March 2016

Peekaboo Inside:

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Hayden’s Hope Bellaflies

Meet Brooks

Northwest Arkansas’ Family Magazine

March 2016

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The

PEEKABOO

Family

Kimberly Enderle Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com | 479-957-0532

Jonathon Enderle Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com | 479-586-3890

Addi simmons Associate Editor

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

Photo by Main Street Studios

contributing writer/Editor Frances Wilson

Distribution/ Circulation Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas

Ben Lacy Dad’s View

Columnist

Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

Peekaboo Publications

Veronica Zucca Story Design

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

Kristin Hvizda Dalai Mama

Columnist

Jennifer Cristofaro Events

Peekaboo nwa W h at ’ s I n s i d e | m a r c h | 2 0 1 6 Hope 16 | Hayden’s by: Ann Meythaler

22 | NUK: You’ve Got This by: NUK

24 | #RunJennifer by: Kelly Sikorski 26 | Drive for Jen

with the Dalai Mama

30 | Feed Their Tummies by: Jen Maars

View 32 | Dad’s with Ben Lacy

34 | A Positive Spin: Stitches by: Brittany Smith

40 |

Our Story: The Call by: Shannon Stocks

46 | Bellaflies

by: Janelle Paquette

50 | Confronting Financial Obstacles

by: Amber Spencer Children’s Therapy TEAM

52 | Meet Brooks

by: Angie McGrew

56 | Harper’s Make a Wish by: Kyla Gillespie

Weightloss 62 | Surgical Changes Lives

by: Northwest Health System

on the c ov e r : Hayden, age 2, daughter of Kerry and Ann Meythaler of Bentonville

Deja 64 | Meet by: Deja Friedan

68 | Let Your Child’s

Imagination Run Wild by: Meagan Ruffing

COVER PHOTO BY: Bethany Blair Photography bethanyblairphotography

Cover Sponsored by: Northwest Health System www.northwesthealth.com

from the editor A look ahead: We are working to get a head start on 2016 so that our 9th year will be the best yet! If you have a story to share, or an idea for a story, please email editor@peekaboonwa.com

M

arch is a very special month... mostly because any page on the calendar that says “First Day of Spring” is one worth celebrating! It is also the anniversary of the day that Jonathon and I eloped on the beach during spring break my sophomore year of college. It is one of my favorite decisions, and one that I would never take back in a million years, but would no doubt have a panic attack if my daughter repeated it.

It is easy to get caught up in worrying about our children’s futures, but, luckily, I have quite a few years before I have to worry about any of my kids making big life decisions. One of my favorite quotes is: We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. - Stacia Tauscher.

This quote is something I am constantly reminding myself of. I always seem to be so busy making sure that my kids are on the right path for the future that I forget that they are still little and have a path they are forging everyday. One thing I do strive to make sure that they work toward daily is to be kind – something that they are pretty great at when it comes to others, but still working on in the realm of each other. I believe that my children can be anything they want to be. I am confident that when they set their mind to something, they will succeed. I want

14 March 2016

Photo by: Ever After Portraiture

them to have happiness and success in all areas of life.. but first, I want them to be kind. No matter how smart you are, or how successful you are, or what your bank account has in it – if you don’t treat people with kindness and respect, the rest is insignificant.

March is going to be a favorite month for a new reason, as this month we kick off a fun new feature sponsored by NUK! called “Outtakes!”

Each time I share a new family picture on FB, friends and family comment how “sweet” it is and how they “can’t believe” I got all three kids to look at the camera and smile. But what they don’t see is the turmoil and bribery that went on or the hundreds of images the photographer had to edit out before that photo was captured.

We believe that every family picture posted or framed has a story behind it - a “real” story. So, each month we will feature a few pictures with a “perfect” family shot and then an outtake - the ones that have screaming kids and less-than-pleased parents. With the tagline, “You’ve Got This,” we knew NUK was the perfect brand to partner with. They have a multitude of products that help parents when they feel like they don’t “got this.”

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If you would like to be a part of the April edition, email editor@peekaboonwa.com with the final shot, the fun outtake, logo and website. If you are not a photographer but have great shots on your camera or phone, we want to see those, too!

When it comes to Northwest Arkansas, we are unique in that we are all connected and could all literally be one big family. When a family is hurting or in need, the community support is amazing. This issue is filled with stories of families who have either received an outpouring of support and love from a non-profit, or who have experienced a lifealtering event, saw a need and began their own organization to help others. I hope you enjoy meeting these families as much as I have! If you feel called to donate or offer help, your support will aid in their efforts to make a difference. Happy Spring!

