The Inspirational Story Behind The Sasha Project With Isabell Bogosian
Hi Isabell, it is lovely to meet you. As Sasha’s mother, tell us a little about your background and how you first got involved with The Sasha Project?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and started my 25+ year career with Levi’s after graduating from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 1991. My husband and I were married in 2006 and celebrated the birth of our daughter Sasha in 2008. From the day she was born, Sasha has been living with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. To help manage and improve her physical challenges, she is monitored and receives treatment at CHLA and engages in art therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
In Spring of 2006, Sasha started to paint my jeans for therapy (and fun) and now paints them for donations supporting The Sasha Project LA -a non profit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the Mark Taper-Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (For a donation, Sasha will paint your denim). Children’s hospitals including CHLA are charities and rely on donations to fund life-changing programs like this.
Who are some of the celebrities who have reached out and been part of the project?
Kristen Bell, Jessica Biel, Paris Hilton, Chris Pine, Jack Black, Rachel Zoe, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Mackenzie Hancsicsack, Lily Aldridge and Stan Lee.
What are some of Sasha’s favorite items she has worked on?
Anything that has a heart or rainbow on it. She has also had requests to paint splatter luggage and an electric guitar!
What has been some of the biggest challenges so far?
Finding the time and resources to do more!
What would you like people to know the most about Sasha?
Sasha is a sweet, fun, loving, brave, strong and happy young girl. She lives with Cerebral Palsy, but it doesn’t define her. She lives her young life with these challenges but knows and demonstrates daily that her ability is far greater than her disability.
What other projects, events, do you have coming up?
We just launched the “Splatter Squad”, where kids and teens can sign up on our website to join Sasha’s mission to help raise awareness and funds for The Sasha Project LA. We just exhibited at Kidzcon in Los Angeles, and will be participating in a private celebrity hosted event at a pumpkin patch this October. The more we can do, the more we can give back to the children’s hospital that has helped her.
Tell us about the series ‘Real Mom’s’. How did that come about?
Real Moms is an unscripted series featuring 10 moms (including me) of kids treated at children’s hospitals. We’re regular moms with the added challenges and rewards of raising kids with medical conditions. While we live very different lives in different corners of the U.S., we’re connected by this common bond. We get each other and are an amazing support system for each other. We met while our kids served as national champion ambassadors for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a charity that raises critical funds for 170 children’s hospitals across the country. We connected immediately and so did our kids. We jokingly called ourselves The Real Moms of Children’s Hospitals, having a shared interest in advocating for better health care for our kids. The charity’s marketing team had heard and approached us about making a reality series, and here we are!
When I first heard about this I was really excited and knew CMN Hospitals would produce an amazing and inspirational series. I also saw this as a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness for others who might be in similar situations and inspire people to surround themselves with those who accept them and lift them up. Knowing these moms has been life changing. I’m so proud and honored to be a part of this experience with them and their families!
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