Knights Of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive Planned Friday, Saturday
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Knights Of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive Planned Friday, Saturday
By Jennifer [email protected]
The tootsie roll drive will be from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The effort, which collects donations and gives Tootsie Rolls in exchange, routinely collects $15,000 to $20,000 over the course of two days, according to Michelle Boxell, Cardinal Services community relations director.[[In-content Ad]]The funds go to support the Special Olympics of Kosciusko County and the First Steps Program of Cardinal Services.
First Steps is an early intervention program for children from birth to 3 years old who are experiencing a developmental delay. Therapists visit the child in their home, working with the entire family to help the child to develop.
This year's Tootsie Roll Drive Sponsor Child is Addi Blosser, who was born with many of her internal organs growing outside her 3-pound body.
Each of the first seven days after her birth, doctors would tuck a bit more of Addi's organs into her body.
"Not everything is where it usually goes, but it all works," according to her mother, Derra.
Not long after going home, it became evident that Addi was going to need more help. She was unable to gain weight and even after a month at home, she still weighed less than 4 pounds.
Numerous visits to Riley's Hospital included insertion of a tube so she could be fed, and a doctor's referral to First Steps so Addi could begin receiving crucial early therapies.
Cardinal's occupational therapist worked with Addi, helping nurture muscle development. Derra tells how Addi's arms were stiff and stuck straight out at her sides "like a little t," making it impossible for her to reach out and grasp things.
Slowly and with the proper therapy, this was overcome and Addi began to reach out like other children her age. Each day, new games like working with Play-Doh and puzzles made her stronger.
Addi also needed speech therapy. Since she was not eating, the muscles in and around her mouth were not developing, so the speech therapist worked with Addi to stimulate these muscles.
This development also encouraged her to want to eat, and slowly she began to take food by mouth, learning to work the different textures with her tongue, chew and swallow. Slowly, step-by-step, Addi was growing and developing into a healthy toddler.
Now at 3-years-old, Addi is eating as any other toddlers. She walks, talks, plays and laughs like other children her age.
It's been a long road, but Addi's parents are thankful for First Steps and the therapists who helped bring their family to this point.
Addi's older sister started school last year, and Addi is looking forward to going to school with her. When she does, Addi should start kindergarten needing no further therapy.
The tootsie roll drive will be from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The effort, which collects donations and gives Tootsie Rolls in exchange, routinely collects $15,000 to $20,000 over the course of two days, according to Michelle Boxell, Cardinal Services community relations director.[[In-content Ad]]The funds go to support the Special Olympics of Kosciusko County and the First Steps Program of Cardinal Services.
First Steps is an early intervention program for children from birth to 3 years old who are experiencing a developmental delay. Therapists visit the child in their home, working with the entire family to help the child to develop.
This year's Tootsie Roll Drive Sponsor Child is Addi Blosser, who was born with many of her internal organs growing outside her 3-pound body.
Each of the first seven days after her birth, doctors would tuck a bit more of Addi's organs into her body.
"Not everything is where it usually goes, but it all works," according to her mother, Derra.
Not long after going home, it became evident that Addi was going to need more help. She was unable to gain weight and even after a month at home, she still weighed less than 4 pounds.
Numerous visits to Riley's Hospital included insertion of a tube so she could be fed, and a doctor's referral to First Steps so Addi could begin receiving crucial early therapies.
Cardinal's occupational therapist worked with Addi, helping nurture muscle development. Derra tells how Addi's arms were stiff and stuck straight out at her sides "like a little t," making it impossible for her to reach out and grasp things.
Slowly and with the proper therapy, this was overcome and Addi began to reach out like other children her age. Each day, new games like working with Play-Doh and puzzles made her stronger.
Addi also needed speech therapy. Since she was not eating, the muscles in and around her mouth were not developing, so the speech therapist worked with Addi to stimulate these muscles.
This development also encouraged her to want to eat, and slowly she began to take food by mouth, learning to work the different textures with her tongue, chew and swallow. Slowly, step-by-step, Addi was growing and developing into a healthy toddler.
Now at 3-years-old, Addi is eating as any other toddlers. She walks, talks, plays and laughs like other children her age.
It's been a long road, but Addi's parents are thankful for First Steps and the therapists who helped bring their family to this point.
Addi's older sister started school last year, and Addi is looking forward to going to school with her. When she does, Addi should start kindergarten needing no further therapy.
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