We loved being a foster family even more than we ever imagined we would, but after caring for 15 children and adopting four, it was time to hit the pause button and close our home for a while.

We knew we would reopen eventually, though, and tentatively scheduled that for fall of 2015, when our boys would be in kindergarten.

As with most of the great plans I lay out, God had something different in mind and hit the fastforward button on our reopening. In early 2014 I learned that the sisters of one of our adopted sons had just come in to foster care. My heart hurt and my head was spinning. Would we be interested in the girls possibly being placed with us? Yes, definitely! Soon we started the process of re-opening our home just in case we were needed.

About a month went by after that first phone call, and I had almost given up when we got the call – the girls would be moved to our home, and within a few short hours.

Hayden’s

hzpe by: Ann Meythaler “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…”

-Hebrews 6:19

j

ur family hasn’t exactly been assembled in the most conventional of ways. We started off simple enough - Dad, Mom, and two beautiful healthy daughters, but shortly after our second daughter was born we decided to get off the beaten path and try something a little unconventional. We set aside our desire to have more biological children and committed to opening our home to kids in foster care.

I had known about the older sister ever since shortly after she was born. I prayed for her regularly – that she was safe, loved and well cared for. Tucking her into bed and praying over her in person that first night was such a surreal experience. This sweet little thing that I had been praying for was in my home! I got to hug her and kiss her and I knew that she was safe, loved and well-cared for. As an added bonus, she came with a precious newborn sister, who was sweet as can be. I was in love. We all were. Meythaler, party of 10!

The goal of all foster cases is to work towards reunifying the children with their biological parents and this case was no different. There were so many highs and lows – so many times we thought we’d be saying goodbye. Blind obedience is such a difficult thing once your heart gets involved. We trusted that God loved these girls even more than we did, that He had a plan for their lives and that His plan was best. Eventually it became apparent that the case would not result in reunification. Adoption quickly became the best option for the girls.

October 27 was a day our family had been looking forward to for a long time. That morning, we finalized the adoptions of our two youngest princesses. The girls had lived in our home for 21 months at that point and we were ecstatic to be able to finally share our complete family with the world! Meredith Kaye and Hayden Abigail were officially Meythalers and our ‘happily ever after’ was scheduled to start that day.

The next day, we followed up with our family doctor about Hayden’s health. She’d been running a low grade fever, and even after two weeks and two rounds of antibiotics she wasn’t getting any

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better. He suggested that we run some blood work to make sure we weren’t missing anything a little more serious, and, as it turned out, we were.

I remember getting a call from the doctor with the results, which were back a lot quicker than I had anticipated. Whether he realized it or not, I recognized the “calm doctor voice” he was using and knew something was wrong right away. I was told to take Hayden to the ER immediately and that we would be transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital by the end of the day. There wasn’t even time to run home to pack a bag. We turned around and headed straight for the ER. We arrived at the ER and were rushed to a room. Blood transfusions started, there was talk of helicopter transportation versus an ambulance ride, and doctors and nurses were rushing around everywhere. At one point, our family doctor stopped by. He sat down quietly by the wall and waited until the room cleared.

Once it was just the three of us in the room, he let me know that more than likely our sweet Hayden had leukemia. I still can’t even type that without crying. That was a hard pill to swallow. What happened to happily ever after?!

One of the best things about toddlers is their resiliency.

She doesn’t know her life is different and she’s adapted beautifully to her new normal.

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Soon, I heard the helicopter land outside and I knew it was there for us. I carried my sweet baby out of the ER room to the helicopter. As I walked through the hallway, my eyes blurry with tears, I could see all the doctors and nurses stop what they were doing and look up as we walked by. They all knew what was going on. Walking out of there felt like I was moving in slow motion. This could not possibly be my life. I handed my baby over to the medics and watched them strap her down to the gurney. Once inside the helicopter, they all assured me that she would sleep; that the warm blanket coupled with the gentle rocking and white noise from the helicopter blades would lull her to

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staff. They all knew why we were there, too. Once we were situated in the exam room, another doctor came in. He carefully covered the part of his name badge that said “Oncologist” until he knew that we knew why we were there.

At that moment, I was so thankful for our family doctor for having that hard conversation with us first. I’m not sure my heart could have handled finding out my baby had cancer by meeting her oncologist. He was very gentle with Hayden, and something about the way he explained everything to me put my heart at ease.

