March2018

Inside:

Taylor McKeen Shelton Foundation Changing the World NWA Space

FREE

March 2018

#EmmaJeanStrong *Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital is owned, in part, by physicians.

“So I did my research and Dr. Stacey came highly recommended.

I felt more than comfortable with him and his staff. I will use Dr. Stacey again and would highly recommend him as my experience was wonderful! ”

Tara, 34

Breast Augmentation patient

D. Heath Stacey, MD

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137 W Van Asche Loop • Fayetteville 479.571. 3100 w ww. n w a c e n t e r f o r p las t ics urgery.com

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OUTSTANDING.” XAVIER LOVES THAT THE NEW SCHOOL GIVES HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TACKLE A TOUGH MATH EQUATION, PLAY PETER PAN IN THE SCHOOL PLAY AND SHOOT HOOPS WITH HIS FRIENDS. “The New School really expands your mindset and I want other kids to experience that.”

THE NEW SCHOOL IS A SPECIAL PLACE where a welcoming environment is matched with a challenging curriculum. Teachers here are focused on classroom learning that leads to real world discovery.

“My favorite subject is math because math is in everything.

This building, math made it happen so it’s really awesome to know that math is in everything.”

Our low student, teacher ratio and dynamic learning environments help students look at the world in a new way.

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Learn how The New School can help your child discover more.

Schedule a tour today by calling 479-521-7037 or visit thenewschool.org.

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NORTHWEST ARKANSAS’ PREMIER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SERVING PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL

The

Family KIMBERLY ENDERLE Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com | 479-957-0532

JONATHON ENDERLE Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com | 479-586-3890

Kim and Jonathon with Gwen, Holden, Grant and Ava Enderle.

PHOTO BY ASHLEY MURPHY IMAGES

FRANCES WILSON Assistant Editor

DISTRIBUTION/ CIRCULATION Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas

Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

BEN LACY Dad’s View

Columnist

Peekaboo Publications PO Box 1036 Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call 479-957-0532 www.peekaboonwa.com Peekaboo may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine.

PEEKABOO Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions

6 March 2018

JENNIFER CRISTOFARO Events

DAVID HOVEY Story Design

When children need medical attention, they deserve special treatment. And Northwest Pediatric Convenient Care is here to help. A team of skilled providers will deliver the care your child needs in a comforting environment designed just for kids.

If your child needs care fast, come see us. To learn more, visit NW-Physicians.com.

Monday - Friday: Noon-8 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

479-751-2522 3057 Springdale Ave. Springdale, AR 72762

HERE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR KIDS

DAY AND NIGHT.

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Whether you need prenatal care, an annual preventive exam, or gynecological screenings, Willow Creek Women’s Clinic is here for you. We also provide family planning and postpartum care as well as gynecological services for adolescents.

Call 479-757-1730 to ask about same-day appointments. Or, visit NW-Physicians.com.

Alexis McCollum, M.D. Board-Certified OB/GYN

Serena Pierson, M.D. Board-Certified OB/GYN

4301 Greathouse Springs Rd., Suite 100 Johnson, AR 72762

DEDICATED TO WOMEN’S UNIQUE NEEDS AT

EVERY STAGE OF LIFE.

Members of the Medical Staff at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital.

From the moment your baby is born through childhood and adolescence, your relationship with a skilled and caring pediatrician is crucial to the health and wellbeing of your child. That’s why it’s so important to find a pediatrician who makes you feel comfortable and confident every step of the way. At our Northwest Physicians practices, we focus on providing preventive care, such as routine checkups, sports and school physicals, immunizations, allergy care, and diagnosis and treatment of childhood illnesses.

Ask about our same-day or next-day appointments. To learn more or find a location near you, visit NW-Physicians.com.

WE’RE WITH YOU

EVERY INCH OF THE WAY. Mark Lovell, M.D.

The Children’s Clinic at Har-Ber Meadows 6636 W. Sunset Ave. Suite A Springdale, AR 72762 Mon.-Thur.: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

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Laurie Anderson, M.D. Millicent Ford, M.D. April Durham, M.D.

The Children’s Clinic at Springdale 3057 Springdale Ave. Springdale, AR 72762 Mon.-Fri.: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

479-751-2522

Members of the Medical Staff of Northwest Health and Allied Health Staff of Northwest Health.

Inside

MARCH 2018

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16 19 20 22 26 30 38 42 52 56

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30

38 56

60 On the Cover: Thayer Shelton Cover Photo by Lazer Lee Photography www.lazerleephotography.com

#EmmaJeanStrong by: Shelby Marrale

Mom, But So Much More: The Fashion Show Team Gabbie The Adoptive Mom by: Alex Fittin

Hayden's Make-a-Wish by: Ann Maythaler

NWA Space Our Autism Journey by: Riana Thomas

What You Need to Know About Preparing Your Preschooler for Kindergartener

by: Natalie Emmons & Lauren Treptov

Dad's View

with Ben Lacy

Taylor McKeen Shelton Foundation by: Ella Shelton

Boats for Millie

by: Kristen Hurlbut

Cover Sponsored by: Northwest Health www.northwesthealth.com

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www.siloamwomenscenter.com

Kyle Thompson, DO, FACOG

Chad Hill, MD, FACOG

Natalie Eiland, DO

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Math & Language Therapy

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Multisensory Language Therapy “Take Flight” , a comprehensive intervention for students with dyslexia based on OrtonGillingham concepts.

Reading • Spelling • Handwriting • Phonics Vocabulary • Fluency • Comprehension (classes available) Pre-Flight (Phonological Awareness) Multisensory Math • Counting and Numeration • Addition & Subtraction facts for instant recall • Multiplication & Division facts for instant recall • Fractions • Decimals & Percents • Integers & Algebra I & II Multisensory Grammar • Parts of Speech, Capitals, Punctuation …

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Visit us at www.amltherpy.com or call 479-253-3256

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104 North 37th Street Suite B Rogers, AR 72756

Karen Sykes — Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) 29 years experience teaching

Lisa Lundeen — CALT, 6 years experience in Social Work, 6 years experience teaching

If you have a story to share, or an idea for a story, email editor@peekaboonwa.com and be a part of the Peekaboo family!

From the Editor

HERE IS A LOOK AHEAD! _____________________________ APRIL is our CAMP GUIDE PREVIEW. We want to have the most comprehensive camp guide yet, to make sure you know every possible camp option for your kiddos this summer.

MAY is our Mother's Day issue. Do you know a mom who deserves a special recognition? We want to meet her!

L

ast month was a tough one for the hearts of us mommas and daddies, as we watched the Florida shooting unfold on our TV screens and every other form of digital conversation - i.e. social media.

My heart broke as I watched students run from their school - their safe zone - into the streets, fearing for their lives.

I typically don't write about political topics -mostly because I firmly believe that this magazine should bring people together and never divide -- and, as parents, we need as much support and lifting up as we can. Trust me, if Facebook is any indicator, just the hint of a political post and it is all-out division for the next few days and weeks.

While a conversation needs to be had on multiple levels to find a way to prevent this from happening again, this letter is just about reminding us to hug our littles a little tighter, because the unknown is, well, unknown. It's also a good reminder that the teachers we entrust our kids to each day are the real superheroes. After the teacher in Florida passed away while protecting his students, teachers all over Facebook posted that they would do the same thing -- and I believe them. I count the teachers in each of my little ones' lives as true gifts to our family. I don't take their role for granted, and the fact that, in this day and age, they are also putting themselves in a position where they could be forced to risk their lives to save their students, only makes me appreciate them more.

So, since the answer isn't going to be an overnight fix - which this impatient momma likes to always have - we can at least take a moment to look inwardly and see if there are things we can do to make our own homes more peaceful, even when

14 March 2018

the world around us seems to have turned a new shade of violent.

1. We need to find ways to calm our own stress so that we can better help our children. I have started noticing that the kids show anxiety, stress, and even full-blown meltdowns more often when I am stressed myself. Our kids regulate their nervous system based off of ours. The language they use when they are upset, or when things are not going their way, is eerily familiar to the things that I say when I am stressed - coincidence? Nope. They have pretty good listening ears when they want to.

2. We have to stop the negative self-talk. Even if we aren't negative or shaming with regards to our children, they listen to how we talk about ourselves and to ourselves (again, it's those listening ears that work when hearing doesn't have anything to do with discipline, homework or chores). Nothing good ever comes from someone feeling insecure, less than, or ashamed. We, as parents, strive to do the best we can, so we should be proud of ourselves instead of knocking ourselves down. After all, there is no tougher job than being a parent.

3. Lift each other up. Put a hand across the table to the neighbor, co-worker or family member with a different point of view. When you see someone in pain or hurting, find a way to help. It is much easier to turn a blind eye, but the chance to show someone compassion is always worth the extra effort.

If you don't know how to best help, there are many organizations in our area that can inspire you.

This month is our 10th annual non-profit issue: our chance to give back to the organizations that make a positive impact in our community, day in and day out.

It is because of people and groups like the non-profits featured in this issue - and the many more across our area - that we can continue to keep our spirits lifted high knowing that so many amazing, caring people are in the world working to make it a more positive one. Reach out and see how you can help, and make this month the best month yet! - Kim Enderle

A look ahead:

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WE’RE ON

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#EmmaJeanStrong

Y

BY: SHELBY MARRALE

ou never really expect to be the mother of a child with cancer. You always hear about things like this and think, “That could never happen to me!”

May 16th, 2017 was the day our sweet Emma Jean was diagnosed with a brain tumor located on the back of her cerebellum, specifically known as Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT)--a long name for a particularly nasty tumor. ATRT is said to only attack 3% of all children with brain cancer, and usually only children under the age of 3. Our precious 8-month-old baby happened to be one of those kids. Really, we were lucky to find it when we did. The tumor had gotten so large that it had blocked all brain fluid from draining down into her spine. This caused her to tilt her head to the side to try to relieve some pressure. I have to say, though, the worst symptom of this tumor was that it was sitting on what the doctor called, “the throw-up part of your brain.” She wasn’t able to keep anything down for weeks. These two symptoms alone were enough for our pediatrician to order a CT scan, which is what caught the mass that was growing in her head.

We started our journey in Dallas with a pediatric neurosurgeon. After six long hours in the waiting room, the neurosurgeon gave us the news that he was not able to get all of her tumor out because of how close it was to her brain stem, the central powerhouse for all things breathing and swallowing. We were told that the area was way too delicate to try to do anything too abrasive, since we still had a few options to try to pull it away 16 March 2018

from there. The options, of course, being chemo and radiation. So, after she was fully healed from her surgery, we traveled from Dallas to Memphis to start and finish out her treatment. We were told that we would be at St. Jude's anywhere from 6 to 9 months, depending on how well she took to treatments.

Emma’s port had to placed in her tiny little chest, which seriously became her lifeline throughout her treatment. It was how she got her chemo, fluids, any type of medication, dye for her MRI’s, and how they drew blood.

