The second annual “Brodeo, Brody Meaux Memorial Rodeo” – a fun-filled rodeo event for local elementary students with special needs – is returning at the end of the month. JoAnn Meaux spoke about the event at the Mayor’s Commission on Disability meeting Thursday.

Meaux and her husband Jimmy Meaux created the event in honor of their late son, Brody Meaux, who died at the age of 20 following complications of MECP2 Duplication Syndrome – a neurodevelopmental genetic condition that occurs most often in males and results in moderate to severe intellectual disability, delayed development of motor skills and progressive deterioration of body functions. Only half of those with MECP2 duplication syndrome survive past the age of 25.

“It’s a very cruel syndrome,” she said. “If you can imagine muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis all rolled into one, that’s the duplication syndrome.”

She said that in her family, the condition is passed down from mothers to sons. Three of JoAnn’s brothers also had MECP2 duplication syndrome and all died before they turned 22. Her sister also had a son with the condition.

When he was nine months old, JoAnn and Jimmy noticed that he wasn’t meeting his development milestones and was classified as developmentally delayed. At three, he entered the Calcasieu Parish school system able to walk, but not talk. JoAnn said that his ambition and skills with technology allowed him to communicate in his own ways.

After genetic testing that was done in 2005, Brody was the first person in the world to be officially and medically identified by MECP2 duplication syndrome. The testing was conducted by Dr. Huda Yahya Zoghbi, a world renowned Lebanese-born American geneticist. JoAnn said that her son’s diagnosis was a medical breakthrough, and that Zoghbi uses his case during presentations.

He attended public school until he was nine years old, but had to receive home-bound educational services after he began having severe seizures. This was the start of the progressive deterioration, and Brody lost his ability to walk and suffered from a compromised respiratory system.

After Brody died on May 25, 2019, JoAnn and Jimmy combined their two worlds – Jimmy works for the LSU Ag Center and is in charge of the Southwest District livestock show rodeo and JoAnn was a teacher – to create a “joyful rodeo experience” for kindergarten to fifth grade moderate to severe special needs students in him memory.

This year’s Brodeo takes place during the school day on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Burton Coliseum. The students will get to dress up in rodeo attire – cowboy hats, bandanas and a stick horse – and participate in 10 rodeo events. JoAnn has made it a mission to ensure that students of all abilities and mobilites will be able to participate.

Last year, 140 kids participated and 75 volunteers donated their time. This year, the Meaux’s expanded the Brodeo to include students from the surrounding parishes and will host over 200 students.

Brodeo is hosted in conjunction with the Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo in Lake Charles. All extra funds that are raised are put towards the Brody Meaux Memorial 4-H scholarship and MECP2 Duplication Syndrome Research.

Sponsorships are available for the event. Donations can be mailed to Southwest District Fatstock Show, 7101 Gulf Hwy., Lake Charles, La. 70607.

For more information, contact JoAnn at 337-802-5208.