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WBZ Cares: Woburn Family Thankful For Genesis Foundation In Finding Proper Diagnosis

BOSTON (CBS) - Each month, WBZ NewsRadio 1030 will highlight a worthy non-profit organization and tell the story of what it does for the community.

The campaign will involve news reporting, public service announcements and interviews.

For the month of August, WBZ Cares will profile the Genesis Foundation for Children, which raises funds to enrich the lives of children affected by birth defects and other disabilities.

The Foundation was created by WBZ's own Dr. Murray Feingold back in 1982. Dr. Feingold passed away last year, but his legacy lives on through the foundation.

Countless patients and their families have been helped by the foundation over the years, including 11-year-old Bella Burton who lives in Woburn.

Bella's mother Rachel says her daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder when she was two years old. It affects only 3-thousand people nationwide.

"Bella has Morquio Syndrome Type A, so it's a genetic disorder that causes a lot of bone issues and short stature and it affects almost every organ except for the brain."

bella and george 1
Bella Burton, 11, and her service dog George, a 130lbs great dane help her with her balance while she's walking and with the other mobility challenges she faces. [Photo Credit: Kim Tunnicliffe/WBZ NewsRadio1030]

Bella has a 130-pound service dog named George to help her with her balance while she's walking and with the other mobility challenges she faces.

The black and white Great Dane has been Bella's constant companion since he came to live with the family in January. He attends classes with the fourth grader and accompanies her on her weekly visits to the Feingold Center for Children at Boston Children's Hospital.

Mrs. Burton says she doesn't know how the family would get by without the Genesis Foundation, which helped Bella get the proper diagnosis years ago and has been assisting the family with the girl's coordinated care ever since.

"Just being told, your child has Morquio Syndrome, here go figure it out. We wouldn't have even known where to start. They have always been right there for us. They knew which doctors she had to see and which specialists. They made sure that she got baseline appointments with all of them. Every year I get an email from them, that they have set up dates for her, for her upcoming appointments. They've been excellent with scheduling things and keeping Bella involved with her appointments."

As for Bella, she enjoys doing what most 11-year-olds love to do.

"I like to go biking, swimming, I like to play outside."

On top of that, Bella has a real love for animals, large and small.

"I have three dogs, a turtle, a horse and two donkeys."

bella with her pony
Bella Burton, 11, feeds her pony in her family backyard in Woburn. Burton who has Morquio Syndrome Type A, rare genetic disorder, receives help from The Genesis Foundation. [Photo Credit: Kim Tunnicliffe/WBZ NewsRadio1030]

The little 11-year-old with a house and yard full of pets says she has big dreams for her future.

"I want to be a farmer or a doctor...a doctor because then I could help kids like me."

For more information on the foundation, log onto TheGenesisFoundation.org.

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