SIKESTON -- While there will be various types of entertainment at the 37th annual Kenny Rogers Children's Center Telethon on March 18-19, the real stars are the children who benefit.
Although all of the children who receive therapy through Kenny Rogers Children's Center are stars, this year five were chosen as poster children to help educate the public of the work done at the center.
Selected for this year's Telethon are: Alyssa Carlyle, Henley Newman, Jake Pritchett, Marshall Pullen and James Slayton.
Alyssa Carlyle is the 8-year-old daughter of Martin Jr. and Susan Carlyle of East Prairie, Mo. Since going to KRCC her parents have noticed that she has become more confident, independent and fearless.
When Alyssa first began going to the Center, she needed help with things like tying her shoes, fastening her buttons and working the zippers. But now her parents said she can tie her own shoes independently and is dressing herself completely from the buttons to the zippers.
"Her upper body strength has improved and she is able to do so much more than before," her parents said.
Also improving are her hand writing skills along with her speech and language skills.
"She is staying in between the lines of the paper and her words are becoming easier to read," her parents said. "Before, carrying on a conversation with Alyssa you would really have to focus on her and listen very carefully. Now while carrying on a conversation with her you can understand what she is trying to say because she has learned to use her sentences correctly and in the right order."
Henley Newman is the 6-year-old daughter of Katie Newman of Sikeston. Since going to KRCC, her mother said she has noticed a change in Henley's "I do it" attitude.
"This is not an area that she has lacked in, but since going to KRCC it seems like Henley's confidence has improved and she is willing to give something more than one shot before asking for help," Katie Newman said. "It has allowed me to see how much she is willing to push herself."
Henley's independence in her gait trainer/walker has improved and she is now able to maneuver around objects better than ever before. She also has improved in tolerating different textures (sensory), holding writing utensils, writing/drawing and verbalizing her wants, needs and comments.
"Henley continues to improve and progress in every way," Katie Newman said. "She continues to do things doctors said she never would do. I'm confident she wouldn't have made it as far as she has without KRCC."
Jake Pritchett is the 6-year-old son of Jill and Chad Pritchett of Kennett, Mo. Since beginning therapy at KRCC, Jake's parents said he is more independent and stronger and now uses canes instead of his walker.
"He has had the very best of therapy since coming to the Kenny Rogers Children's Center," Jill Pritchett said. "I never would have imagined the type of facility with every piece of equipment needed for his disability."
Jake's parents have also seen his confidence and stability drastically improve.
"The therapist give their 100 percent attention to Jake and always have a 'can do/will do' attitude that I appreciate so much as a parent," Jill Pritchett said.
She added that Jake is actively involved in therapy from the time he walks in the door until the time he leaves.
"Brandy and the other therapists have a way of making therapy a fun time for Jake while also pushing him as far as possible," Jill Pritchett said. "We don't call it 'therapy,' we call it 'practice' because they do what athletes do to succeed and improve. KRCC has been a blessing."
Marshall Pullen is the 7-year-old son of Stephanie and Derrick Pullen of Sikeston. Diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 3, Marshall first started receiving therapy at KRCC four years ago after undergoing brain surgery to remove a cancerous brain tumor and has seen many ups and downs since, according to his parents.
Marshall's first goal when beginning therapy was to strengthen him in a very short period of time so he would be strong enough to undergo cancer treatments.
"He made tremendous progress in a little over two weeks and was able to begin radiation treatments on time when doctors weren't even sure if he would ever be strong enough to receive them," his parents said.
Marshall has finished his cancer treatments, is currently cancer free. Now he and his therapists work diligently to strengthen him and give back some of the things cancer took from him.
"He is cancer free, but cancer still affects him every day," his parents said. "Cancer took his ability to have a conversation and to express his wants and needs. Cancer took his ability to walk without a great deal of assistance. Cancer made him completely dependent on caregivers for normal daily activities."
Most recently, he lost his ability to eat by mouth due to the side effects of his cancer treatments and he now relies on IV nutrition.
"We have faith that, as he has in the past, he will once again communicate, walk, and eat by mouth someday because of the services he receives at the Kenny Rogers Children's Center," his parents said. "We have that much confidence in these amazing therapists. We trust them with his life, because his quality of life depends on the work they do every day.
"To say that the work that is done at the center is life changing is an understatement. For Marshall, the services he has received have not only been life changing but life saving."
James Slayton is the 11-year-old son of Erin McCameron of Diehlstadt, Mo. His mother said the biggest change in James was when he had a gait study done and found out that his tibias had a twist to them.
"He had surgery to straighten them up and had physical therapy," McCameron said. "Now he is able to walk without lots of pain and walks straighter."
James has also been getting occupational therapy and therapists at KRCC have helped him with his handwriting and motor skills.
"Since receiving speech therapy (therapists) have helped him speak clearer and slow down and be more aware of how he is speaking," his mother said.