FW: DSANI Press Release: Special Buddy Walk Guest Rothstein

[Guest guest]

thought I would share this with all of you. -------- Begin forwarded message --------Subject: DSANI Press Release: Special Buddy Walk Guest RothsteinDate: 10/3/2008 11:56:23 AMFrom: DSANI4U@...To: DSANI4U@...On behalf of DSANI, our Public Relations Coordinator Dupuis issued the following press release this morning about a special guest at the Buddy Walk. We are excited to have Rothstein join us tomorrow and look forward to having him kick off the walk. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Senior with Down syndrome Kicking Off the 10 th Annual DSANI Buddy Walk October is National Down Syndrome Awareness month. Locally, the Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana is celebrating by hosting the 10 th Annual DSANI Buddy Walk. Attending the walk this year will be Fort Wayne resident Rothstein, age 72, who is among the oldest living people with Down syndrome in the world. The life expectancy for adults with Down syndrome is presently about 55 years of age due to the introduction of early intervention, advancing medical technology and improved medical care. In contrast, when Rothstein was born the average life span of a person with Down syndrome was nine years. This increase in life expectancy is also attributable to a change in society’s view towards people with developmental disabilities and their care. While people with developmental disabilities were once sent away to institutions and group homes, children are now being raised in their own homes with early intervention therapies and inclusion strategies in communities and public schools. According to ’s caregiver, Nikki Graham, his mother died of cancer in 1965. His living family members, his step-father and sister, were both unable to care for him leaving institutionalization as the only alternative. He shuffled between institutions for 30 years before Nikki & Chuck Graham came into his life. They first met at church. Soon after, the Grahams began taking to St. ’s Church every week. Nikki says that, unlike his four roommates, was very mobile at the time and enjoyed outings. The staffing was inadequate at the facility where he lived, so he was unable to do the things he loved to do. The Grahams were just what he needed to fill the void. They took him out to eat and invited him to their holiday festivities. Nikki says that eventually refused to get out of their car at the nursing facility after visits. He even stopped taking his medicines. The nurses would call Nikki to ask her to remind to take his medicines so that he could join her for another outing the next weekend. The Grahams eventually met with ’s service coordinator, who suggested that he stay with them temporarily until they could find an alternate living arrangement for him. Nikki says, “What started out to be a temporary three month arrangement, turned into 10 years.†When first came home, he had many institutional behaviors to overcome. He hovered over his food, guarding it from potential theft. He wouldn’t wear anything or call it his own unless his name was written inside. He even rearranged the kitchen drawers and cupboards. Nikki laughs, “We had to -proof the home when he came to live with us. We figured that was easier than trying to change him. We learned to go with the flow.†has clearly “beat the odds,†explains Nikki. He was born with thyroid and heart conditions which, at that time were not medically treated. He is currently suffering from dementia, but is otherwise healthy. She adds that they have considered putting him in a nursing facility, but that it gives her peace of mind that he is, “…safe and taken care of. Now, he lives with dignity.†She also noted, “It’s hard to say what all we have learned or gained in our lives by having live with us. I would say patience, understanding, thankfulness and the importance of time, learning to slow down, and to appreciate each day and our blessings.†Rothstein, at age 72, will be kicking-off the 10 th Annual DSANI Buddy Walk on Saturday, October 4th at Park in Fort Wayne. The festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. and all are welcome! Nikki Graham and Rothstein ___________________________________Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

[Guest guest]

Whoa... that was VERY awesome. :-) Thanks for sharing it. Carol in ILMom to , 8 DS My problem is not how I look. It's how you see me.VOTE NOBAMA '08Join our Down Syndrome information group - http://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ DownSyndromeInfo Exchange/ Listen to oldest dd's music http://www.myspace. com/vennamusic DSANI Press Release: Special Buddy Walk Guest RothsteinDate: 10/3/2008 11:56:23 AMFrom: DSANI4Uaol (DOT) comTo: DSANI4Uaol (DOT) comOn behalf of DSANI, our Public Relations Coordinator Dupuis issued the following press release this morning about a special guest at the Buddy Walk. We are excited to have Rothstein join us tomorrow and look forward to having him kick off the walk. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Senior with Down syndrome Kicking Off the 10 th Annual DSANI Buddy Walk October is National Down Syndrome Awareness month. Locally, the Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana is celebrating by hosting the 10 th Annual DSANI Buddy Walk. Attending the walk this year will be Fort Wayne resident Rothstein, age 72, who is among the oldest living people with Down syndrome in the world. The life expectancy for adults with Down syndrome is presently about 55 years of age due to the introduction of early intervention, advancing medical technology and improved medical care. In contrast, when Rothstein was born the average life span of

a person with Down syndrome was nine years. This increase in life expectancy is also attributable to a change in society’s view towards people with developmental disabilities and their care. While people with developmental disabilities were once sent away to institutions and group homes, children are now being raised in their own homes with early intervention therapies and inclusion strategies in communities and public schools. According to ’s caregiver, Nikki Graham, his mother died of cancer in 1965. His living family members, his step-father and sister, were both unable to care for him leaving institutionalizatio n as the only alternative. He shuffled between institutions for 30

years before Nikki & Chuck Graham came into his life. They first met at church. Soon after, the Grahams began taking to St. ’s Church every week. Nikki says that, unlike his four roommates, was very mobile at the time and enjoyed outings. The staffing was inadequate at the facility where he lived, so he was unable to do the things he loved to do. The Grahams were just what he needed to fill the void. They took him out to eat and invited him to their holiday festivities. Nikki says that eventually refused to get out of their car at the nursing facility after visits. He even stopped taking his medicines. The nurses would call Nikki to ask her to remind to take his medicines so that he could join her for another outing the next weekend. The

