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Contents: You've Gotta Love Rudy The best way to tell
the story of Rudy Garcia Tolson is from the beginning, unembellished and
without commentary. Many
stories require some degree of artifice to convey why they’re worth
telling or to elicit a desired reaction to the audience.
This one does not. Rudy
was born on September 14, 1988, to Ricardo Garcia and Sandy Tolson.
It was a traumatic event. Rudy
entered the world with a rare congenital disorder, Pterygium Syndrome
which caused webbed hands, a cleft lip and palate and legs that would be
amputated. “His father
and I could not accept this decision.”
Over the next five years, Rudy’s doctors tried something else
and something else and something else.
He endured 15 operations. His
hands and mouth saw excellent functional and cosmetic improvements but
his legs were another matter. The
amputation surgery finally took place toward the end of Rudy’s
kindergarten year. Within
two weeks, he was back in class using a wheelchair.
A short time later, he was using his first pair of prosthetic
legs and a walker. After
one week, he commented, “I don’t need that walker anymore” and he
was off. Michael Davidson,
Rudy’s prosthetist at Loma Linda Medical Center, says Rudy’s ability
to adapt to artificial appendages surpassed even his greatest hopes and
expectations. But with
Rudy, one learns that expectations are always exceeded. While the adaptation went smoothly on a physical level, Rudy
could not help but mourn the loss of his legs.
His parents took him to a counselor who suggested sports and
Ricardo thought of swimming. Within
a month, he joined a youth swim team and for the next year competed
exclusively against able-bodied kids, beating the trunks off of them. Craving challenges and showing remarkable promise as an
athlete, Rudy was transferred from the YMCA to an aquatics team in
nearby Rialto, CA where the competition - still against able-bodied kids
- was far more intense. Soon thereafter as
expenses associated with Rudy’s athletic endeavors began to mount,
Sandy sought sponsorships for her little prodigy.
After many failures, PowerBar accepted Rudy, first supplying
product only and then outright financial assistance.
On a fateful Sunday in June of 1996, Rudy participated in his
first local road race. While
milling around the expo area, Rudy was approached by a fit-looking
middle-aged man who asked, “What’s with all the PowerBar stickers on
your legs?” Rudy
explained that he was a swimmer (sponsored by PowerBar) who trained 10
hours a week and was going to compete in the 2004 Paralympics.
The intrigued man was none other than Terry Martin, age-group
triathlete extraordinaire and director of special promotions for
PowerBar. Enamored by Rudy
and recalling that the San Bernardino Tinman sprint triathalon would
take place in two weeks, Martin asked the youngster if he’d like to
team up for a relay. Rudy
was only too eager and his parents were fully behind it.
It was a run/bike/swim and “We wound up beating all the open
relay teams; an 8 year old double amputee and a 50 year old triathlete.
I held Rudy up at the awards ceremony and people would not stop
cheering. That was the
beginning of it all.” Martin has continued
to guide Rudy through greater and greater challenges and recently he
completed his first solo triathalon, using kneeless legs for the run and
jointed legs for the bike. Martin
explains that he introduces celebrities to Rudy to inspire him, because
they’re great actors, like Robin Williams or great athletes like Dave
Johnson. But every time
it’s the same, they are all inspired by Rudy.
