies fragile and you have to be gentle with all of them."
In her world, gentleness comes first. Thea isn’t just learning how to love her brother—she’s showing others how to love him too.
The Two-Sided Coin
Life under the umbrella often holds two realities at once—
the hard and the beautiful, existing side by side.
Two sides of the same coin.
The Hard
With Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), even a single fracture can change everything.
“Experiencing a fracture delays his motor development, and watching him in pain hurts our hearts.”
Each setback isn’t just physical—
it impacts progress, routine, and the simple moments most families take for granted.
BUT YET....
The Beautiful
Some of the most joyful moments for Cruz’s family come from “watching him accomplish a goal we weren’t sure he would ever be able to achieve.”
When Cruz was diagnosed in utero, his family didn’t know what those milestones would look like—or if they would come at all.
“..But the same day we came home from his leg rodding surgery, we were in the backyard and he was hitting baseballs off the tee in our arms.” Moments like that change everything.
He has taught us not to dwell on the small stuff and to find your smile despite your challenges.
Lessons from Under the Umbrella
What It Means to Be a Raindancer Family
“Finding a community that understands the struggles but knows how to find the positives and joy that life brings you every day.”
Being under the umbrella means not having to explain everything—
because the people around you already understand both sides of the journey.
It ilies just like ours, it’s easier. Most of all, it means we are not alone. Each family travels their unique journey alongside other families who just ‘get it.’”
What Others May Not Understand
“It’s incredibly isolating and overwhelming. The phone calls, appointments, and paperwork is endless… anyone who thinks it’s easy to get government assistance is wrong.”
“It’s red tape, black holes, and people who have zero clue about your daily life deciding if you deserve help.”
And even the systems meant to support families often fall short.
“The government also pays caregivers below poverty level. Expecting someone to care for your loved one when they can’t pay their own bills is ridiculous.”
Support, for Cruz’s family can be both simple—and complicated.
“It’s incredibly difficult to trust others to watch Cruz. He acts like a normal 22-month-old, but handling him can cause a fracture—even from something we do all the time. He could plant his arm wrong and it could break.”
Because of that, trust takes time.
“Finding people who are willing to learn and be cognizant of how to handle him can be difficult… or I struggle with giving up that trust to others.” And sometimes, support looks simple. "Inviting us to things is huge. We are just like any other family and we just want to be included like we always have been."
Lessons for the world, from Under the Umbrella: Support looks like taking the time to understand, learn, earning trust, and simply choosing to include.
Thank you for stepping under the umbrella and taking the time to get to know Cruz. From under the umbrella, with love. 💛
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