The Macon Telegraph, Ga., Ed Grismore Column: The Means to a Better Future
By Ed Grismore, The Macon Telegraph, Ga.
Dec. 2–KATHLEEN — ShaynePatrick Thompson lives in a world that is mostly dark and silent.
He can still find love there, though.
You can tell by the expressions on his face. His happiness is also reflected in the hearts of his father and mother, Shayne and Rose Thompson, and sisters Georgia-Grace and Nina.
He is 6 years old. He started walking only a year ago, and now his family can hardly slow him down.
Although he makes sounds, he is unable to form words. He communicates through a combination of sign language and touch.
ShaynePatrick is “deaf-blind,” which means he has a dual sensory impairment of vision and hearing. There are an estimated 70,000 “deaf-blind” people living in the U.S., according to the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults in Sands Point, N.Y.
He was born 15 weeks premature and spent the first five months of his life in hospitals.
“He is a smart little boy who can learn and have a successful future,” said his mother, Rose. “The means to that future is just hard to find and to know which road to take.”
ShaynePatrick is a kindergarten student at Lake Joy Elementary in Warner Robins. A few weeks ago, the Thompsons were able to bring an intervener — a special instructor who works with the deaf-blind — from Toronto, Canada, to work individually with ShaynePatrick.
The family did not have the financial means to pay for the special instruction and training. Shayne Thompson is a self-employed industrial cleaning contractor. The Thompsons live in a rented double-wide south of Kathleen on Ga. 247.
It was partly made possible when Rose was in Davidson’s Grocery in Bonaire one day getting some Cheez Wiz for her oldest daughter, Georgia-Grace.
“I don’t mind if I don’t get anything for Christmas,” Georgia-Grace told her mom. “I just want ShaynePatrick to have an intervener.”
An employee at the store overheard her comment, and the grocery organized a raffle to help the family with some of the costs for the special instructor.
“Some people look at ShaynePatrick and automatically think he’s a mute,” said Rose. “But he’s a determined, lovable child. Although it can be frustrating, we don’t feel sorry for ourselves. He is who he is, and we love him.”
The Reindeer Gang is asking for any type of power wheel toys for ShaynePatrick to ride because he has a difficult time pedaling.
“We really need things that will give him some self-worth and make him more independent,” Rose said. “We want him to feel good about who he is.”
ShaynePatrick can understand and play certain interactive computer games. He also loves to paint, and is particularly fond of the colors red and yellow. That should explain his fondness for Clifford The Big Red Dog and Curious George, the timeless monkey.
His sisters, 14-year-old Georgia-Grace and 8-year-old Nina, have made many sacrifices for their brother.
Georgia-Grace needs a laptop computer to help with her schoolwork and is a big fan of Janette Oke books.
Nina wants a doll — either the American Girl doll name “Kit” or a “Baby Alive” doll.
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THE REINDEER LIST
Here’s a look back at the people and families in this year’s Reindeer Gang list — besides the Thompson family — along with what they’d like for Christmas.
Shaquinzela Simpson is a senior at Westside High School, where she is a member of the basketball team. Her mother died two years ago. Shaquinzela, who goes by “Quin,” is now living with a Westside coach. Her Reindeer Gang wish list includes financial assistance for college, a laptop computer and other electronics and help with dependable transportation.
John and Casey Walker have had financial setbacks after buying a house in south Macon. John works in construction while Casey stays at home because their 4-year-old son, William, is autistic. Their daughter, Kaleigh, turned 9 this past week. At the top of their Reindeer Gang wish list is a trampoline (with sides) and/or a swing set and a new DVD player.
Evan Shedd recently started the first grade at Dames Ferry Elementary in Jones County. He missed the first three months of school after sustaining second- and third-degree burns on the upper part of his body in July while playing with a discarded cigarette lighter. The medical expenses mounted for the Shedd family. Evan’s father, Paul, had to close the family-owned business earlier in the year. The family had to sell its dining room table to pay bills.
Evan wants a four-wheeler for Christmas. Older brothers Ryan, Drew and Seph want a video game system, a youth bow-and-arrow and remote controlled trucks. The Shedds also need a new dining room table.
Shasha Charles is a single mom who lives in an apartment in Macon with her five children. She works part time at the Nu-Way on Bloomfield Road and does volunteer work at Burghard Elementary. Her five children — Shanyia, Aaliyah, Latisha, Willie and Nashawn — range in age from 2-11. The older children want bicycles, Bratz Head dolls, Spider Man toys, an MP3 player, educational games, skates, a radio and a basketball goal.
Stacia Graper is an unemployed single parent living with her four boys in a transitional house provided by Loaves and Fishes Ministry in Macon. Her three oldest sons — Keith, 11, Kemon, 6, and Chris, 3 — want video game cubes, Ninja Turtle toys and toy cars and trucks. Her youngest son, 17-month-old Derrick, is developmentally disabled and needs a crib. Stacia is in need of a job and dependable transportation.
Hurricane Katrina victims Judy Robert-Lewis and her husband, Harold Lewis, want to go home to New Orleans for the Christmas holidays. They now live in Macon with their daughter, Regina, and six grandchildren. Regina has three boys and three girls ranging in age from 2-13. The Reindeer Gang is asking for financial assistance to help with transportation.
Bobby Searcy is a quadriplegic living at North Macon Health Care on Anthony Road. He wants to move into an apartment equipped for the disabled in a nearby housing project. He needs an “environmental controller” to help him operate appliances and other devices to help him achieve independence.
Clarissa Fisher is a 37-year-old single mother with a 2-year-old son, Sean Montford. She was recently diagnosed with cancer. The Reindeer Gang is seeking toy cars and trucks for Sean. Clarissa needs some repair work done on her car and a washer and dryer.
The home of Kenneth and Julie Taylor on Lower Hartley Bridge Road was damaged by a tornado on March. 1. Nine months later, some of the repair work has not been completed. Kenneth was recently in the hospital and unable to work for three weeks. The seven children — Katie, Daniel, John, Sam, Nicky, Sophia and Ethan — range in age from 16 to 1. The five boys and two girls need clothes, and would like MP3 players, wrestling figure dolls and video games. The children’s bicycles were damaged by the tornado.
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