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POUND RIDGE LIONS CLUB JS PROJECT – Final Report April 2008 |
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JS is a local boy with Spinal Muscular
Atrophy (SMA), a condition that necessitates confinement for life to a wheelchair. He lives with is dad, a local postal
employee, his mom and his sister. The
family has been part of our community for three generations. Their residence is a small, old,
three-floor house. Since there is no
way to access the upper stories with the wheelchair, the family must live on
the first floor. In addition JS is now
too heavy to be carried up and down the narrow stairs. The parents approached the Pound Ridge Lions
Club requesting assistance. Upon our
initial evaluation it was determined that sufficient issues (medical, therapeutic, environmental and
financial) existed to justify charitable involvement. It was felt that
the best approach to provide the necessary assistance would be to first unite
the synergy of the community’s volunteer organizations on the boys behalf and
then go public soliciting the required funds Representatives of the local Fire Department, Neighbor to
Neighbor (Local Senior Citizen Outreach Group), Ambulance Corp., Community
Church, Police Benevolent Association, Business Association, Lions Club and
select youth groups met to discuss the issues and options. During the first 90 days of the project we enrolled JS in
a Columbia University Hospital Research Project on SMA for a full medical
evaluation and ongoing treatment program; replaced his power wheelchair that
he had outgrown; and purchased a new portable vehicle ramp as the new
wheelchair was too wide for the old ramp.
Advocates were set up to assist in managing the ongoing Medicaid and
Social Services issues and we found qualified respite assistance for the
parents. Upon our completion of our environmental evaluation of the
resident structure we created a master plan that called for the boxing in of
the porch area of the residence expanding the first floor. The new first floor will provide for a new
second bedroom designed for a handicapped child and an expanded living area
where James can conduct his therapy and socialize. Additionally, an elevator to the second
floor so that JS could visit his sister and be part of the full family
activities. In January 2006 we went
public to raise the required funds for the project estimated at $100,000.
Since then the project cost increased by $40,000 due to the Building
Departments criteria for a full sprinkler system to be included as well as
other major improvements to the structure. By September 2007 we had the required funds
to start construction and by May 2008 the project was completed. It is the
expansion of the living area that will contribute the most to the overall
improvement of the child’s, as well as the family’s quality of life and
provide the space required for proper physical therapy,. On behalf of the family and as President of
the Pound Ridge Lions I wish to express thanks to the entire community that
banded together to help one of its own. Lion Daniel C.
Bathrick |
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