With the Chicago Blackhawks just three wins away from their third Stanley Cup championship in six seasons, it’s easy to focus on the on-ice exploits of the Windy City’s hockey heroes, but they are also making a big impact on lives off the ice as well.
One of the team’s biggest fans is Cameron “Cammy Can” Babiarz, a 5-year-old girl who suffers from a rare genetic condition called Rett Syndrome. The illness keeps her from speaking or walking, but when she got to meet Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith, her eyes did all the talking:
Babiarz was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome at 20 months old. Her family says she understands everything but “is trapped in her body and unable to express her thoughts.”
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Babiarz’s father Bill made headlines in 2014 when he ran from the Mississippi River all the way to Buckingham Fountain, covering a distance of 150 miles in just five days to raise awareness for Rett Syndrome. His run raised over $10,000 toward research for the disease.