Grahams eventually met with ’s service coordinator, who suggested that he stay with them temporarily until they could find an alternate living arrangement for him. Nikki says, “What started out to be a temporary three month arrangement, turned into 10 years.” When first came home, he had many institutional behaviors to overcome. He hovered over his food, guarding it from potential theft. He wouldn’t wear anything or call it his own unless his name was written inside. He even rearranged the kitchen drawers and cupboards. Nikki laughs, “We had to -proof the home when he came to live with us. We figured that was easier than trying to change

him. We learned to go with the flow.” has clearly “beat the odds,” explains Nikki. He was born with thyroid and heart conditions which, at that time were not medically treated. He is currently suffering from dementia, but is otherwise healthy. She adds that they have considered putting him in a nursing facility, but that it gives her peace of mind that he is, “…safe and taken care of. Now, he lives with dignity.” She also noted, “It’s hard to say what all we have learned or gained in our lives by having live with us. I would say patience, understanding, thankfulness and the importance of time, learning to

slow down, and to appreciate each day and our blessings.” Rothstein, at age 72, will be kicking-off the 10 th Annual DSANI Buddy Walk on Saturday, October 4th at Park in Fort Wayne. The festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. and all are welcome! Nikki Graham and Rothstein ____________ _________ _________ _____Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

[Guest guest]

What a great story….and God bless that family.

From:

DownSyndromeInfoExchange [mailto:DownSyndromeInfoExchange ]

On Behalf Of Tutwiler

Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 12:16 PM

To: Ds Info Exchange

Subject: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] FW: DSANI Press Release: Special

Buddy Walk Guest Rothstein

thought I would share this with all of you.

-------- Begin forwarded message --------

Subject: DSANI Press Release: Special Buddy Walk Guest

Rothstein

Date: 10/3/2008 11:56:23 AM

From: DSANI4U@...

To: DSANI4U@...

On behalf of DSANI, our Public Relations Coordinator

Dupuis issued the following press release this morning about a special

guest at the Buddy Walk. We are excited to have Rothstein

join us tomorrow and look forward to having him kick off the walk.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senior with Down syndrome Kicking Off the 10 th Annual DSANI

Buddy Walk

October is National Down Syndrome Awareness

month. Locally, the Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana

is celebrating by hosting the 10 th Annual DSANI Buddy Walk.

Attending the walk this year will be Fort Wayne resident

Rothstein, age 72, who is among the oldest living people with Down

syndrome in the world. The life expectancy for adults with Down syndrome

is presently about 55 years of age due to the introduction of early

intervention, advancing medical technology and improved medical

care. In contrast, when Rothstein was born the average

life span of a person with Down syndrome was nine years.

This increase in life expectancy is also attributable to a change in

society’s view towards people with developmental disabilities and their

care. While people with developmental disabilities were once

sent away to institutions and group homes, children are now being raised

in their own homes with early intervention therapies and inclusion

strategies in communities and public schools.

According to ’s caregiver, Nikki Graham, his mother

died of cancer in 1965. His living family members, his

step-father and sister, were both unable to care for him leaving

institutionalization as the only alternative. He shuffled between

institutions for 30 years before Nikki & Chuck Graham came into his

life. They first met at church. Soon after, the

Grahams began taking to St. ’s Church every week.

Nikki says that, unlike his four roommates, was very mobile at the

time and enjoyed outings. The staffing was inadequate at the

facility where he lived, so he was unable to do the things he loved to

do. The Grahams were just what he needed to fill the

void. They took him out to eat and invited him to their

holiday festivities. Nikki says that eventually

refused to get out of their car at the nursing facility after visits. He

even stopped taking his medicines. The nurses would call Nikki to

ask her to remind to take his medicines so that he could join her

for another outing the next weekend. The Grahams

eventually met with ’s service coordinator, who suggested that he

stay with them temporarily until they could find an alternate living

arrangement for him. Nikki says, “What started out to

be a temporary three month arrangement, turned into 10 years.â€

When first came home, he had many institutional

behaviors to overcome. He hovered over his food, guarding it

from potential theft. He wouldn’t wear anything or call it

his own unless his name was written inside. He even rearranged the

kitchen drawers and cupboards. Nikki laughs, “We had to

-proof the home when he came to live with us. We figured that

was easier than trying to change him. We learned to go

with the flow.â€

has clearly “beat the odds,†explains Nikki.

He was born with thyroid and heart conditions which, at that time were

not medically treated. He is currently suffering from

dementia, but is otherwise healthy. She adds that they

have considered putting him in a nursing facility, but that it gives her

peace of mind that he is, “…safe and taken care of. Now, he lives

with dignity.†She also noted, “It’s hard to say what

all we have learned or gained in our lives by having live with us.

I would say patience, understanding, thankfulness and the importance of

time, learning to slow down, and to appreciate each day and our

blessings.â€

Rothstein, at age 72, will be kicking-off the 10 th

Annual DSANI Buddy Walk on Saturday, October 4th at Park in Fort

Wayne. The festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. and all are

welcome!

Nikki Graham and

Rothstein

___________________________________

Looking

for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips

and calculators.