Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Thanksgiving Day 2004 for the George Vicknair family was a holiday that reflected their hopes and prayers for the past two months.

Their eighteen-year-old daughter Brittany, who was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis in October, is alive and doing well.

“My friends and I went to the mall yesterday,” Brittany said, while visiting the home of LaPlace residents Billy and Barbara Powell on Wednesday “It was great to be out doing things.”

The courageous young lady has been fighting meningitis for almost two months. She has been in Baton Rouge General Hospital, and was given the OK to come home for the Thanksgiving holidays.

She recently underwent surgery for the removal of both of her legs below the knee. But this hasn’t dampened her spirits or her determination to get on with her life. She will return to the hospital to be fitted with prosthetics on both legs.

When asked what her thoughts are, as she gathered with her family and friends at the Powell’s home, she said, “I am thankful for my life. And my family and friends – without them, I couldn’t have made it.”

Her parents George and Rachel Vicknair, and her sister Courtney, have been by her side continuously. Rachel said that the family has spent many Thanksgiving Days together, but this year is extra special. “Now I really know the meaning of Thanksgiving,” she said.

The family has received an enormous outpouring of love and concern during this time in their lives. Friends; neighbors; businesses; organizations – even strangers, have come forth in many ways to show they are supportive of Brittany’s fight with meningitis.

When Brittany was first diagnosed, the family didn’t know what to expect. What they did know was that a family friend, Patti Amato, had also faced meningitis and asked her to visit Brittany. She did so, talking with the teen about her experiences.

The family has also received hundreds of get-well wishes; card; flowers; E-mails; and numerous gifts. Some of them are from people who don’t even know Brittany, but empathize with her fight against meningitis.

And one particular local group, Baba & Friends, has scheduled a benefit lunch for Brittany from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 12 at the Family Life Center at St. Joan of Arc Church.

“It’s been amazing,” said Brittany. “I can’t believe people are getting together to do this for me.”

Members of Baba & Friends are Barbara “Baba” Oncale, Angelle Boudreaux, Pam Boudreaux, Vicki Falgoust, Barbara Powell, Stephanie Powell, and Renee Boudreaux. All of the ladies have been super busy planning Brittany’s benefit.

The idea for the lunch began when Renee Boudreaux came up with the idea, since her group has experience in coordinating such an event. In their three years together, Baba & Friends have sponsored about 20 benefit dinners, she said.

Renee called her fellow group member Barbara Powell, who also had the same idea, and they contacted the other ladies in their organization.

Powell’s husband Billy has offered to do the cooking for the lunch. Seven of his friends will assist him. The local chef has quite a bit of experience, as he has prepared food for numerous area fundraisers.

Renee Boudreaux began the planning ball rolling by approaching Madere Printing in Reserve. “They were very receptive,” she said. “They offered to print 3,000 flyers and 2,000 tickets for the lunch.”

When word got around that the benefit was scheduled, donations began pouring in. “We have had donations from Valero, St. John Sheriff’s Office, Parish President Nickie Monica, and many others,” said Boudreaux. She added that various individuals, including two local physicians, have also sent donations. One of the doctor’s gifts was two Hornets tickets that will be raffled off the day of the benefit lunch.

Baba & Friends member Vicki Falgoust said she wasn’t astonished at the mass amounts of support that her group is receiving. “It didn’t surprise me,” she said. “There are many people out there, like the Baba Friends, that like to help people.”

Donations of sweets on the day of the lunch will be accepted, according to the group. These will be sold that day.

For more information, donations, or to purchase tickets for the lunch, call Renee Boudreaux at (504) 487-6644; or Pam Boudreaux at (504) 417-5155.