Hope for Owen

By Emily King

When communities come together, miracles can happen. 

In many ways, Owen Polanco is your typical four-year-old boy. He has vibrant red hair and an infectious smile. He loves being in the water, splashing and playing. 

But medically, Owen is very complex. He is currently the only person in the world with his specific combination of GNB1 and 1p36 deletion syndrome, alongside epilepsy and several rare blood disorders. GNB1 is a genetic mutation that causes severe developmental delays, intellectual disability, epilepsy and low muscle tone. 1p36 deletion syndrome also causes development delays, seizures, limited speech, and other symptoms. 

Owen and his family face an uphill battle. His complex medical needs have put a tremendous financial strain on his family, as they seek out rare specialists, manage complex treatments, and seek out alternative therapies like stem cell procedures. 

The Polanco’s live in Erie but Jose Polanco, Owen’s father, is a bus driver for Seneca Valley School District. Every weekday he drives from Erie for his job. Bus driver shortages have put a strain on a lot of drivers, with increased numbers of students on buses and other issues.

Jose takes it all in stride. 

Jose drives my three kids to school every day. On the first day of school this year, we got a letter that he passed out to all the kids on his bus, introducing himself to the families. On holidays my kids have come home with treat bags that he has put together for all his students. He decorates the bus for holidays. He has even circled the neighborhood when kids were not at the bus stop, just to check if they showed up late. Jose is a person who goes above and beyond in his job and clearly loves working with children.

With the growing financial strain on the family, complex around-the-clock care for Owen, and a rigorous schedule of doctor’s appointments and treatments, the Polanco family would be justified to be pessimistic. But instead of despairing, they keep their focus on giving Owen the best life possible, taking every opportunity to create lasting memories for their family, including Owen’s big brother, Logan. 

On May 21, SideHack BBQ in Evans City organized a fundraiser for the Polanco family, a pie auction that took place at Zelienople Open Air Market. Community members packed a street corner to bid on pies baked and donated by Mama J’s Famous Pies. They also auctioned off gift baskets generously donated by local businesses. All the proceeds went directly to the Polanco family to be used for Owen’s complex medical needs. 

After the last pie was auctioned off, Jose tearfully thanked the crowd for their unwavering support. Logan also grabbed the microphone from his dad and thanked everyone for helping his little brother. Owen’s mother Breanna held the squirming Owen, who was surrounded by the love and support of a community who jumped at the chance to support him. 

If you would like to donate directly to the Polanco family, please scan the Venmo QR code. Every donation helps!