We started her treatment with four rounds of chemo. Every round she would receive at least four different kinds of chemotherapy. The first two rounds were four weeks long. The first 3 weeks she would receive her chemo, and the 4th week we would allow her counts to recover--the counts being her absolute neutrophil count (ANC), her platelets, and her hemoglobin. ANC is pretty much what fights off all the bad things that try to enter our bodies and make us sick. Every round, her body would reach an ANC of 0 and, if infected while at this point, she would spike a fever and have to be admitted into the hospital for antibiotics and an ANC of at least 300. A healthy ANC starts at 2500, if that gives you a good idea of how hard chemo hits your body. All other counts could be counteracted with a blood transfusion and/or platelets. So, two rounds at four weeks each, and the last two rounds at six weeks each. The first two were followed by an MRI and a lumbar puncture to check the status of the tumor and make sure

Emma received her last form of treatment on January 4th. On February 22nd, we re-scanned to see if the radiation got all of the cancer. The news Her residual tumor had shrunk, and we were over we got wasn't what any parent wants to hear... ever. the moon. Her oncologist was confident going They performed Emma's MRI and, unfortunately, forward with her last two rounds of chemo. Emma saw five tumors going down her spine and another was going to be taking an experimental drug called tumor in her brain that wasn't where it was before.

Alisertib, in place of a drug called Methotrexate. Because of how aggressive this is, they told us that Everything else was to stay the same, but, for these there wasn't a cure for her. We could do more rounds, they would give her more recovery time chemo, but it would just slow down the inevitable.

There is a clinical trial, but it's only because they weren't sure exactly in stage 1 and no way of knowing if how her body would react to this new drug. Sadly, we didn't get great I know that Emma it will do anything for her. Our other news like last time. This time, her is in God’s hands option was to go home and opt out of putting her through the symptoms, tumor had grown, but didn’t spread.

It was trying to form a "c"" shape and I pray for the and to give her the best life possible around her brain stem. We were future where she with the time she has left. crushed, because not only had it grown, but Emma was going to gets to live her life If you were to look at her today, you would have no idea of how hard she have to go through a second brain cancer free. fought cancer. Emma Jean is a funsurgery. More hours in the waiting loving, adorable, wild, and crazy room, going through what we had toddler. Most of all, she is a fighter, just gone through six months ago, just to have the and stronger than any I have ever seen. I know that same news--that the neurosurgeon was not able to Emma is in God’s hands. get all of the tumor.

We never gave up faith, though... we still had Editor Note: Emma is getting ready to go into radiation to try to knock out all the cancer. We hospice care. If you feel led to donate to help had been waiting as long as we could before we the family plan for the future, please visit: www. started radiation, because they absolutely will not gofundme.com/3st0cu0 it wasn't spreading. The first scan between her rounds actually came back with great news.

do any kind of radiation on a child younger than one year. Even then, her remaining tumor would have to stay localized to one area. Through all the scans and lumbar punctures, we prayed that, if nothing else, it would stay put. If it had spread, we wouldn’t have been able to do any kind of fullbody radiation until she was at least three. Praise God, it stayed in one area and we were able to do focal proton radiation -- the type of radiation that allows the radiologist to focus only on the area where the tumor was located. After Emma was healed from her second surgery, we started on her radiation treatment. She would be getting 30 treatments Monday through Friday for 6 weeks.

Every weekday, I would take my baby girl in to the radiation room and watch as they put her to sleep.

She would go to sleep and be wheeled back to the treatment area where she would have her very own mask formed to fit especially to her face. This mask would go over her face and then be bolted to the bed to make sure she didn’t move a single inch while the proton ray was aimed at her head.

Despite that, man, this little girl was a trooper.

Through all of this, she had the best spirit. She baffles me even to this day.

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inspiration or influence could range from within their own household, to nationwide.

I

t’s no secret that a revolution of women's empowerment is happening right in front of us, and the idea of “Mom But So Much More” is inspired by that. What started as an idea of a small fashion show fundraiser for the local women’s shelter has now become a movement of its own here in NWA. This fashion show and social media movement not only focuses on empowering women, but, more specifically, empowering mothers, as it aims to raise $20,000 for the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter. 100% of the proceeds are donated to help the shelter provide a safe space for those affected by domestic violence.

Catching fire from the spark and surge of girl power in 2016, the first “Mom But So Much More” show was created by the local GAP Kids & Baby store in Rogers, Arkansas. Chantel Shuler, the store manager at the time, decided to combine her passions and that of her employees into something that would help fund the local NWA Women’s Shelter. The store team combined their strengths of social media savvy, community involvement, and local store events into what quickly became a full-fledged regional event. The fashion show encompasses women's empowerment, embraces equality and diversity, showcases girl power, and celebrates motherhood.

The mission is to show the community that Northwest Arkansas moms are so much more than a "mom" to everyone around them, while still celebrating their motherhood and recognizing the crucial job they do in raising children. They want to encourage moms everywhere to embrace their passions while being the best mom they can be. Guests and models alike join as one, coming together to support the moms and women in need at the NWA women's shelter. Businesses from all over Northwest Arkansas have jumped at the chance to participate in a cause that not only celebrates moms, but also contributes to funding the NWA Women’s Shelter--a service that is so critical to our community. They have provided food, beverages, silent auction items, gift bags for the models, and countless other donations, without which the show couldn’t be as successful as it is. 100% of all money received through ticket sales, silent auction, and donations goes directly to the Northwest Arkansas Women's Shelter. Tickets go on sale March 1st, and can be found through their website, www.mombutsomuchmore.com, or on their Facebook or Instagram page, @mombutsomuchmore.

The second annual “Mom But So Much More” Fashion show will take place on Friday, June 8th at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas. VIP entry begins at 5:30PM and General Admission entry begins at 6:15PM. The 2017 show raised $10,000 that went directly to the NWA Women’s Shelter. This year’s goal of raising $20,000 will provide 200 safe nights of sleep, free of domestic violence, for women and children in need.

Join us for the ultimate mom’s night out, celebrating this thing we call motherhood, while raising one another up and raising funds for the shelter.

The clothing in the show features GAP Inc. brands: Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy; but, unlike most fashion shows, this one is more about the models than the clothing. The more than fifty models that will be walking the runway have one specific thing in common: they are moms living right here in Northwest Arkansas. Other than that, the models highlight how diverse the lives and passions of mothers are. As they walk the runway, their accomplishments, strengths, innerbeauty, ownerships, passions, and individuality is shared over the microphone, with only a small nod to their actual outfits. "Mom But So Much More" includes women who are considered “inspirational or influential” in their communities. Their

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Together, we can fund a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

abbie to/TeamG o /g g r .o act.alz

I

TEAM GABBIE

f you sit down with 10-year-old Gabbie, you will quickly learn that she has an amazing memory. She can tell you details from her life dating back to diaper days. More than that, she has great wisdom to share. Gabbie can sit down and have a real conversation about nearly anything with anyone of any age. Perhaps her parents knew what they were doing when they named her Gab!

that he had Alzheimer’s and that there was no cure, she wanted to know why. She was told that there needed to be money raised for research to cure Alzheimer’s Disease. After that, there was no stopping Gabbie.

If you speak to her long enough, you will learn that Gabbie is fighting for her life. While she is not ill, she is still fighting to live. She fights because her daddy cannot remember like she can. Her daddy has Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. He is one of many his family members to have this lifeending disease, and Gabbie intends to not follow in their footsteps. She has never known her father without Alzheimer’s Disease.

+At eight, Gabbie began her own team for the NWA Walk to End Alzheimer’s. As team leader, she raised over $1,000 and had the 2nd largest team in attendance.

When Gabbie’s dad was in his early forties, he began to have difficulty remembering locations of familiar places. Because he was “too young” for dementia, doctors decided that he simply had too much stress in his life. Once that was remedied, he would be able to think clearly again. Unfortunately, he did not get better. It took almost 10 years for him to get an accurate diagnosis because of his age.

By then, he had not been able to work for over 5 years because he would get lost just trying to get home from work. While a family could get sad about such a thing, it has been such a blessing to have him home. He and Gabbie play every day, creating opportunities to make memories that she will never forget.

Gabbie fights. When Gabbie was seven years old, she began to have many questions about what was wrong with her daddy. When she learned 20 March 2018

+At seven, Gabbie sold lemonade and raised $500 to mail into The Alzheimer's Association.

+At nine, Gabbie was the number one individual fund raiser for NWA at just over $3,000 raised for a cure. And yes, she’s still selling lemonade. +At ten, Gabbie is just beginning. Her team is the first registered for the year, and she’s already raised $150. She’s a powerhouse for Alzheimer’s research!

Gabbie wants you to know that she is fighting for you. 1 in 3 of you will die with some type of dementia. Gabbie intends to become the first Alzheimer’s survivor in her family, and she hopes you are too!

You can join up with Team Gabbie this year as a team member, or you can help her raise funds.

Gabbie is always looking for people who will work with her, especially as her daddy isn’t able to help as much now (which means Mom isn’t either).

You can even donate to the cause and be a part of the cure. Go to act.alz.org/goto/TeamGabbie or email toomanyofus@gmail.com for more information. Together, we can fund a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

www.davidadams.com

100 West Center, Ste 101 Fayetteville 479-444-7778

Why My Son is My Hero As dedicated Peekaboo readers might remember, I have four kids. Only two of them came out of my body, though, and all of them came to us within two years. Insert that emoji with the big shocked eyes here! For those of you are not familiar with our story, here is the VERY 'in-a-nutshell' version: 2014: Started adoption training through The CALL and had a biological baby.

2015: Was matched with a 14-year-old boy and he moved in. Found out I was pregnant by surprise 1 1/2 weeks later. Had a panic attack. Found out we were having a girl one day before getting a call that our 14-year-old’s biological mother had delivered a baby and abandoned him at the hospital--would we adopt him, too? Had another panic attack. Got a baby dropped off on our doorstep while I was 15 weeks pregnant. Bought a double stroller.

2016: Had a biological baby, creating accidental twins, if not accidental triplets. Had several panic attacks.

I told you it was in a nutshell!

This story is not about how we’re insane and incredibly outnumbered, or about how God has provided in ways that we could never have asked or imagined, though. It’s about that baby, the one who was literally dropped off with us one day, and changed our lives forever. The one who is my hero.

Roc Davis Fittin was born under another name.

He was born at 37 weeks when his mother had an emergency C-section because of placenta previa.

He was born addicted to numerous drugs and

substances. He was born and immediately moved into a bed in an overcrowded NICU where he was not held as often as innocent, precious babies need or deserve to be held. He was born and left to deal with the consequences of choices that he did not make.

We didn’t even know he existed until a few days before he became ours forever. We were in no way prepared or supplied for a new baby boy. We were drowning and handed a baby. I’d like to tell you that it was love at first sight, that it felt the same as having a biological baby, but it didn’t. It was miserable. I was angry, exhausted, and felt that this was not fair. Why was I up in the middle of the night, pregnant with another baby, paying the price for the mistakes of another woman, again?

It took him four full months to go through withdrawal from the drugs and cigarette use. For any of you who have no idea what a withdrawing baby looks like, let me paint this picture for you: a tiny, helpless child who is stunted in growth in multiple ways, who shakes with tremors constantly, who doesn’t have the capacity to develop in other ways because his little body is too focused on surviving, who cannot be placed on his back because he will immediately cry uncontrollably, who cannot be put down very much at all because he will cry uncontrollably, who cries uncontrollably anyway because the pain of not having the drugs so necessary to his system were suddenly removed and he didn’t choose to become addicted and has no idea what is happening or why he is so miserable.

