You are cordially invited to EnAble of Georgia Foundation’s 8th Annual Trends & Traditions Fashion Show and Luncheon.The purpose of this exciting event is to help EnAble raise money for its Medical Assistance Fund. EnAble is honored to have Roswell Mayor Jere Wood as a first-time model at this annual event. Also gracing the catwalk will be Nicole Jones, wife of former Atlanta Brave Andruw Jones, Ellen Kozlowski, wife of former Atlanta Falcon Brian Kozlowski, and Donna Lowry of 11 Alive News. A few individuals served by the organization will be featured models as well.

EnAble recognizes the personal gifts, interests, preferences, and needs of each person served, and individualizes the services they provide so that each person is enabled to live and work as a full participant in community life. Several of those served by EnAble require medical and dental care that is not covered by their Medicaid funding. These individuals do not have the family financial support to assist with their care. As a result, EnAble must absorb those costs, which add up to several thousand dollars  each year.

EnAble of Georgia, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides residential, vocational, and personal support services to more than 100 adults who have developmental disabilities. These disabilities are attributable, but not limited to: autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and mental retardation. EnAble was founded in 1979 by a group of concerned parents seeking a place in their own community  for their adult children. EnAble is proud to celebrate 30 years of providing excellent service in the community.

by Tish Ford

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Please contact DeAnn Rauth, director of development, at 678.468.9980 or drauth@enablega.org. EnAble’s main office is located at 1200 Old Ellis Road, Roswell, Ga. 30076. For more information, call 770.664.434, or visit EnAble’s Web site at www.enablega.org

Although the country continues to struggle through a bleak recession, the Child Development Association (CDA) in Roswell provides a bright ray of hope for children 12 months to 5 years old from low-income, working families that are striving for self-sufficiency. The CDA serves 140 children and employs a team of 28 full-time teachers plus child development specialists and administrative staff. The end result is an exemplary local program that is fully accredited and makes a real impact on the lives of the children it serves.

The mission of the CDA, which was founded by a group of concerned citizens in 1967, is to enable the preschool children of low-income, working families in our community to make a great start toward a bright future. Not only does the CDA provide outstanding, NAEYC-accredited childcare, it also offers a comprehensive nutrition program, numerous health-related screenings, and a wide range of family resources. In 2004 the CDA was honored in Washington with the national Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award for outstanding programs addressing the needs of disadvantaged families and neighborhoods. In 2008, they received a Green Champion designation and special grant funds from the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta for their commitment to energy conservation and green building practices.

The most amazing aspect of the CDA is that it is a nonprofit organization supported by private contributions from individuals, foundations, civic and faith organizations. Executive Director Donna Smythe, who has devoted her career to the nonprofit world, says, “I am very pleased to be at the helm of an organization with such a rich history of community support and involvement. For more than 40 years we have nurtured children and strengthened families,  but we have not taken one step alone—the community has been with us every step of the way.”

You can help make a difference in the life of a local child. The Child Development Association is currently accepting tax-deductible donations. Smythe stresses, “This is a critical time for the CDA; the economy has hit hard and stretched our resources frankly beyond the limit. We need support now more than ever to sustain our mission.”

by Jackie Kass

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For more information, visit cdakid.org or call 770.992.4006.

Jackie Kass is a frequent contributor to the Atlanta Northside Family and Parenting Examiner. You can check out her library of 500+ parenting articles at www.Examiner.com.

Six-year-old Megan has what’s known as mitochondrial disease (mito for short),
a deadly cell disorder occurring most often in children. It is difficult to treat and, because it manifests itself in so many different ways, challenging to diagnose. There is no known cure.

Mito robs the body’s cells of energy, preventing them from recharging and inhibiting basic life-sustaining functions and growth. Gastrointestinal deficiencies are a common symptom, and are what first alerted Megan’s parents, Trey and Laura, that something was wrong. Sadly, despite all the ways it exhibits itself, and the high rate of occurrence of the disease—a child is born with it every 30 minutes—most people are unfamiliar with this deadly illness.

FAITH
It can be overwhelming, even staggering, to deal with a child suffering from mito. Aside from countless trips to specialists, medical procedures and prescriptions that must be endured in waging this insurmountable war, there is the human side of it all, where the core of the very thing in which a person believes can be greatly shaken. Mito has taken its toll, but the Sheridans’ faith has stood strong.

“I sometimes find myself asking God why he would allow this to happen to Megan,” Trey admits. “But I take comfort in knowing that there is a reason behind it and he has a plan, so we just have to trust him wherever this takes us.”

Part of where that faith has led is to increase mito awareness as much as possible, sparking the creation of Music for Megan. In its third year, the family-friendly festival focuses on raising awareness and offering fun for all ages with a concert, climbing walls, pony rides, face-painting, balloon artists, moonwalks, games, free popcorn, raffles, food, drinks and more. Local favorite Banks & Shane will be the headlining performer.

HOPE
The event has grown each year, as has its success in increasing public awareness of mito, giving a glimmer of hope that a successful treatment protocol is closer at hand. There is even hope for a miracle with Megan’s ailments, though her health struggles continue to mount.

This time last year, she was full of as much life as her little body could produce, and enjoyed all that the festival bearing her name had to offer. But now the disease has become debilitating. “She went from being very stable to her mito really progressing in a short time span,” Laura explains. “Her brain has stopped regulating her breathing which requires her to be on oxygen 24 hours a day. She also suffers up to 40 seizures daily, as well as very bad asthma and reflux.”

Regardless of what the future holds, the Sheridans hope Music for Megan will ultimately contribute to the creation of something that will give hope to all who must endure this awful disease.

“Our dream is to one day have a mito clinic where people can come and have this disease properly diagnosed, treated, and studied, and ultimately find a cure,” Trey adds.

LOVE
Beyond all the complications, struggles and uncertainties, though, is something that cannot be overcome by incurable diseases: the love shared by Megan, her parents, brother Tyler, and the rest of her family and friends.

So come to Music for Megan for a fun, family outing and so much more. You’ll help build the faith of the Sheridans and other families struggling against mito, instill hope for ultimately finding a cure, and experience the love of a little girl who’s an inspiration to us all.

“The thing about Megan is when she loves something, she loves it with all she has,” her mother adds.

That alone is the greatest of all these things.

Learn more about mito at www.umdf.org.

Matt Wilson is local freelance writer available at matt@inkforhire.com.