On a recent stop in Shriner’s Hospital to visit patients, actor Alfonso Ribiero was challenged to a tap dance-off by a little girl battling a joint disorder.
Brayden, five, was diagnosed with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) at birth. It’s a disorder that affects joint development in newborns, making movement difficult. Patients with AMC often suffer from muscle weakness and joint stiffness.
Brayden’s family says all of her joints are affected and that she needs help to get out of bed in the morning and to play with her toys.
Nevertheless, Brayden is an avid fan of tap dance and challenged Ribiero, who is known for his dancing as Carlton in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and “Dancing with the Stars.” He was in the area to play at the BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament and stopped in for about an hour at Shriner’s.
Brayden lives with her grandparents, who provide for her tirelessly, but her medical visits and custom wheelchair are expensive. In response, a GoFundMe account has been set up to raise funds to support Brayden.