It was incredibly sad to watch and experience,

but it was also maddening because I am a selfish, sinful human who wanted to prepare for my new baby girl and rest while I could. I wanted to take care of what was going on in my own body instead of having to put every ounce of my effort into someone else’s. It was a low point for me. It’s so easy to look back and think, “Why was it so hard to just hold him? He was less upset when he was held.

Why did I resent the situation so much? He was an INNOCENT baby!” But, at the time, it felt like a war within myself. Like I loved him and didn’t want for him to be with someone else, but I was also drowning and alone. Like God was throwing curveball after curveball and asking me to catch them, telling me the whole time that He would provide.

The most logical person for me to direct my frustrations toward was his biological mother.

It took me a long time to forgive her. I was so angry at her and could not shake the feeling that she had done this to me. I felt assaulted and bitter and couldn’t imagine a scenario in which I could feel empathy. It was not until a talk I heard from none other than Sarah Avery that this began to change (Check back to February’s issue to read Sarah’s story, or listen to episode 3 of The Adoptive Mom Podcast!). As a birth mom herself, Sarah has a unique perspective on giving up, losing, or placing a child for adoption. She told her story and talked about how the church as a whole needs to step up its game for birth mothers. It was powerful, convicting, and I wept during her whole message.

Afterwards, I went up to her with my tear-streaked face and told her how I felt about my boys’ mom.

She was compassionate and understanding, but left me with a statement that still impacts me to this day: “If I had to sober up to the reality that my babies were gone, I would never sober up either.”

After that gut punch, I still continued to struggle with my feelings of bitterness and frustration as we worked Roc’s case with DHS. Even though he came to us as an adoptive placement, systems don’t change, and we still had to go through the process of court hearings and termination of rights. On the day that this was supposed to happen, we were shocked and afraid to hear that she would be there. We didn’t know what this meant. Was she trying to fight for him? Was this going to make the process longer? But, when we got there, we sat down and I looked into the face that had caused me so much heartache and saw a devastated woman. We learned that instead of fighting and making this process longer and more difficult, she was choosing to relinquish her rights so that her child could have a better life. We did not see that

Turn the page

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Excerpts from Alex's Podcast Interview:

Bryan: What do you wish that someone would have said to you right at the beginning? What would you have wanted someone to tell you right up front?

coming. I was immediately hit with the emotions that I was sure were coursing through her as she made such a selfless choice for our sweet baby. I wish that that was where the bitterness ended, but it has been a long process for me to forgive and force myself to abandon my judgements on her life and her choices. To love her in my heart. To pray for her instead. Every time I think I am there, that I’ve forgiven and moved on, we come to another hurdle in our journey with our sweet son.

The long-term effects of his involuntary addiction and NICU stay are still a huge part of our lives today. He struggles with impulse control, anger, sensory regulation, attachment issues, the list continues. It is a burden, at times, if I am being honest. But, it is a burden I am learning to share with Jesus. It did not take long for me to transition my feelings of frustration and desire for justice into a resolve to help him fight. I learned to look at him and see a survivor. A kid who is stronger than most of the people I know. He is in physical and occupational therapy and works HARD for his amazing therapists, who are absolute rock stars with these kids from hard places. He is learning to use gentle hands, to be sweet to his siblings and to use his words. We are learning how to squeeze him just right to help calm him down with sensory pressure, to be patient beyond comprehension when we can’t figure out why he’s melting down again, to look at him when he’s at his worst and remember what a boss he is. To remember how he made it. He survived and he is doing AMAZINGLY when everything was against him from the very beginning. I look at him and remember where he came from and remember that he has overcome more than many adults, including me, have not or will not or cannot beat. I see now that her choices were just that: choices. They weren’t made to hurt me, or even to hurt him. They were unfair, yes.

They were wrong, yes. But they have made him stronger and become part of his story, and ours, forever. He is the strongest kid I know, and I tell his 2-year-old self that as often as possible.

He is my hero.

24 March 2018

Alex: Probably that adoption does not equal attachment. You know, they say “If God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it,” and that is true, but He is not going to bring you through it in the way that you think. He’s not going to make your journey a 'cookie cutter'--looking just like someone else’s has been. It’s going to look different, and adoption truly does not equal attachment.

There is still a whole ‘nother journey after the papers are signed, or after that child is placed in your home.

Bryan: And that’s not just with older kids, you know, we know people with babies and toddlers and 7-year-olds who have trouble with attachment.

Alex: Yeah, absolutely, and I think people are afraid to say that. People are afraid to admit that they feel differently about their adopted children than they do their biological children, and I’ve seen several different versions. You know, I’ve had to realize that my love for Clark, it’s never going to look the same. It doesn’t mean I don’t love him--I mean I love him in a very practical way, just like we talked about in my episode with Amy Butler, when we talked about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It was Amy who helped me realize that I DO love Clark, just not in a traditional sense. I may not have “motherly” love for him, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love him. It’s never going to look the same, and that’s okay. My love for Roc has looked completely different than my love for Grady, and I’ve been so blessed to be able to love him the same amount as I love my biological children, but it was a journey to get there. It wasn’t love at first sight. I didn’t cherish those moments of being up all night with him while he was screaming and withdrawing.

Bryan: Well, that brings me to the next question, which is what do you wish you had done differently?

Alex: You know, there are a lot of things I wish I had done differently, just in the most basic, practical sense. Like, I wish that I had handled Clark’s food issues differently. I didn’t really know how to prepare for food insecurities with him. I had no previous indications that he would have a

problem with that.

Bryan: It’s because they typically haven’t had food as a stable thing in their life... like, “I will wake up tomorrow and there will be food to eat.”

Alex: Right, and I had no indications that Clark would have a problem with that. I mean, for three and half years he had been in a situation where he had food every day, but it wasn’t within a “family” environment, so, as soon as he got back into a family environment, he withdrew back into that fear of “What if I don’t have enough food?” and I didn’t really know what to do with that. I wish I had listened to you [Bryan] more. I think that that is the overarching thing. At the beginning of this, you were seeing a counselor separately from me for a while, and you came home one day and said that he had told you that we were not going to teach Clark anything--that he was too old, and that we were just here to serve as mentors for him, and I wouldn’t listen. You know, back then I was like “I think he’s wrong.” I just wanted to force it, like “We WILL be a family. We WILL make this work.” And I wish I had listened to you, about that and about a lot of other things. I wish that I had had enough faith to let you lead, even though you were not necessarily in the best position to lead.

Bryan: What is your biggest piece of advice and encouragement that you would offer to other families?

Alex: I would say: ask the hard questions. Prepare for the fact that things are going to be hard in a different way than you think they’re going to be.

It almost always is the case. You kid’s actions are going to look different than the kids from your trainings’ actions. And I think that people need to be prepared to ask those questions, to not just hide it, to not feel like they’re doing something wrong, but to become educated and prepared in the best way possible. ......................................

Alex Fittin hosts The Adoptive Mom Podcast: A weekly program for the strongest of moms (and dads, too!) This podcast features all kinds of characters from the adoptive community, including support systems, grandparents, pastors, birth moms, educators, adopted kids, and of course, lots of adoptive mamas! On this show, we are honest, raw, and supportive about the struggles, joys, wins, losses, and the beautiful and ugly pars of this adoption thing. No topic is off-limits, and you can always count on a real take on one of the most important things one can do: adopt.

peekaboonwa.com

25

Hayden's

Make-a-Wish Story

By Ann Meythaler

"Oh, Mom! I wish I could have a puppy!"

That was a request I heard regularly out of Hayden’s mouth, and it was getting harder to ignore... but I just didn’t think I could make it happen for her the way we needed it to happen. At almost 4, Hayden had been battling leukemia since she was 22 months old. She had recently become obsessed with Paw Patrol, and started begging for a puppy of her very own.

Her life had been turned upside down by cancer-no parks, no play places, no pools, no splash pads, no school, no playdates, no restaurants, no stores… really, no place where she could pick up any potentially deadly germs. So, when she started asking for something that her little heart just couldn’t let go of, I starting trying to figure out how I could make that happen for her… to give her something amazing in the midst of this big awful battle she was fighting.

I was aware of Make-A-Wish, but really thought they just did Disney trips (which they do a lot of.)

26 March 2018

The thought of taking my whole crew on a Disney trip wasn’t appealing to the introvert in me; plus, there were all those germs I was trying to avoid (airports and theme parks.… ew!) I asked some other cancer moms if any of them had ever asked for a puppy. A few of them said they had, but they were unsure about the entire process. I reluctantly started the paperwork and was almost certain that Hayden’s wish wouldn’t be granted.

Once I submitted the paperwork, I was sure I wouldn’t hear anything back for 6 months or so, which was timed just right to be when Hayden should be finishing up her treatment. To my surprise, I was meeting Hayden’s wish granters within a few weeks. Jenna and Lily were wonderful to work with, and I could tell they really cared about Hayden’s wish and making it come true.

When they came to meet us, they brought Hayden a Belle doll with a plastic rose toy. After they left, Hayden looked sad, and I couldn’t figure out why.

Finally, she told me… she thought that that doll was her wish being granted. “I wanted a PUPPY, Mom! Not a Belle doll! A Rocky puppy of my

Turn the page

own, like in Paw Patrol.” I tried to tell her that they were going to try to work on what we called her “Big Wish,” but there were no promises.

She asked me every day, multiple times a day, if her wish would ever come true. For about a month or so, I hoped it would, but couldn’t make any promises. Then, one day (about 4 months ahead of my schedule!) I got the call -- “We’ve got a puppy for you! He’ll be ready in a month!” Anybody who knows me, knows that nothing EVER goes according to my plan or on my timeline, and this was no different. Hayden’s Big Wish would be here way sooner than I was ready for, but I was so excited. She deserved something that would make her heart happy.

Hayden is the baby of eight, and the only one not in school, so her days are spent without a playmate.

She’d taken up pretending she was a puppy (an activity she still does today) and would pretend she had her Rocky puppy to play with.

When the day of her big reveal arrived, I told her we were going to a party at First Security (who generously sponsored her wish) but didn’t tell her why. I wanted her to be surprised. We walked in, everyone yelled that her wish had been granted, and she was in shock--all the balloons and people and toys and snacks--so shocked that it took her a minute to see the teeny puppy and realize what was happening.

I, of course, cried.

Here was this soft little ball of fluff that Hayden had been wishing for for so long. And, the best part about this wish was, it was both something that would last a while, and all of her siblings could also enjoy. While Hayden has undoubtedly fought a very hard fight, her brothers and sisters have been along for the battle every step of the way.

When one person gets cancer, the whole family fights. They also haven’t really been able to do any of the things that Hayden couldn’t do -- we all just stayed home and avoided germs as a team.

We brought Rocky home, and he immediately blended right in with our family. He was so calm and gentle and quickly became Hayden’s best friend. She calls him Rocky, Rockle, Rock, and my personal favorite--Little Rock (which is also what she calls the hospital we visit for her chemo treatments).

Rocky quickly grew from a teeny puff ball to a giant puppy almost the size of Hayden, but he’s still

so gentle and wonderful. He’s got a great sense for which kids in the house need an extra snuggle, and he’s always following Hayden around and keeping an eye on her.

I love that Make-A-Wish not only made Hayden’s wish come true, but they also made sure this wish was a perfect fit for our entire family. With 7 other children, I couldn’t even THINK about training a puppy or cleaning up all that FUR! Thankfully, they also provided training, listened to my request for a Labradoodle (no shedding!), and provided toys, leashes, food bowls, crates, treats, vet care, and food! They literally thought of everything.

