Lesa's Story
Dear Senator Berger,
I want to say a few words about Smart Start and what it means to my family.
The most important reason that I am for Smart Start is the fact that it has been vital in the lives of my grandchildren. As you probably already know, I have a granddaughter with a brain tumor. If it had not been for the program through Smart Start, we probably would not have noticed her vision problem and ultimately found the brain tumor as early in her life as we did. It was the individual that comes to the home and works with the parents and the newborn children on up through entering school that noticed that there were some delays in Brooke’s development. By the time Brooke was 5-7 months old, with the recommendation of the Parents as Teachers worker, the doctors were involved, she was put in glasses and then followed up a few months later (at age 11 months) with an MRI – and thus her tumor was found. At that time the tumor was already the size of a golf ball.
Ms. Wanda Sparks was instrumental in the tumor being found. She has followed up with Brooke and her development on a regular basis bringing in specialist, therapist, coordinator for the NC School of the Blind, etc. All in trying to ensure that Brooke has all the care and tools that she needs in her development for now and in the future.
This program is VERY important to us. I know that Brooke is not the only child that has benefited from the program. I know that the support that my daughter has received through this program has helped her cope with the day-in day-out situation with a special needs child. It has also been a tremendous benefit for her older child that has to deal with being a sibling of an ill child.
Brooke is almost 3 1/2 now and has been undergoing chemo since Sept. 09. This program has been with her since birth and was there for her sister, Emily, up until she started school this year.
Please let me know what I can do to help try to keep Smart Start alive. Without Smart Start – there is a possibility that Brooke wouldn’t be with us today.
Lesa Southard, Rockingham County
