Walk/Run/Bike-a-Thon for Small Minds That Matter
Stroke Awareness Organization Walks in Solidarity with National Stomp Out Sickle Cell.
Macon, GA, September 14, 2008 --(PR.com)-- When a Stomp Out Sickle Cell consultant in Washington, D.C. contacted Shannon Morris about conducting a walk-a-thon in Georgia to augment their nationwide walk effort for National Sickle Cell Awareness month, she was conflicted. She doesn't have a direct connection to sickle cell, although she's helped with blood and marrow donor campaigns in Boston years ago for Sickle Cell and Thalassemic disorders. In fact, she now runs a non-profit for Pediatric Stroke awareness and related neurological issues for children.
Morris was already working out details for a walk in honor of pediatric stroke survivors, when she came across several articles about a teen nearby who'd had two strokes due to sickle cell. She says learning more about the disease and how it really could turn into a situation as serious as hers and even moreso for many families, really hit home for her.
Morris founded Minds that Matter (also known as the Morris Foundation for Pediatric Neurology) in honor of her 6-year-old son, Ashton. The foundation aims to help ease the transition for parents of newly diagnosed children. She says she and her husband gave birth in Boston in May 2002 and had no reason not to expect a healthy baby. Unexpected trauma led to meconium aspiration into his lungs, leading to excessive lung damage, and within a week they learned he'd had a stroke.
Morris learned Ashton's chances of survival were low given the circumstances. He was administered last rites within hours of birth and immediately transferred to Children's Hospital of Boston. There he was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and stabilized. Eventually, he was well enough to be transferred back to his original birth hospital, St. Elizabeth's of Boston, in the neonatal intensive care unit, where he stayed until nearly a month old.
The Morrises say they are fortunate to have had such an intuitive medical community in Boston, and that early detection, Early Intervention (Birth to age 3) services in Massachusetts and Georgia along with private therapies, supportive family, teachers and community have all played an important part in Ashton's progression. He went from quite developmentally delayed to having (now) a largely normal lifestyle, thriving in first grade. His cerebral palsy had some medical experts questioning early on when or if he would walk, saying he'd need to come home from the hospital on oxygen. Now he's running. He still needs therapy, but he's living a very balanced, fun life. Morris says "Mark my words. Some of those who can't participate in the walk now definitely will in the future. These are pretty determined kids. They'll figure out how to adapt, to do just what they want."
Shannon says she is proud to walk in solidarity with National Stomp out Sickle Cell. Both communities raise awareness for important children's health issues that ultimately will fund research to allow children to live longer than ever projected, and focus on prevention of repeat occurances of life-threatening events. Currently, children with history of stroke have exponentially higher chances of repeat strokes. Sickle cell patients have 221 times the rate of stroke occurance of other children, according to the AHA.
The walk/fun run/bike-a-thon will be held in Macon at the Georgia Industrial Children's Home on September 27, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. The walk features a Victory Lap for Survivors at beginning of race. Registration and sponsor booth setup will be from7:30-9:00. Water and refreshments will be provided for walkers. Play equipment will be available for children. The $35 fee to enter is waived for survivors of stroke, sickle cell, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or related issues.
For more information or to request registration forms:
The Morris Foundation for Pediatric Neurology
Shannon Morris
Executive Director
(478) 319-9075
Email: information@mindsthatmatter.org
video: www.youtube.com/mindsthatmatter
###
Morris was already working out details for a walk in honor of pediatric stroke survivors, when she came across several articles about a teen nearby who'd had two strokes due to sickle cell. She says learning more about the disease and how it really could turn into a situation as serious as hers and even moreso for many families, really hit home for her.
Morris founded Minds that Matter (also known as the Morris Foundation for Pediatric Neurology) in honor of her 6-year-old son, Ashton. The foundation aims to help ease the transition for parents of newly diagnosed children. She says she and her husband gave birth in Boston in May 2002 and had no reason not to expect a healthy baby. Unexpected trauma led to meconium aspiration into his lungs, leading to excessive lung damage, and within a week they learned he'd had a stroke.
Morris learned Ashton's chances of survival were low given the circumstances. He was administered last rites within hours of birth and immediately transferred to Children's Hospital of Boston. There he was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and stabilized. Eventually, he was well enough to be transferred back to his original birth hospital, St. Elizabeth's of Boston, in the neonatal intensive care unit, where he stayed until nearly a month old.
The Morrises say they are fortunate to have had such an intuitive medical community in Boston, and that early detection, Early Intervention (Birth to age 3) services in Massachusetts and Georgia along with private therapies, supportive family, teachers and community have all played an important part in Ashton's progression. He went from quite developmentally delayed to having (now) a largely normal lifestyle, thriving in first grade. His cerebral palsy had some medical experts questioning early on when or if he would walk, saying he'd need to come home from the hospital on oxygen. Now he's running. He still needs therapy, but he's living a very balanced, fun life. Morris says "Mark my words. Some of those who can't participate in the walk now definitely will in the future. These are pretty determined kids. They'll figure out how to adapt, to do just what they want."
Shannon says she is proud to walk in solidarity with National Stomp out Sickle Cell. Both communities raise awareness for important children's health issues that ultimately will fund research to allow children to live longer than ever projected, and focus on prevention of repeat occurances of life-threatening events. Currently, children with history of stroke have exponentially higher chances of repeat strokes. Sickle cell patients have 221 times the rate of stroke occurance of other children, according to the AHA.
The walk/fun run/bike-a-thon will be held in Macon at the Georgia Industrial Children's Home on September 27, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. The walk features a Victory Lap for Survivors at beginning of race. Registration and sponsor booth setup will be from7:30-9:00. Water and refreshments will be provided for walkers. Play equipment will be available for children. The $35 fee to enter is waived for survivors of stroke, sickle cell, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or related issues.
For more information or to request registration forms:
The Morris Foundation for Pediatric Neurology
Shannon Morris
Executive Director
(478) 319-9075
Email: information@mindsthatmatter.org
video: www.youtube.com/mindsthatmatter
###
Contact
Minds that Matter
Shannon Morris
478-319-9075
www.mindsthatmatter.org
www.youtube.com/mindsthatmatter
Shannon Morris
478-319-9075
www.mindsthatmatter.org
www.youtube.com/mindsthatmatter
Contact
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