On the morning of the big reveal, I started getting worried- “What have I gotten myself into?! Hayden isn’t even done with treatment. I can’t possibly take on a puppy!” But Make-A-Wish took care of every single detail, made everything stress-free and wonderful, and granted my baby’s wish. I’ll be forever grateful for them and all they do to bless families fighting critical illnesses.

Join Rocky, Hayden and their family at the 2018 Walk For Wishes event to learn more about MakeA-Wish. The event is set for May 5th at Arvest Ballpark. We are excited to spend a day sharing memories and the joy that Make-A-Wish brings to the lives of so many children in Northwest Arkansas.

Make-A-Wish needs more volunteers and supporters in the NWA area. Reach out to our local Make-A-Wish office today! Together, we can create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Make-A-Wish Mid-South 1 West Mountain, Suite 108, Fayetteville eschroeder@midsouth.wish.org

Rocks that give off radiation. Fossils that tell the story of earth’s evolution. A copper tube and magnet that generates electricity. Two telescopes that give a view of the sun like most people have never seen. A small pile of innocent looking, soil-like material that melts through solid steel. These things are only a few of the tools in the science arsenal of NWA Space – a non-profit that’s building a dream to popularize science in the region.

NWA Space has a dream to inspire a lifelong love of learning by expanding education in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math) for Northwest Arkansans of all ages. They're building a path to that dream with plans for a science center, planetarium and astronomical observatory along I-49.

While NWA Space is working hard to bring that dream to reality, the group already has a concrete project underway — one with global impact: Sort, package and ship millions of recycled eclipse glasses to areas around the world for upcoming solar eclipses, with the first in South America in 2019.

“From sidewalk astronomy to donating telescopes for area libraries, from hosting science-themed summer camps to birthday parties, the organization is dedicated to providing easily accessible science right here in Northwest Arkansas!” said Katherine Auld, chair of the NWA Space board. “How? By building a home for the colossal 24-inch diameter, 36-foot-long telescope recently donated to the people of Arkansas.

NWA Space partnered with Explore Scientific in Springdale, Sugar Creek Astronomical Society of Benton County, and Florida-based Astronomers Without Borders, to execute the project. Scott Roberts, founder of Explore Scientific and a board member of NWA Space, offered his warehouse as the storage site for eclipse glasses mailed in from all over the country — glasses used for the Great American Eclipse in August. An estimated 2.5 million eclipse glasses are stored at the warehouse in Springdale — so many that Roberts started storing them in a semi-trailer outside. More packages arrive every day.

“Once refurbished and installed in an observatory, this telescope will be the centerpiece of a science destination in NWA. We envision a place where people of all ages will find inspiration in the realms of science, design and engineering by visiting our triple dueling spheres: an observatory for the telescope, a state-of-the art digital planetarium dome, and Science on a Sphere. The vision is a campus — spread across an estimated 120,000-square-feet, under a roof, with additional acreage for outdoor green space classrooms, close to the I-49 corridor, with fully stocked exploration spaces offering both demonstrations and hands-on learning opportunities in physics, chemistry, and engineering. We want to engage, teach and inspire all ages.”

“As everyone remembers from the August eclipse, unscrupulous manufacturers sold eclipse glasses made with inadequate protective film, which means those glasses could not pass American safety standards for eye protection,” Auld said. “On volunteer work days, people are trained on how to spot fake glasses, then they sort out the fake glasses for destruction, count and bundle the good ones, then box them for shipment to South America.”

From there, Astronomers Without Borders takes over and will oversee distribution to schools,

colleges and community groups in time for the eclipse on July 2, 2019.

“These sorting parties are great opportunities for Scout groups, church groups, service organizations, school clubs and homeschool groups — anyone looking for a service project that has a global reach,” Auld explained. “Volunteers can come to our bi-monthly parties at Explore Scientific, or we can take the party on the road.”

Eclipse parties at Explore Scientific occur on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. The events start at 9AM and run until 3PM. Volunteers are welcome for an hour, or the entire time; every bit helps. Anyone wanting to arrange a eclipseglasses sorting party at your location, contact NWA Space events coordinator, Dustin Van Masterson at Dustin.Masterson@nwa.space.

“Our region is growing quickly and has become a mecca for business and art. This center will once again bring NWA into the national spotlight with a science center that branches into a huge variety of educational opportunities — astronomy, geology, robotics, computers, chemistry, physics, and other technology avenues,” Auld said.

For more information on NWA Space and to learn about volunteer opportunities, including eclipse-glasses sorting parties, or to donate to the dream, visit www.nwa.space

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31

Inside

NWA’s

Free

Health Center Is there a free healthcare clinic in Northwest Arkansas?

Yes, there is!

Thanks to a group of concerned members of the Southeast Fayetteville Community Action Committee, the Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center was established in 1986 to provide free medical care. One of the committee members, and long-time Fayetteville resident, Ms. Jessie Bryant, was the original founder/director of the center when it started in the basement of her church, St. James United Methodist Church. Due to an increase in demand for services, the clinic outgrew the space and moved to the old Armory building and added free dental extractions, thanks to the vision of our community’s oral surgeon icon, Dr. JB Hays.

In 2013, the clinic once again outgrew its space and relocated to the current location on Woolsey Avenue behind the UAMS campus and VA Hospital. The patients finally have a clinic that is unparalleled to any other free health center in the country. The 10,000 square foot facility is LEED certified and offers six medical exam rooms, four dental operatories, a pharmacy, and state-of-the-art equipment. Staff and volunteers provide quality of care and treat each patient with respect and dignity.

32 March 2018

The Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center changed its name to WelcomeHealth in 2015 to eliminate the negative stigma that accompanies the word “free,” and to signify the quality of care it provides.

WelcomeHealth has a mission to provide quality medical care, dental care, and instrumental support services, in partnership with other community resources, to low-income individuals. Services are offered five days and one evening per week, and all services are free to those whose household income is not more than 200% of the federal poverty level.

The goal is to assure that everyone in Northwest Arkansas can access quality health and dental care, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

What services are offered at WelcomeHealth?

The clinic has a medical and dental clinic. On the medical side of the clinic, two part-time RN’s provide general medical care, specializing in care of chronic illnesses and prevention.

WelcomeHealth also offers specialty services in internal medicine, gynecology, pulmonology, nephrology, mental health and physical therapy.

We also have nutrition education and diabetes education. On the dental side of the clinic, there is a dentist, dental hygienist and dental coordinator who are all part-time. In addition to paid staff, we have physicians, nurses, educators, dentists and oral surgeons who volunteer. WelcomeHealth has an in-house pharmacy and offers prescription assistance. If the care that a patient needs is beyond what WelcomeHealth can provide, the clinic refers patients to local specialists. Those doctors will see our uninsured patients either pro bono or at a reduced rate.

Internal medicine doctor, Jim Norys, had this to say, “I started volunteering, at the suggestion of my colleague Dr. Roger Montgomery, 21 years ago. I stayed because I have seen the impact the clinic makes on people’s lives. It feels good to help others and give back to your community. I think everyone deserves quality health care, despite their means. Through the work and support of others, WelcomeHealth has a beautiful and modern facility. The men and women who volunteer, do so humbly, without expecting secondary rewards.”

Foundation and United Way of Washington County to thank for funding its free dental services!

The patients at WelcomeHealth are hard-working members of the NWA community; they are your neighbors or co-workers and classmates of your children.

• People who work minimum wage jobs to have a roof over their head and food on the table.

Dentist, Dr. Kenton Ross, has been volunteering for close to 25 years. “The capacity of the clinic in • Single moms who are teachers 1989, when I first volunteered, was two ancient and have three children for dental chairs in a basement. WelcomeHealth now whom they are caring. has four state-of-the-art dental chairs with room for two more. The range of services has expanded • Children born into poverty. from adult extractions only to restorative care for • Vets or the elderly who need dental work. adults and children, thanks to a generous grant from the Walmart Foundation. The number of dentists and dental assistant volunteer students is In 2017, 2,700 patients received 25,000 medical at an all-time high, and there is room for more. The and dental services! For a small clinic of part-time relief of pain and long-term suffering is extremely staff and busy professional volunteers, those are rewarding. WelcomeHealth’s patients come with impressive numbers. How can this organization hearts full of gratitude for the life-changing afford to provide free services? Because of care they receive. Pre-dental student volunteers the generous support of the community, WelcomeHealth is funded get to see first-hand solely by donations from what we do, and will individuals, corporations, hopefully be instilled foundations, churches and with an appreciation of civic groups. Contrary the difference they can to the belief of many, make in another’s life.

WelcomeHealth is not Many of the patients funded by the federal find themselves in very government. Free services difficult circumstances, 2018 Federal Poverty Guidelines are only available based on and playing a small part for WelcomeHealth the amount of donations that in their road to better are received. health is very rewarding.

Size of 200 Percent of 200 Percent of family unit Poverty (Yearly) Poverty (Monthly) WelcomeHealth is As the uncertainty 1 $24,120 $2,010 Fayetteville and NWA’s of healthcare lingers 2 $32,480 $2, 707 premier free dental 3 $40,840 $3,403 on a national level, clinic. Millions of dollars 4 $49,200 $4,100 WelcomeHealth is here 5 $57,560 $4,797 of free care have been to assist the Northwest 6 $65,920 $5,493 provided!”

Arkansas community with 7 $74,280 $6,190 its medical and dental needs.

8 $82,640 $6,887 Speaking of dental care Providing for one patient at Each additional individual, add $348 per month. alone, WelcomeHealth a time, WelcomeHealth is provided almost the stepping stone to better $900,000 worth of health and quality of life, FREE dental services in and, without a doubt, the 2017. In addition to the hidden gem of non-profit Walmart Foundation, organizations.

WelcomeHealth also has Delta Dental of Arkansas

welcomehealthnwa.org

march

March 4

Northwest Arkansas Soup Sunday Benefit for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families 4-7pm John Q. Hammons Center - Rogers Looking for a "SOUPER" fun foodie event for the entire family?

Look no further! Join us for our 17th Annual SOUP SUNDAY! Try gourmet soups, breads, and desserts from over 35 area restaurants. Bid on fun items in our silent and live auctions, including vacations, kids’ parties and gourmet gatherings for the grown-ups, gift certificates for wine and food tastings, and more.

Contact Laura Kellams (479.927.9800 or lkellams@aradvocates. org) or Christine Hartman (479.927.9800 or chartman@ aradvocates.org). Proceeds from the event support AACF’s mission to ensure that all Arkansas children and their families have the resources and opportunities to lead healthy and productive lives.

March 10

5th Annual West Fork Craft Fair 9-3pm West Fork Community Building The American Cancer Society will be hosting the 5th Annual West Fork Craft Fair on Saturday, March 10th from 9am to 3pm at the West Fork Community Building. There will be breakfast and lunch from Tooley's BBQ, a silent auction, Spin to Win, Make Your Own Slime, a hot chocolate bar, chair massages, mini facials, homemade crafts, and so much more. A $1 door donation to get you in, and children under 10 are free. There will be someone on hand to discuss the resources that the American Cancer Society offers. Cancer survivors can leave their handprint on cancer.

