By: Amy Pereira, PRISMS Board Member, and Michelle Larscheid, PRISMS Executive Director
Most people think that because I sit on the PRISMS Board, I was the one who found PRISMS after our son’s diagnosis. The truth is, it was my husband, Brian, who found PRISMS and encouraged me to become an active member of the SMS community. When our son, Joey, was diagnosed at 15 months, our world shattered. Our daughter at the time was almost three, and navigating our new normal in the special-needs world with two toddlers was not the life we had planned. The first year was exhausting, and it took a toll on our family. It was then that Brian realized we needed to re-evaluate things and that I needed to be able to channel my energy into something outside of our personal chaos. He researched PRISMS and encouraged me to contact PRISMS Founding Member Maggie Miller. I joined the conference planning committee, and in 2012 Brian and I attended our first PRISMS conference.
Over the years, Brian remained my “silent” partner in the PRISMS world. In addition to organizing and attending fundraisers, he helped with various tasks I volunteered him for, including upgrading our conference technology, chaperoning siblings’ sessions, and sitting at resource tables. Thirteen years later, our family of four attended the 2024 PRISMS conference for the first and last time. In August 2024, we lost Brian in a motorcycle accident.
The Pereira family at the 2024 International Conference in Dallas, TX. From left: Brian, Kaitlyn, Amy, and Joey.
Brian graduated from Sacramento State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He dedicated the majority of his professional career in law enforcement to child exploitation cases and protecting our most vulnerable populations. In addition to serving as an Electronic Crimes Forensic detective for the local police department, he was a member of the FBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Brian’s passion for advocating for children and families evolved from his professional life into his personal life. He valued the supportive work that PRISMS provided to the community. In particular, Brian had a soft spot for our siblings. Watching our daughter, Kaitlyn, with Joey throughout the years and meeting siblings at PRISMS events over the years only confirmed how amazing our siblings are. They are kind and patient; they have empathy and compassion. They are resilient and eager to advocate for their siblings. To watch them engage with their siblings who have SMS is inspiring and hopeful. It was important to Brian that Kaitlyn (and other siblings) understood how valued they are, not only within their families but their communities and the SMS world.
In 2022, PRISMS launched a new conference program dedicated to these remarkable siblings. Ten siblings participated in that first year; by 2024 we had over thirty! Brian spent time with them at the 2024 conference and was extremely impressed with their care and dedication. He was looking forward to helping us expand this program to ensure our sibling community had the resources, connections, and support they needed to navigate through their own journeys while remaining cherished active members of the PRISMS community.
PRISMS is establishing the Brian Pereira Memorial Fund, a tribute to Brian’s legacy, supporting siblings of someone affected by Smith-Magenis Syndrome who embody the same spirit of compassion and dedication that Brian demonstrated. Through this fund, his memory is celebrated, inspiring future generations to carry forward the values he held dear.
PRISMS will award two $1,500 grants for the 2025-2026 academic year to siblings of someone affected by Smith-Magenis Syndrome who will attend a four-year college, community college, trade, or graduate school. Applications will be available on the PRISMS website beginning March 17th.
*Open to students attending school in the U.S.
Would you like to contribute to the Brian Pereira Memorial Fund? You can donate here to support Smith-Magenis Syndrome siblings and help continue Brian’s legacy.