Gift Of Life Recipient 2007

I am writing to you with a plea and a request for financial aid for my daughter Sophia.  She is a 4 ½ year old who is legally blind (cortical visual impairment) along with several other conditions that were discovered during my 6th month of pregnancy.  She is also diagnosed with microcephaly (small brain), lissencephaly (smooth brain), feeding problems, seizure disorder, and underdeveloped brain matter in the occipital and parietal regions.  Due to the malformations of her brain, she is unable to walk (without assistance), speak, feed herself, or “play” like a typical child.  Her cognition level is extremely low, lower than a typical 4 ½ year old. 

Please do not let these conditions mislead you.  She is one of the happiest little girls you will meet!!  She does have comprehension of her surroundings and can react accordingly.  She thrives on interaction with all people including her age-appropriate peers.  She has made incredible advances in the last year and I only see that improving in the future as long as she receives the stimulation she so desperately needs.

This is where the concern lies.  She is currently enrolled at a daycare center in Plymouth and will be attending 4K at Horizon in the fall.  The 4K class will take place between the hours of 11:48 am and 3:00 pm Monday through Thursday.  My dilemma is the level of activity during the morning hours and all day Fridays while Sophia is at the Mulberry Bush Day Care Center.  The level of “care” that Sophia requires without an aide would really place her in the infant room at Mulberry Bush.  During this past year, while at Mulberry Bush, Sophia was placed with her age appropriate peers for the morning session.  This was accomplished with an aide from the school district.  The school district can provide an aide for Sophia for part of the day only.  In the afternoon, Sophia was moved to the infant room, although we tried to schedule as many of her therapies in the afternoon to continue to provide appropriate stimulation for her.  This worked well and certainly helped with her advances in the past year.

This next year will be a crucial time in her development.  She will be attending 4K at Horizon where all of her aide time and therapies will be located.     

I am looking to hire a part-time “helper” so Sophia can remain with her 4 year old peers during the morning hours while at Mulberry Bush.  The aide that the school provides must be with her during 4K at Horizon in the afternoon.  Sophia needs a “helper” to be able to remain with her peers at Mulberry.  I DO NOT want her to be transferred back in the infant room.  It is imperative that she stay as involved with the “regular” activities (cutting, story time, going outside, coloring, painting, etc..) as possible.  This will be the last year before she will enter full-day Kindergarten.  Accommodations have been made along the way, and as development continues we just need assistance for this last year of daycare.  After next year the school district will be required to provide full day care for Sophia.

She responds so well to her 4 year old friends and I believe she needs to remain with them to help prepare her and keep her as functioning as possible.  I have already acquired the necessary equipment she requires, she just needs someone to help her utilize these “tools” and help her feel involved.

The additional cost of me hiring an assistant for her will cost me approximately $5600 above what I am already paying for daycare.  Any consideration that could be given to this situation would be greatly appreciated

Thank you for your time.  If there are any questions regarding my situation, please feel free to call me.  My work number is 920-893-6961 (8 am –3pm); home 920-893-0058.  You can also contact Lisa Grimes, director of the Mulberry Bush Child Care Center 920-892-6922.

Hopefully yours,

Kimberly Tracy
504 S Milwaukee St
Plymouth, WI  53073