This event gives us the opportunity to remember our survivors, elebrate those we lost, and continue to fight back against this horrible disease, all while having a great time.

World's Largest Baby Shower 9-2pm Jones Center for Families $3 Washington Regional World’s Largest Baby Shower, bringing education and excitement to maternity!

Library Story Times: Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Bella Vista Public Library: www.bvpl.org Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org Siloam Springs Library: siloamsprings.com

Guests will be exposed to workshops and seminars, vendors, entertainment, financial planning and prizes.

March 11

6th Annual Bentonville Egg Drop First Landmark Baptist Church 2 PM

March 14

Little Sprouts: Mystical Creatures in the Garden 9:30 and 10:15AM Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Join us during our Little Sprouts off-season with Mystical Creatures in the Garden.

Little Sprouts is the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks' story & activity time for preschoolers and their parents. Little Sprouts sessions will be offered once a month from November-April! The 30 minute sessions will take place at 9:30 & 10:15 on the second Wednesday of every month.

Little Sprouts is always free for garden members.

Regular garden admission prices for non-members: • Adult: $7 • Children: $4 (ages 5-12) • Free for children under 5

Hoppy Easter Cookie Decorating #1 Honeycomb Kitchen Shop 6:30 PM - 9 PM shop.honeycombkitchenshop.com It's time to hop to it and get your cookie decorating skills on! We have invited How Sweet is Homemade baker, Ellen Lewis, back into our HKS kitchen to get you cookie-ready for Easter. Join

us in this hands-on class to learn how to decorate sugar cookies with royal icing and learn skills to make them look too good to eat. Not only is this a fun activity to do on your own, but this is a great way to spend time together with friends and family in your own kitchens. Light appetizers will be served during class. Tickets are $40/person

Parent Cafe- for Adults!

Amazeum 6-8pm We are ‘cooking’ something special here at the Amazeum. The Parent Cafe is filled with some pretty tasty tidbits of parenting ideas. Time to take the new superfood approach to resolving conflicts. Gather a bowlful of strategies for more peaceful, effective solutions in motivating children to change their behavior. $15 Amazeum member/$20 non-member Advanced registration and payment required.

Parent Cafe is for adults only. Workshops will provide adult caregivers new play-filled recipes that support children’s growth and development. Parent Cafe is an education opportunity for parents/caregivers of children ages 10 years and younger.

March 17

DiaCON Alley of the Ozarks Fayetteville Town Center Disappointed you didn't receive your letter to Hogwarts?

Don't worry, because you still have the opportunity to be part of the wizarding community! DiaCON Alley of the Ozarks is Fayetteville's first-ever Harry Potter convention. Experience the magic during this one-day con event celebrating the favorite tales of the wizarding world and the Boy Who Lived. Dressing up is highly encouraged, and costume contests will take place for two separate age ranges. Other activities include house sorting, a mischevious scavenger hunt, panels and several vendors with fantasy-inspired goods and crafts. For more information, including tickets, visit diaconalleyoftheozarks.com

March 19-23

Spring Break Improv Youth Camp Artist's Laboratory Theatre The Artist's Laboratory Theatre is hosting a Spring Break Improv Youth Camp for youth ages 8 through 12, March 19 - 23. Young artists will play fun and active games that strengthen their ability to think on their feet and create stories out of thin air as an ensemble. In addition, they will learn proper theatre etiquette, basic acting lessons, and self-assessment of behavior through reflective activities. Performance sharing for family and friends will take place on the last day of camp! Space is limited! Contact Simone Cottrell at simone@artlabtheatre.com

March 25

Easter Eggstravaganza Fayetteville First Church of the Nazarene 11:40 AM - 2 PM Gulley Park Pavilion & Playground FREE annual EGG HUNT at Gulley Park! Registration begins at 11:45 and the egg hunt begins at 12:30. There will be games and activities for the whole family, face painting, balloon animals, door prizes, and a free hotdog lunch served. visit www.faynaz.org or email children@faynaz.org for more information.RAIN OUT DATE: MARCH 28th

Easter Egg Paint & Hunt 3 PM - 4:30 PM Imagine Studios, Rogers www.imaginestudiosnwa.com It’s our second annual Easter Egg Paint & Hunt. Kids of all ages are invited to join us as we paint ceramic Easter bunnies followed by an Easter egg hunt. Please bring your own Easter basket and a grown-up, too. $20 per child.

March 30

Cow Paddy Run 5:45 -8pm 1850 E. Township St. Fayetteville contact@mysparkfoundation.org As always, it will be a fun evening for the whole family! Costume contests for Best-Dressed Cow and Craziest Running Costume.

Stay tuned for more info on our annual T-shirt Design Contest.

Easter Egg Hunt Moms Club of Bella Vista/Bentonville/Rogers/Pea Ridge 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Lake Atalanta Are you a stay-at-home mom looking for other stay-at-home mom friends? Come out to our Easter Egg Hunt and find out what "mom's club" is all about. We will have an egg hunt, snacks, and games. We will be at the picnic tables on the lake side.

March 31

Super Saturday Young Meterologist Weatherfest 10am Fayetteville Public Library Join us for the 4th annual Young Meteorologist Weatherfest!

Come meet local weathermen, Dan Skoff and Darby Bybee. See storm spotter vehicles, be a weatherman, play the PlanIt Now game, learn how to be prepared for weather emergencies, get your face painted, visit vendor booths, and win prizes! Vendors include National Weather Service, U of A, Red Cross, Channel 40/29 and Channel 51, Salvation Army, and more.

Iron Pig 5K 9am-1pm 4500 S. School Ave, Fayetteville Four different events: Duathlon (Individual and Team) - 5K Run, 30K Bike, 5K Run 5K Fun Run Bike Time Trial The run courses are flat and fast! The bike course is out and back on Scenic Hwy 71. The finish is located just in front of the airport terminal. This course is geared to people looking for a challenge, but is not too hilly for an early season test. A good first-time event for an individual or team or a great way to kick off the race season for the seasoned athlete.

Children's Easter Egg Hunt/Bicycle Safety Check 10:30am Metfield Park, Bella Vista All children Free egg hunt for Bella Vista Members Age groups: 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12 hunt for eggs, toys, and a special golden egg. One golden egg winner per age group. 12 and under are invited to have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny, join in an Egg hunt, have their bicycle safety checked and try out the brand new Bella Vista bike skills.

Easter Egg Hunt Rogers First Church of the Nazarene 9:30am-12:30pm Easter Egg Hunt! Games! Prizes! Food! Music! Face painting!

Tons of FUN!

Easter Egg Hunt (Down Syndrome Connection of NWA) Sunshine School and Development Center, Rogers A guaranteed fun time for the whole family. The hunt will be divided into age groups.

Easter at Orchards Park Orchards Park, Bentonville 2-5pm Join Bentonville Parks & Recreation along with Arvest Bank for a fun-filled afternoon at Orchards Park!

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35

C R Y S TA L B R I D G E S

Enroll Now! Explore a variety of themes and activities to unleash your creativity and imagination.

VIEW ALL CAMPS AT CrystalBridges.org/SummerCamps

Movie Making

Inspiration & Beyond

MON, JUNE 25 – FRI, JUNE 29 9 am – 3 pm | AGES 10 – 14

MON, JUNE 18 – FRI, JUNE 22 9 am – 3 pm | AGES 6 – 8 & 9 – 12

Video Game Development MON, JULY 9 – FRI, JULY 13 9 am – 3 pm | AGES 10 – 14 $335 ($265 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

36 March 2018

Enjoy the unique opportunity to travel between two museums for a one-of-a-kind summer camp!

Sponsored by Nice-Pak Products, Inc. $335 ($265 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Crystal Bridges and Amazeum members enjoy a discount on camp registration.

BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS

479.418.5700

OPENING SPRING 2018

OPENING SPRING 2018

Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics Northwest Pinnacle HillsArkansas Pediatrics Pinnacle Hills

3730 S Pinnacle Hills Pkwy Rogers, AR Hills 72758 3730 S Pinnacle Pkwy Rogers, AR 72758

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Autism Journey

By Riana Thomas

Where do I start? Do I tell you all the details that led up to where we are today? Do I tell you that we had no idea where to go or what to do? Do I tell you there were days I blamed myself because, who else but her mother could have caused this?

Do I tell you the struggles to find help and services for my child? Do I tell you that all you do in the beginning is hurry up and fill out all the paperwork you can, only to be told there is a 6-12+ month waiting list that your child will be placed on? Do I tell you about the family and friends who think you are just being overprotective? Do I tell you about the looks you get from perfect strangers that are judging your parenting skills, because you are carrying your melting-down child out of a store kicking and screaming? Do I tell you the fear of the future?

These are the days, weeks, months and years you can have, when you have a child with Autism.

We are the parents of a beautiful 6-year-old little girl who has been diagnosed with Autism. In our house, we celebrate the small things, because the smallest things are BIG things for us.

In February of 2012, we got to meet our sweet “Bitty” Sarah Grace.

Sarah was a calm, happy, quiet baby. She loved balls and anything that would spin. She loved her big sister Lauryn jumping in front of her and scaring her--she would just giggle. She would army crawl across the floor to get where she wanted to go, and she would put both legs out and push herself up in the splits to sit up. She loved to bounce in her Jumparoo and watch Jungle Junction on the Disney Channel.

By 18 months, Sarah was always following one of us around the house. She would say a few words here and there, come to you when she was called out to, and look at the camera, but, by 24-36 months, all of that slowly disappeared.

Sarah stopped talking, looking at the camera, playing with toys appropriately, smiling, laughing, eating foods she had eaten all the time, and would not respond to her name. There were times she would just stare off into space and not even acknowledge that you were in the room. She preferred to be by herself when playing.

As her mom, who spent the most time with her, I knew something was wrong, I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something going on.

Family and friends would say, “She's stubborn, she will talk in her own time.” “You have nothing to worry about, she’s a happy and healthy little girl.” “She looks normal.” “You are just being too

overprotective and worried.” “I’ve been around special needs kids and your kid isn’t one of them.”

I talked to the pediatrician about my concerns, and was given a referral to the Schmieding Center to get a developmental evaluation, only to be met with an 8-12 month waiting list. The hurry up and wait began… Sarah started receiving two hours a week of in-home speech therapy through the Early Intervention Program. I enrolled her in a Parents Day Out program to interact with peers. These two things were good, but she was still not talking or interacting. When she was almost 3, we enrolled her into Kids For the Future, Rogers. Once there, we found out that she needed several hours a week of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, as well as Speech Therapy. Our almost 3-yearold was showing the skills of a 9-12 month old.

This was absolutely heartbreaking to hear, and I blamed myself for her being so behind-- after all, I was home with her every day, how could I let this happen?

In May of 2015, (9 months after the referral) we were finally on our way to Schmieding to get some answers. I felt like I already knew what we were going

to hear t h a t day, and prepared myself, but you are really never fully prepared. After a day-long evaluation that had left all of us exhausted, they set us down and said out loud, “Sarah has Autism.”

The doctor then explained to what severity, but I'm pretty sure I was at the point of not hearing everything. We did ask, when leaving, what we needed to do to help our daughter be successful and help overcome the issues that come with this diagnosis. They told us that she would need ABA Therapy 20+ hours a week, along with her Speech, Occupational, and Physical Therapy that she was already receiving. However, we were told that

Turn the page

there is a waiting list for ABA, so we needed to fill out paperwork and get on that list.

