Kathy Brown Brannon
Gaffney High School
149 Twin Lake Road
Gaffney, South Carolina 29341

November 4, 2009

To Whom It May Concern:
I teach Special Education at Gaffney High School in Gaffney, South Carolina. My students attend regular education classes, and receive support depending on the nature of their disability.
In August,  I received my caseload list and as I always do, I started looking at the individual needs of my students and began brainstorming ideas that would make each student's school year more successful. In the past, I have taught students with severe learning problems, major emotional problems, autism, and traumatic brain injuries.
I have students with many different disabilities once again this school year; however, the difference is I have an autistic male sixteen-year-old student who is morbidly obese. He weighs between 500 and 600 pounds, possibly more. He has a 71-72 inch waistline and is approximately 5’6” tall. What makes this precious young man different as related to my other students with disabilities is I am afraid he is going to die. His breathing is extremely labored, and after walking only 10-15 feet, he has to rest before he can talk. His mother is very concerned about his health, also, but does not know where to turn. The father died in 2005, and they have no medical insurance. Medicaid dropped the student because of his monthly Social Security allowance from his father’s death benefits exceeded the income level.
The student is very determined to attend school even with the constant ridicule he receives. He has special desks in each classroom, and leaves classes early to get to his next class on time. Due to his obesity, he has a difficult time cleaning himself properly so by mid morning he has a very strong body odor due to his skin rubbing together causing him to perspire profusely as well as the odor of urination and bowel movements.
His daily activities are highly restricted due to the obesity. The autism alone would affect his social and communication skills but in combination with the obesity; making friends has been very difficult for him. His mother has shared with me that many times he has not wanted to come to school because he feels socially unaccepted.
His mother and I met on August 25, 2009, and I promised her I would find some help for Bradley. To see a child struggling academically and socially is hard, but to be with a child daily you feel is going to die without intervention is unbearable. I know God has put this student in my life so I can help him academically and socially as well as seeking help for his obesity.
If there is any assistance, please contact me using the following contact information.

Sincerely,
Kathy B. Brannon
801 College Drive
Gaffney, SC 29340
864-838-3425
[email protected]
Gaffney High School
864-206-2000