According to dad, “Rudy is proving that challenged kids can do
anything other kids can do. Rudy’s mom believes that he is opening doors for other
challenged athletes. “I
know that when Rudy grows up, there will be another 8 or 9 year old
facing challenges who will say, Rudy is my hero.” The North American
Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), founded in 1969, now has
more than 600 therapeutic riding programs throughout the United States
and Canada. Horseback riding improves balance, posture and coordination,
mobilizes the trunk and pelvis, strengthens muscles, improves attention
span, promotes independence and facilitates social skills. The program
is directed by a therapeutic riding instructor, a therapist and
volunteers who act as "spotters" leading the horse and
supporting the child. While increasing physical abilities by using the
reins and their legs to control the horse, students also learn to use
verbal commands such as "walk on" to command the horse to
trot. I saw a child who
couldn’t walk I saw a child who
could only crawl Meet the Seidls - by John Seidl "You be Woody
and I'll be Buzz." I've been every character in Toy Story at one time or another. Being fortunate to have a child with
a vivid and active imagination has made this possible. James, who
happens to have cerebral palsy, is a typical five year old. He is bright
and energetic with an imagination that drives his play and laughter. And
sometimes even results in extra stretching exercises as we pretend to
lift off to the stars. James has a busy
schedule that includes school and six structured therapy sessions each
week. Lekotek is a welcome break and the toys and computer games
selected by his Lekotek leader, Courtney, provide our family with hours
of fun. With mobility challenges and James' genuine interest in
technology, the computer environment creates opportunities for
recreation and learning. As an added Lekotek bonus, I have the pleasure
of serving on the Lekotek board of directors. I know "up close and
personal" that the staff is talented and dedicated and the
organization well managed and fiscally sound. Our family life is hectic,
but blessed to have a very special child be a part of it. His mom and I
can think of nothing we'd rather do on this Earth than be with James to
"Infinity and Beyond". --
The Country Club of the South Charity Guild selected Lekotek as one of
four charities to benefit from a weekend of fun and fundraising. A
successful tour of homes, gala dinner and silent auction netted $68,000
for each charity. This donation is the largest in Lekotek's eighteen
year history. It will be allocated to two Lekotek leader positions at
the new Alpharetta satellite where 150 children are waiting for
services. We sincerely appreciate the tireless efforts of the charity
guild. -- Annually,
the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities recognizes
individuals who have made a difference in the community. Lekotek founder
and director, Helene Prokesch, received the Bobby Dodd Award, named
after the Georgia Tech coach who made a difference in the lives of so
many Atlanta youngsters with disabilities. The Bobby Dodd Award was
presented to Helene and reads "in appreciation and recognition of
your consistent outstanding leadership and efforts which have benefited
persons with developmental disabilities." According to Robyn
Berger, a parent and professional, "The Bobby Dodd award is one of
the highest awards given in our community and I can think of no one who
deserves it more. Helene and Lekotek provide services to
children and families with passion and compassion." -- Dr. MaryAnn Romski, professor at Georgia State and former Lekotek board member, received a five year grant from the (NIDCD) National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders to study the role of early language intervention in the communication development of 2-3 year olds who are not talking and who have developmental delays. The twelve week intervention program teaches families to implement communication therapy in their home environments. The project is in the process of recruiting interested families. For additional information contact Melissa Cheslock, Project Coordinator at 404-631-3473 or mcheslock@gsu.edu. --
The
Lekotek/Focus holiday party had a record attendance of 200 children and
family members. Everyone enjoyed caricatures by John Brady, the best
Santa in Atlanta (who chooses to be
with us on the busiest day of the holiday season), arts and
crafts and music, cookie decorating and a great holiday luncheon.
Lekotek wishes to thank the Kroger Company for gift certificates and the
Northlake Kiwanis Club and Tucker High School Key Club
volunteers. Mark your calendars for the second annual Lekotek Golf Classic to be held Monday, May 7th at the beautiful championship Smoke Rise Golf & Country Club. The tournament is off to a great start thanks to the generosity of presenting sponsor Lou Perez with Check Mate Staffing Solutions and leader board sponsor Michael Antonelli with AIM Systems. Registration fees include range balls, cart, green fees, breakfast, lunch, a team photo, prizes and entry gifts. We are in need of additional sponsorships, raffle items and volunteers. If you can help in any of these areas please let us know. If you are interested in playing in the tournament please contact Lekotek and we will be happy to mail you a brochure. Toy of the Month: Bowling is for Everyone With the touch of a single switch connected to the POSS-I-BOWL 2000 electronic control, children with physical disabilities can enjoy bowling alongside their peers. Poss-I-Bowl attaches to any tubular bowling ramp and enables the bowler to release the ball with the slightest touch of a control switch. The control switch is activated by gentle pressure from the child's hand or head releasing the ball and sending it down the alley for a score. The Poss-I-Bowl electronic unit is lightweight and completely portable, operating on a 9 volt battery. It attaches to any bowling ramp. Jim Steinke, owner of Innovative Products, generously donated both the control unit and ramp to Lekotek. Both are available to families for loan. For additional information on this product and other Innovative Products contact Jim at 1 - 800 - 950-5185, visit his Web Site: http://www.iphope.com/ or call Lekotek for a product catalogue.
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