We left and went home with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, but really had no idea what that was. We did not know anyone that could help us process what we were just told, or give any advice as to where to begin. That’s when I went to reading, searching, trying to find everything out that I could about something that was affecting our family, and how we could help our daughter to speak and do all the things that she should be doing at her age. All of that was good, b u t I truly found out the meaning o f “When you meet one kid that

has Autism, you’ve only met one kid with Autism.”

They are all so different, and so are the books and ways to approach situations. This left me even more confused on how to help my child. I began searching for moms going through the same things, and I found a support group of local Autism Moms via Facebook. They were amazing. Always ready to listen, help out with advice, or just let you vent on the hard days, because we all had them.

After things had settled--and I was in a somewhat better place--I started looking for something that our family could be involved in. Something that would help me get to know others who were going through the same things we were, and to know that I was not alone, while possibly helping them feel the same. A friend told me about Autism Involves Me and introduced me to Paula Towle, AIM Executive Director. Their mission of supporting children and their families in NWA through resources, AIM2Help grants, AIM2Educate grants, trainings, and special events was exactly what I was looking for. They also help raise Autism awareness in NWA and surrounding communities through the multiple resource events they attend, as well as with fundraisers like the Annual AIM Weekend that includes a Golf Tournament and AIM Walk/ Silent Auction, and the most recent partnership

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As a family, we have been able to attend AIMsponsored events that allow Sarah to be able to express herself, as well as take part in the activities --because in some situations that just doesn’t happen. We have attended the Sensory Friendly Movie Day, Back to School Swim Night, and a Christmas party. I have also been able to receive one-on-one information about services in the area that can benefit Sarah. AIM has been a great place for me to learn more about Autism, be able to volunteer my time, and it has allowed me to be a part of a great community of families that I might have not met otherwise.

Sarah continues to work hard each and every day, as she receives ABA therapy in-home for 20-24 hours a week. She continues to attend Kids For the Future and receive Speech, Occupational, and Physical Therapy. She has made so much progress in showing and telling us exactly what she wants (even if it is just a one word demand), she is

starting to read, and becoming somewhat more independent. Sarah will start kindergarten in the fall, and that brings up a whole lot of unknowns and fears for me.

There is a lot more I could tell you about our journey, but, first and foremost, I want to say to all parents, especially moms, because that is what I am... YOU are NOT alone in this. YOU did not cause your child to have AUTISM. YOU did nothing wrong, and I know that we ALL struggle with the guilt that maybe there was something we could have done differently. YOU ARE DOING YOUR BEST! Don’t take it just from me, there is a support community out there, and we have all been where you are. Please join us so we can welcome you to the family. We are all in this together.

As for the future, it scares me because I cannot see what it holds for Sarah. We will continue to take it day by day and do what it takes to set Sarah up for success. We will also continue to celebrate the small things, because they will always be BIG to us.

If you would like to know more about Autism Involves Me, to donate, or signup to volunteer in one of the upcoming events, please go to www.aimnwa.org or on Facebook by searching Autism Involves Me.

What You Need to Know About Preparing Your Preschooler for Kindergarten

By Natalie Emmons, PhD and Lauren Treptow, CDA The question, “Is my child ready for kindergarten?” crosses every parent’s mind as they start to prepare their child for the transition from preschool or athome-care to the seemingly daunting and more structured setting of public school.

The leap to kindergarten is an exciting and emotional time for families. It should be a time filled with joy and excitement rather than fear and worry. Pre-K programs are an excellent way to help prepare your preschooler for kindergarten, however, there are several things to consider when selecting a quality program.

The Physical, Cognitive, and EmotionalSocial Development of the Pre-K Child

"In Human Development: A Cultural Approach, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett writes that from 3 to 6 years of age, children grow 2-3 inches and gain 5-7 pounds per year. Children’s brains are also rapidly developing during this time. By age 6, the brain reaches 90% of its adult weight. The frontal lobes—which are involved in emotion regulation, planning, problem solving, impulse control, social behavior, and our sense of self—grow faster than other brain regions during this time. Children’s attention and memory improves as the reticular formation and hippocampus brain regions mature.

Good nutrition and stimulating experiences during the early years are critical for ensuring the proper development of children’s bodies and brains.

As their bodies and brains grow, children’s gross 42 March 2018

and fine motor skills also change. Between ages 3 and 6, the increasingly active and independent child develops the gross motor skills to climb stairs unattended, throw a ball farther and with more accuracy, catch a ball, increase their running speed and make sudden stops and direction changes, and can make a running jump. Children’s hand and finger dexterity also advance between ages 3 and 6. The fine motor skills that initially enabled children to pick up a crayon and scribble on a piece of paper rapidly develop to allow them to draw recognizable objects and figures. These skills continue to be honed in early childhood as children learn to draw different shapes and to write letters and words. Dressing themselves, using utensils more efficiently to feed themselves, and tying their shoes are all accomplishments we can expect from children as they approach kindergarten. These skills of course require practice and patience from caregivers. Quality pre-K programs will include practicing these and many other motor skills as part of their curriculum.

As their brains continue to grow and change, children quickly become more proficient problem solvers and are eager to learn new information.

Current theories support that children’s learning is more of a continuous process and highly dependent on the amount of educational experiences afforded to them. Children are naturally curious and thrive on hearing explanations for how and why things occur. Answering children’s “how” and “why” questions and encouraging them to ask these kinds of questions about the world around them can motivate their curiosity and inspire them to

discover new things. The more children learn and hear about a topic, the greater their understanding will become. Parents and educators should avoid stifling children’s learning based on assumptions that they are too young to understand big ideas in preschool. Age-appropriate techniques that include hands-on play, free thinking art, songand-dance, free-choice centers, and storybooks all can motivate and encourage learning.

Equally as important as children’s cognitive development is their emotional-social development. Emotional self-regulation—the ability to exercise control over one’s emotions—is a critical milestone in early childhood. It creates the foundation for our social relations because it requires us to manage our impulses, desires, and negative feelings in order to play fairly, take turns, or put others ahead of ourselves. Emotional selfregulation improves rapidly between ages 3 and 6 in part because children’s understanding of their own and other’s beliefs—an ability called theory of mind—improves between these ages. During the preschool years, children develop important strategies for regulating their negative emotions such as walking away, self-talk, redirecting their attention, and talking to a caregiver. Quality pre-K programs work with children on developing good emotional self-regulation and social skills.

Regular interactions with peers and adults and encouragement from caregivers to identify their own and others’ feelings give children the practice they need to navigate the social world and manage their emotions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-K Programs

Whether parents decide to work on their preschooler’s motor, cognitive, and emotionalsocial skills at home or team up with the help of a quality pre-K program, these frequently asked questions give insights into what to consider when exploring different options for your family.

“What are the benefits of enrolling my child in a pre-K program before kindergarten?”

As early childhood professionals, we have observed that many preschoolers who have not been involved in a structured classroomlike environment with similarly aged peers lack the emotional-social skills necessary to thrive in a kindergarten classroom environment. By establishing solid emotional-social skills before kindergarten, children are better equipped to learn academically. A pre-K program with a curriculum that emphasizes emotional-social development is focused on preparing your Turn the page

child for kindergarten. Cognitive benefits of attending a preschool program also include higher verbal skills and better memory and listening skills. When researching pre-K programs, look for a kindergarten readiness curriculum consistent with state educational standards and a facility with clean and inviting classroom spaces. Also ask questions about the education and training of teachers, class size, teacher-to-child ratios, and the kinds of interactions teachers have with children.

“What are the benefits for paying for a private pre-K program over enrolling my child in a publicly funded program?”

Most publicly funded pre-K programs in the state of Arkansas are based on families’ income for eligibility. Private centers offer programs with a wide variety of tuition prices based on the kinds of programs offered, location, size, quality, etc. Some private centers participate in the state voucher program and will accept income-based vouchers for families that have been approved by the state.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) website for Arkansas allows you to search for different programs that are licensed by the state in your area. As another indicator of program quality, child care centers in Arkansas can apply for Better Beginnings Status. This recognition is based on a quality-assessment that evaluates program administration, classroom environment and planning, health and safety, family involvement, and professional development of staff.

“How do I know if my child is benefitting from a pre-K program and is ready for kindergarten?

A quality pre-K program will have an assessment system to evaluate your child’s individual developmental needs and learning throughout the year. Regular assessments help to keep parents informed of children’s progress and help the pre-K

teacher create a classroom environment conducive to learning. The teacher can use assessment results to tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of individual children in the classroom. They can also better assess a child’s kindergarten readiness and help shape educational goals.

“What are developmentally appropriate ways that pre-k children learn?”

Worksheets and repetitious writing are not developmentally appropriate for a 4-year-old child. While children can practice writing letters at this age and start matching letters to sounds, the pre-K child learns best through fun and engaging hands-on activities, play, discovery, art, music, and hearing books read to them. They also benefit from participating in group activities with their peers, modeling appropriate behaviors from peers and caregivers, and engaging in self-directed learning and play. When a child enjoys what they are doing, learning comes naturally. Caregivers and teachers can find teachable moments in nearly every interaction and communicate new and routine ideas to children to help them develop the skills they need before starting kindergarten.

Although we often think of play as non-academic, it is a crucial part of children’s learning and development at this age. Play time gives children opportunities to build their emotional-social skills and practice their learning. For example, a child who has just learned about table manners can practice these skills through pretend play with their peers, dolls, or stuffed animals in one of the centers of their pre-K classroom. Play also gives children time to practice communication, respond to feelings, and experience other points of views. When researching pre-K programs, look for a program that values play in their everyday curriculum. Play is successful when a program provides play center choices and materials that foster creativity and independence.

iNFiNiTi Child Care 305 SE 22nd St., Bentonville, 479-418-3116 infinitichildcare.com

Lauren Treptow, CDA

Natalie Emmons, PhD

About the authors We are two educators and child care program administrators who are passionate about developing quality child care programs in the state of Arkansas. Dr. Natalie Emmons is the Director of iNFiNiTi Child Care located in Bentonville, AR and a developmental psychologist who has been researching and studying cognitive development and early education for the past decade. After spending several years in academia, Natalie chose to focus her career in childhood care and administration. Lauren Treptow is the Assistant Director of iNFiNiTi Child Care and Lead Administrator of our newly launched pre-K program. Lauren taught pre-K for several years and started her own infant and preschool child care business, which she Co-Directed for seven years before joining iNFiNiTi Child Care. Together, our goal is to create programs that nurture the whole child and are based on current findings from child development and education research.

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Story

of

Survival Susan May of Bentonville suffered the symptoms of a heart attack for two days before a colleague in another state convinced her to seek medical attention.

The mother of two school-age boys works in the Information Systems Department for Walmart and had been experiencing the tell-tale signs of a heart attack since the day before the attack – chest pains, fatigue, shortness of breath. Yet Susan was in denial.

“I thought it was something else because the symptoms would go away,” says Susan, 43. “I’m just not a person who goes and has things checked out.”

She didn’t even tell her husband, Steven, about it. “I just kept it quiet, trying to be strong. I just kept thinking, ‘It’s going pass and it’s going to be something simple.’ I didn’t want to be a wimp.”

