Six chosen as poster children for Kenny Rogers Children's Center’s annual telethon

SIKESTON — Six local children have been named the poster children for the 42nd Annual Kenny Rogers Children’s Center Telethon.

Set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 25 at the Miner Convention Center, this year’s event will celebrate the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center’s 50th anniversary. The Center provides pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy free of charge to children with special needs throughout Southeast Missouri.

Because the real stars of the Telethon are the children the Center serves, the Center designated six children who utilize its services as poster children for the telethon. This year’s telethon stars are Jesselyn Burns, Randy Burns, Olivia Dambach, Amariyen Hunt, Reed Marshall and Nathan “Nate” Strickland.

Since attending KRCC, Jessalyn Burns’ speech has improved tremendously, according to her mother, Amy Burns.

“Jessalyn is a very sweet, outgoing girl. She loves music, dancing, animals and making new friends. She is now able to do multi-step tasks and solve problems on her own,” Burns said of her daughter.

Burns’ son, Randy Burns, has also benefited from receiving therapy at the Center, she said.

“Randy is a very special young man,” Amy Burns said. “He enjoys anything outside, especially fishing with his dad. He enjoys singing at church. He is able to do whatever he wants now. Of course there is some struggle, but he doesn’t let any of it hold him back.”

Angela Dambach, Olivia Dambach’s mother, said in the last year, Olivia’s therapist has been able to pull her daughter out of her shell.

“Olivia started speech therapy 1-1/2 years ago at KRCC,” Angela Dambach said. “Olivia had issues interacting with others, wouldn’t make eye contact, and would not speak. The only way she communicated was by pulling on your hands and putting it on the object she wanted.”

Today, Olivia’s therapist has her speaking words, using an AAC device to help her communicate, making more eye contact and helping her be able to express herself, Olivia’s mother said. AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. Communication devices, systems, strategies and tools that replace or support natural speech are known as augmentative and alternative communication.

“While attending KRCC, Amariyen has learned how to manipulate toys in the correct way rather than putting them in his mouth. He excelled in exploring different foods and graduated from eating baby foods to solids, eliminating using his G-button altogether,’ said his mother, Diana Truss.

A G-button stands for gastrostomy button, which is used to feed a child or give medicine.

Amariyen also grew much stronger in his upper body and legs through his therapy at KRCC, Truss said.

“He went from using a gait trainer to a walker and now he is walking all on his own,” Truss said of her son. “We are so proud of the goals he has achieved while at KRCC.”

Dana Marshall, said it’s hard to say what her son, Reed’s, life would be like without the amazing services from his team of physical, occupational and speech therapists, but she knows without a doubt, he would not be anywhere near where his now.

“He has been so blessed to never view any of his therapy as “hard work,” Marshall said. “ It was just a fun time with people that he knew loved him and wanted him to succeed. He has a natural sense of determination and drive, and his therapy team has truly used that to help him succeed at everything he tries. Reed is so lucky to have KRCC in his life.”

Cathy Strickland said her son, Nate, has been attending KRCC for several years.

“Without physical therapy each week, I’m confident he would not be as strong as he is today,” Strickland said of her son. “He loves coming to the Center each week, and we are thankful for the relationships he has developed over the years with the therapists.”

Nate had major surgery a year and a half ago, his mother said.

“With the help of the therapists at KRCC, he has made a full recovery, and he is stronger than he was before,” Strickland said.

Several activities and food trucks are scheduled throughout the day of the telethon on Saturday. Visit kennyrogerscenter.org/telethon for more details.