She and a coworker were discussing her symptoms over in-house instant messaging the afternoon of Aug. 23, 2017, when the colleague, Tabatha Drain in Oklahoma, sent a stern message: Still skeptical, Susan went to a convenient care clinic instead of the hospital emergency room.

(The American Heart Association recommends calling 9-1-1 rather than driving to seek help.) But by the time she got there, she was in a great deal of pain and sweating profusely – she was having a full-blown heart attack.

Once transported to the emergency room at Northwest Medical Center - Bentonville, doctors swarmed her. This is where she was met by Dr. Garrett Sanford. He is a non-invasive cardiologist who practices at Northwest Cardiology Bentonville.

50 March 2018

“He had a very calming demeanor,” she says. “His was the first face I saw when I got there.”

She found herself caught up in a whirlwind of machines and testing. Susan was scared and emotional. Even now, she tears up while talking about it. She was in the hospital two days, during which she had an operation to have a stent put in.

Doctors found a coronary artery where she had a 99 percent blockage.

“There is a difference when it comes to symptoms of a heart attack,” Dr. Sanford says. “Men tend to experience more chest discomfort. This is not always the case for women. Women can have more shortness of breath or sweating or simply pain in the jaw or neck. This is why some women don’t immediately seek medical care.”

Susan says she chose Dr. Sanford as her cardiologist based on his caring bedside manner.

“He really listened and wanted to make things good for me,” she says. “Even in the follow up appointments, he has been patient and kind, answering every question I had. His answers were in layman’s terms and not in all that medical jargon. I appreciated that.”

Susan says she felt that she was in good hands with the Northwest Health nursing staff.

“They were very attentive and sensitive to my every need,” she says. “Always smiling and energetic.”

In hindsight, Susan says she should have known better. Her family – including her father, mother and brother – all had heart issues, mostly when they were in their late 40s and early 50s.

Her father suffered two heart attacks – one before Susan was born and a second from which he died.

Her brother suffered multiple heart complications and eventually underwent triple bypass surgery in 2016. Her mom had a stent.

Since her own heart attack, she’s been doing cardiac rehab two days per week with a group. She rides a stationary bicycle, walks on a treadmill and works with an arm wheel. Outside of that, she tries to walk regularly on her own.

9. She reads food labels for sodium content and has added more fresh vegetables. She’s lost about 10 pounds and has noticed toning in the muscles in her arms.

“You have to be more deliberate on eating and exercise. It matters a lot, and not just for rehab, but for the rest of your life,” she says.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer among women in the United States, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Some signs of a heart attack specific to women include: + Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

+ Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

+ Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

+ Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Susan knows she won’t be in rehab forever and is making real lifestyle changes that will prevent further cardiac issues or incidents.

She’s grateful to the medical professionals that saved her life, and to her friend and colleague in Oklahoma for nudging her to go to the hospital.

“I would have waited until the end of the day or collapsed in the office,” she says.

Susan’s advice for others: “Pay attention to the warning signs. The life you save could be your own.”

She has also changed her diet and that of her family, which includes sons Marcus, 12, and Noah, Keeping tabs on your heart health can help you identify potential problems early.

Visit NorthwestHealth.com to learn about our cardiovascular services.

s e s r Ho Wild

Location: Kansas City Zoo Year: 1979 Event: Shetland Pony Ride

I’m sure when that little Shetland pony awoke on that hot summer day, he didn’t expect for things to go down the way they did, but I still blame him.

Okay, so Humpty Dumpty (that’s me), somehow wobbled up on top of this poor creature that was (loosely) tied to a post, along with other horses who luckily got to hold far less cargo (a skinny kid, I was not).

Like an impatient driver, the little bronco behind mine had a fit of road rage and nipped at the back side of my stallion. Obviously, the horse I was on was moving at a slower rate due to added poundage. Anyway, my colt got a bit freaked,

52 March 2018

somehow snapped the rope it was on and took off from the equine arena. Bystanders (aka my parents) will tell you the foal made it 100 feet at a slow trot before being captured. They lie. From my point of view, the maniacal mustang took off like a thoroughbred at the Kentucky Derby and sprinted wildly throughout the entire Kansas City Zoo with reckless abandon. At one point, fearing for my very life, the chubby child (again, me) made the disastrous decision to “disembark." Hey, it sounded like a good idea at the time. I succeeded in jumping half off. You see, I forgot to take my left foot out of the stirrups before attempting to exit the equine. Therefore, the horse, which moved faster than Secretariat going downhill with a strong tailwind, drug me around for at least half an hour – or maybe a few seconds. Like most things in life, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. All

this to say, I avoid horses.

But anyway, this article isn’t really about wild horses. It’s about taming tots and subduing sprouts; breaking them, keeping them in line, making sure they cave to societal pressure, lassoing the wild horses. You know, ruining them!

Yes, ruining them. Okay, that’s a bit severe and yeah, you can’t just release them into the open and let things get all “Lord of the Flies.” But there is a bit of parental remorse when you see that all of the pressure you put on them to get good grades and all of the lectures on turning off lights, and all of the demands not to destroy an entire bag of Doritos, finally worked, and the results are that you’ve turned them into something that kind of resembles a smaller version of you. A beaten down, tired, stressed out mini-adult.

Whoops.

I’ve noticed we’ve done this with two out of three of our urchins. They’ve been conquered, thwarted, trounced, they’ve raised the white flag, they’ve declared no mas! The wild horses have been broken. Yep, they’ve been assimilated. However, there’s one left: the renegade, the outlier, the maverick, the Han Solo of the bunch, the John Connor of the family (10 bonus points if you get that reference), the one that will not conform.

Don’t get me wrong, this one is not a “bad” kid. No dastardly deeds, just a genuine disgust for society’s statutes - and school. It’s hard to explain, really.

He’s not way right or way left – actually, he’s not linear at all. Maybe he exists in the Upside Down?

Man, I hope not-- I’m not climbing into those holes and going mano-y-mano with the Demogorgon.

Okay, okay, enough Stranger Things references.

Luckily, I got to spend about 100 straight hours with this kid a few weeks ago. We attended the Winter X Games – a veritable beacon of nonconformity.

I learned a lot... beyond the proper intonation to use when saying “dude,” “radical” and “tubular” (Seriously, snowboarders still say those things).

I learned that Millennials live in a vastly different world than I’m used to, and are therefore going to see and react to things differently. Technology and phones don’t keep them away from people, they keep them together, in an odd sort of way that makes geezers like me uncomfortable. Daily, usually hourly, I’m on this kid about talking to “3D” people – meaning, people that are actually in the same room instead of on Snapchat, Instagram,

YouTube, etc. But that’s a 1900's way of thinking (Wow, that aged me). He talks about YouTubers that he “knows” and I scoff at the notion that he can ever know anyone in the WWW World. Then, as we sat waiting for an event, I see my son stop a twenty-something heading toward the Monster Energy tent and chat him up for a few minutes.

My child, huge 'you-know-what' eating grin on his face, comes back over and says “That was Trevor…. he’s a famous YouTuber”. Whoops again. I met other “radicals” at the event, you know, little punks with $1,000 snowboards and attitudes? Yeah, they definitely had attitudes – really good attitudes.

Like the 13-year-old kid that had shattered his collar bone last year during a Big Air Event and lost his sponsors, but he’s working hard to get back competing again. I sat with him in the Hospitality Tent (because there was a heater in there!) and he was nicer than any grandma you’ll ever meet.

Introduced himself, looked me in the eye, shook my hand, told me where the best BBQ was in town and left saying he hoped I enjoyed the events.

Yeah, you should watch those wild horses… and learn from them.

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TAYLOR MCKEEN SHE LTON FOUN DATION

A

Story by: Ella Shelton Family Photo by: Lazer Lee Photography

pril 10th, 2012 was a day much anticipated by both of our families. Wes and I were opening another chapter in our lives with the birth of our first son, Taylor McKeen Shelton.

From the very beginning, it was obvious that Taylor was a special child; one that God gave special gifts to. He had the ability to make the day brighter for many he came into contact with.

His quick smile, laughter and humor were very infectious. Wes and I were focused on providing Taylor only the best, and life had new meaning.

Our perfect family that we had always dreamed of was coming together.

As Robert Burn’s wrote in 1785, “The best laid plans o’ mice and men often go awry.”

On Saturday, June 15th, 2013, all of our plans came to a sudden crossroads that no one could have ever predicted. Taylor had been struggling with what presented as another ear infection, of which he had had several in the previous months.

He was prescribed another round of antibiotics and we were told to monitor his temperature, appetite and behavior. We returned home and had a relaxing night as a family. He ate well, had a bath and went to bed. His fever had dropped to near normal.

When Wes and I went to get Taylor up the next morning, we immediately knew something was terribly wrong. He was not breathing.

The unimaginable was happening. I pleaded with him to wake up. I begged God to not let this happen.

Wes and I frantically worked together to perform CPR and called the paramedics. We knew what to do in this situation, but no amount of training can ever prepare you. This was our worst nightmare coming true and the feeling of helplessness was complete and all encompassing.

In the blink of an eye, our dreams seemed to transform into nightmares. The center of our world was taken, only to be replaced with an empty pit filled with sorrow. Our perfect life was no more and we were beginning the hardest journey of our lives.

The next weeks brought incredible grief and pain as the reality of Taylor being gone began to set in - disbelief, confusion, anger.

The most common response people have when learning of Taylor’s passing at 14 months old is: “He was too old for it to be SIDS.” What we learned is after the age of 12 months, SIDS cases still occur but are then classified as SUDC, or Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood is defined as “the sudden and unexpected death of a child over the age of 12 months, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation is conducted.”

We knew that we needed to help spread awareness of SUDC after losing Taylor, and that has been the purpose of his foundation.

The Taylor McKeen Shelton Foundation was founded in loving memory of Taylor with a goal of increasing awareness of and research into the cause of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood incidents by supporting the SUDC Foundation via financial contributions. In addition to supporting the SUDC Foundation, the goals of Taylor’s Foundation include supporting other families living through similar tragedies and giving back to the communities that have rallied around us.

THE TAYLOR MCKEEN SHELTON FOUNDATION In the four and a half years since we lost Taylor and formed the Taylor McKeen Shelton Foundation, we have been able to raise almost $600,000 and also raise awareness of SUDC across the state of Arkansas. We have been so fortunate to have the support of so many people, and in turn be able to help so many more.

Taylor’s foundation holds two “Tee Off for Taylor” golf tournaments, which include both a reception and incredible auctions, which raise the majority of the money we collect.

Each year, the first of these golf tournaments is held in my and Wes’s hometown of Batesville, Arkansas, while the second is held at Shadow Valley Country Club in Rogers.

This year’s “Tee Off for Taylor” golf tournaments and evening receptions will be held on May 26 and 27, 2018,

at The Course at Eagle Mountain in Batesville, and on June 23, 2018 at Shadow Valley Country Club in Rogers. We are looking forward to these amazing events to celebrate and remember Taylor.

mystery around SUDC. Through our support of the SUDC Foundation, families affected by the loss of a child due to SUDC have the support and resources they need to help them through these tragedies.

The Taylor McKeen Shelton Foundation has donated $275,000 to the SUDC Foundation in an effort to help advance research that is beginning to uncover the

To learn more about the Taylor McKeen Shelton Foundation and to see what he’s been able to do in NWA, please visit www. taylormckeen.com.

In my quiet times during the day, I always talk to Taylor. I tell him how much I love him and how much he is missed. I always end with telling him that he is changing the world... And he really is.

N WA R e g i o na l D an c e C o .

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very mom wants to send their children out into the world prepared to take on all challenges. We want our girls to have the confidence to go out and take on whatever they encounter. One way to give girls that confidence is to enroll them in the kind of program that requires teamwork, physical fitness and poise. Some girls find that in sports, but for others, dance is the answer.

The problem is that, while dance can be very valuable, it can also be very expensive. Those of us who have had girls in dance know that the cost of lessons is only the beginning. There are also costumes, shoes and fees for competition and sometimes for recital. There’s a large percentage of our population who will never have the opportunity to perform, even though they may be very talented and very motivated.

Northwest Arkansas Regional Dance Company gives girls from less affluent families the chance to dance and learn life skills like perseverance, teamwork and creativity. It also gives them a chance to perform on a real stage with a real audience. It’s also a pathway to cheerleading in secondary schools and beyond.

NWARDC was formed to help these girls. We offer scholarships for low income families and give them the chance to perform. Our upcoming summer session will end with performances on the Main Stage at Frisco Festival. Then, we’ll start work on a full performance of “The Nutcracker.”

The director of Ballet Westside, Dorothy Taylor, helped create NWARDC. For well over 20 years, 58 March 2018

www.facebook.com/nwaregionaldanceco Dorothy has been teaching dance to girls in this area. Over the years she has helped dozens of families who couldn’t quite afford dance lessons for their daughters. She saw the need for a more formal program to make sure all girls had the same opportunity to perform. For more information call Ballet Westside at (479) 636-6678.

The NWA Regional Dance Co is a non-profit community youth organization that is open to all dancers in the NWA region. Anyone who loves to dance and wants to perform! There is a tryout process, and a history of dance lessons is preferred, but not mandatory.

How much rehearsal time is involved?

As with any performing group, regular weekly choreography rehearsals are required (about an hour or so per week). We currently rehearse in the Ballet Westside Dance Studio at 101 E. Chestnut Street in downtown Rogers. *Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings.

What about the cost?

There are several options! Our summer program is only $50! And it includes at least 8 rehearsals.

The fall and summer programs are each a semester long and are only $175! There will also be a small fee for costumes that you keep, and other costumes will be loaned to the dancers. Of course, dance shoes and tights are the dancer’s responsibility.

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learned to crawl, Maddox was at her side, crawling with her and cheering her on. When she learned to walk, Maddox held her hand. When Millie walked unassisted for the first time it was Maddox who she walked to. He held his arms open, ready to catch Millie. The journey of Millie’s first steps ended in a proud embrace from her big brother that overflowed with giggles.

by: Kristen Hurlbut

O

n August 10th 2016, my mommy heart broke into a million pieces as I watched my sweet baby girl fight for her life while bacterial meningitis took over her brain. I sat by her side, held her itty-bitty hand, and prayed that she would make it through the infection.

Millie After three months and one day in the hospital, we were finally taking our Mighty Millie home.

Bacterial meningitis causes significant trauma to the brain and, as the brain heals, it leaves behind a large amount of scar tissue. As a result of the trauma and scar tissue, Millie has started suffering from seizures on a daily basis. Millie was also born with a rare kidney disease that affected her hearing. She is profoundly deaf, but this did not hold her back from being a chatter box. We use sign language to communicate with Millie, and her little hands were constantly in motion before she contracted bacterial meningitis.

Maddox One of the sweetest things to see was a conversation between Millie and her big brother, Maddox as they signed to one another. Millie’s big brother has been at her side since we brought her home as a newborn. The bond between Maddox and Millie was instant. He calls her “his MayMay.” When she learned to sit up on her own, Maddox sat behind her in case he needed to catch her. When Millie 60 March 2018

Between the monitoring of Millie’s kidneys and the malformations of her middle ears, we were in and out of doctor's appointments constantly with our newborn Millie and her big brother Maddox. Maddox has been her hero during every appointment. He has held Millie through scans, tests, blood draws and evaluations. After Millie contracted bacterial meningitis, Maddox’s big brother role immediately amped up to a whole new level. The hours he spent holding her through the rough moments in the hospital turned into days, that turned into overnights, and eventually he moved into the hospital with us. We believe Millie progressed so well because her best friend was at her side, playing with her, reading to her, and encouraging her to go a bit further.

Millie has quite a few neurological changes, but that does not stop Maddox from treating her exactly like he did before she got sick. He is helping her learn to stand, walk, and to use her hands to sign again. He gets excited when Millie grabs a toy he is helping her play with. Millie does not smile often, but when she does, it is pure magic. We celebrate each smile. Each one.

​Boats for Millie Between her seizures and medications, Millie is being held back from progressing at her full potential. I have desperately reached out to Boston Children’s Hospital for help. A neurologist there has accepted Millie’s case and has already given us a second opinion. There is a procedure they want to perform on Millie that will possibly cure her seizures. The doctor is hopeful we will get more of “Millie” back after the procedure.

Maddox understands how important it is to get Millie to Boston and also understands the great financial cost that comes with the treatment Millie needs. Now, on his own, Maddox has started making paper boats to sell so he can help get his baby sister to Boston. He has a lot of paper and a really big heart. Boats are $1 a piece and can be personalized by Maddox.

To order visit www.boatsformillie.com

peekaboonwa.com

61

she says. “I loved the problem solving that medicine presented to me and the opportunity to help change someone’s life in a positive way through an effective treatment plan.”

Dr. Harp says family medicine has allowed her to provide comprehensive medical care to her patients and be on the front lines of preventive care and screenings for all ages.

“During residency, I loved how the family medicine physicians had the opportunity to take care of a patient for many years,” she says.

“I feel like this is so important in building trust and effective communication, which ultimately improves patient health.”

New Siloam Springs Doctor Found Path to Medicine at a Young Age Growing up, E. Beth Harp, D.O., always loved science and problem solving.

“From a young age I can recall how much I loved to learn about the human body and how it worked,” she says.

Dr. Harp says her goal is to work hard and provide compassionate and quality health care to all of her patients.

“During my medical career, I’ve had a lot of experience with common medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and thyroid disorders,” she says. “I have experience with knee and shoulder injections as well as skin lesion and biopsies.”

Dr. Harp previously practiced medicine at the Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center in Stilwell, Okla.

She is a graduate of Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at the Tahlequah City Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program.

Dr. Harp is a family medicine physician who recently joined the medical staff of Siloam Springs Regional Hospital, practicing at Siloam Springs Family Medicine.

She and her family currently reside on a dairy farm in Westville, Okla. The Harps also have strong ties to the Siloam Springs community and attend Siloam Springs Baptist Church, where Dr. Harp volunteers with the Awana program.

During high school and her early college years, Dr. Harp had the opportunity to shadow different health professionals to decide which career was right for her.

“I graduated from Westville High School and am married to my high school sweetheart, Wesley,” Dr. Harp said. “We have four very active children.”

“While job shadowing with a family medicine physician, I felt as though I had found my niche,”

When she is not at work, Dr. Harp enjoys spending time with her family, running and watching baseball.

Siloam Springs Family Medicine is located at 1101-1 N. Progress Ave. in Siloam Springs.

Dr. Harp is accepting new patients. Same-day appointments are available.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Harp call 479-215-3035 or visit MyNorthwestAnycare.com

62 March 2018

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At a

Glance ARTS and MUSIC

Amazeum (Pg. 11) (479) 696-9280 Crystal Bridges (Pg. 36) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Trike Theatre (Pg. 43) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 67) waltonartscenter.org Wing Studios (Pg. 52) wingstudios.net

BANKS First Security (Pg. 39) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 27) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com First Friends Preschool (Pg. 4) 479-636-3338 iNFiNiTi Childcare (Pg. 44) infinitichildcare.com Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg. 65) (479) 273-1011

CLOTHING D. E. B. (Pg. 47) (479) 544-9397 Oh Baby Boutique (Pg. 54) ohbabynwa.com

DENTIST Mint Dental Care (Pg. 55) (479) 385-6308 MintDentalAR.com My Village Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 63) myvillagesmiles.com Pediatric Dental Associates & Orthodontics (Pg. 59) (479) 582-0600

DERMATOLOGY / SKIN CARE Advanced Dermatology / Skin Care Center (479) 268-3555 (Pg. 27) NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com Women's Health Associates (Pg. 68) whanwa.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Academic Math & Language Therapy (Pg. 13) (479) 253-3256 Aloha (Pg. 53) (479) 426-3419

64 March 2018

To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 15) ERCinc.org K12 (Pg. 45) (877) 344-8785 New School (Pg. 5) thenewschool.org Rubalcava Jiu-Jitsu (Pg. 15) (479) 366-1897 Super Science (Pg. 40) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Thaden School (Pg. 21) (479) 268-5321 Wing Studios (Pg. 52) wingstudios.net

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT Amazeum (Pg. 11) (479) 696-9280 Arkansas Razorbacks Gymnastics (Pg. 59) ArkansasRazorbacks.com Bentonville Film Festival (Pg. 48) BentonvilleFilmFestival.com Crystal Bridges (Pg. 36) (479) 418-5700 GIrl Scouts (Pg. 34) (800) 632-6894 NWA Regional Dance Co (Pg. 58) facebook.com/nwaregionaldanceco Starlight Skatium (Pg. 29) (479) 444-STAR Super Science (Pg. 40) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 43) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org

FOOD / DRINK TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY)

HEALTH AND WELLNESS Arkansas Children's Northwest (Pg. 66) ARchildrens.org/nyla Direct Care Clinic (Pg. 49) directcarenwa.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 61) fccare.org Northwest Primary Care (Pg. 9) nw-physicians.com

JEWELRY AND GIFTS David Adams (Pg. 21) davidadams.com (479) 444-7778

LEARNING CENTER Academic Math and Language Therapy (Pg. 13) (479) 253-3256 www.amltherapy.com ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 27) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 15) ERCinc.org iNFiNiTi Childcare (Pg. 44) infinitichildcare.com

To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com K12 (Pg. 45) (877) 344-8785 Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool (Pg. 65) (479) 273-1011

PEDIATRICIAN Best Start (Pg. 23) (479) 575-9359 Direct Care Clinic (Pg. 49) directcarenwa.com Northwest Pediatric Convenient Care (Pg. 7) (479) 751-2522 NWA Pediatrics (Pg. 37) (479) 442-7322 Ozark Pediatrics (Pg. 31) (479) 544-9432

SOCIAL SERVICES Youth Bridge (Pg. 25) YouthBridge.com

Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 61) (479) 524-2456

ULTRASOUND Baby Face & More (Pg. 29) (479) 270-7391

WOMEN'S HEALTH Lifespring Healthcare (Pg. 18) (479) 271-0005 lifespringhealthcare.com Parkhill (Pg. 41) Parkhillclinic.com Siloam Springs Women's Center (Pg. 12) (479) 524-9312 Willow Creek (Pg. 8) (479) 757-1730\ Women's Health Associates (Pg. 68) whanwa.com

THERAPY Academic Math and Language Therapy (Pg. 13) (479) 253-3256 www.amltherapy.com

To advertise and become a part of the Peekaboo Family email: editor@peekaboonwa.com

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66 March 2018

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