Hayden was never comfortable just staying in our room, so we walked laps in the halls often.

Through those walks I met a few of the other parents on the wing, and quickly realized that being a parent of a child with cancer made us part of a club, and this particular club isn’t an opt-in kind of thing. Nobody asks to be a cancer mom, but the key to surviving things like this is to find your people.

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sleep. I knew better. She was laying perfectly still, but I could see the terror in her eyes. She didn’t know what was going on, and because I was seated behind her and everything was so loud, she had no idea I was with her. Somehow, that helicopter ride over the Ozark Mountains at sunset wasn’t quite as spectacular as I always thought it would be.

Once we landed in Little Rock they let me scoop her into my arms. She immediately calmed down, and with relief in her voice she asked, “All done, Mommy?” No, baby girl, not even close. Walking in, we were met with more solemn stares from the

18 March 2016

Eventually we were taken to the oncology wing and settled in. Shortly after we got to our room, a friend of mine showed up with food, clothes, and a shoulder to cry on. She had rearraged her evening and hopped in her car shortly after I texted her about what was going on so that I wouldn’t be alone in the hospital room with Hayden on our first night there. God bless her for that. The next day, I had to text our adoption specialist and let him know what was going on. We were in a weird “in between” period with adoption. Legally, she was ours, but I had no papers to prove it. It typically takes several weeks to get adoption decrees, and then you can apply for the new birth certificate and social security card after that. He was wonderfully helpful. Everyone at DCFS was. They worked hard to make sure we had what we needed, and I had adoption decrees within days. Very soon our friends and family had stepped up to take care of the rest of the kids so Hayden’s daddy could join us. She had really missed him, and lit up when he walked in the room. He made it just before she went in to surgery to have a medical port put in her chest. That evening, she started chemo, and we were educated on chemo precautions. For 48 hours after a dose of chemo, we would need to wear gloves to change her diapers and couldn’t share food or drinks in order to protect ourselves.

Protect ourselves... from the medicine we just put into our baby. Yikes. Hayden and I were at ACH for 10 days that first stay. Hayden was never comfortable just staying in her room, so we walked laps in the halls often. I’m so grateful for that, because she forced me to get out of the room. I could have easily stayed in bed all day and let depression set in. Through those walks I met a few of the other parents on the wing and quickly realized that being a parent of a child with cancer

made us part of a club, and this particular club isn’t an opt-in kind of thing. Nobody asks to be a cancer mom, but the key to surviving things like this is to find your people. A friend told me early on that, just like with foster care, I would find “my people” and we would all help each other through this. The problem is, none of us wanted to be in the club in the first place.

In all, I think we were in the hospital for 15 of the 30-day Induction phase. Those 30 days were some of the most difficult of my life. By the end of that phase, Hayden had gained almost 8lbs and was not recognizable. She had stopped walking and talking. She couldn’t move, wouldn’t play and was completely miserable. She slept in short spurts around the clock and wasn’t the cheery, active girl we were used to. A couple of times she tried to take a few steps, but fell down quickly. Her body just wasn’t strong enough for that kind of activity right then. I’ll never forget the look of disappointment that washed over her face when she fell to the ground. She knew that was something she should have been able to do. Thankfully, at the end of Induction, Hayden’s cancer was in remission.

We started a new round of chemo with different medications and slowly our girl came back to us.

The day she was able to walk again she smiled so proudly. That smile will forever be imprinted on my heart. Today, 3 1/2 months after her diagnosis,

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Hayden is thriving. She’s as spunky as ever, and loves to run around with her brothers and sisters again. She’s responding well to her treatments and her prognosis is very good. For now, we make a day trip to ACH once a week for her treatments, which is much nicer than living in the hospital.

Throughout this entire ordeal we have been absolutely overwhelmed at the love and support we’ve received from our family, friends, and community. We’ve had our home cleaned, meals delivered, Christmas gifts covered, furniture purchased (did I mention we were in the middle of redoing all of the kids rooms when this hit?!), and so many care packages I can’t even count. As for Hayden, she’s doing so well. One of the best things about toddlers is their resiliency. She doesn’t know her life is different, and she’s adapted beautifully to her new normal.

You can follow along with her journey on our Facebook Page, Hayden’s Hope. There is a link on her page to the GoFundMe Account that was set up to help cover any out-of-pocket expenses associated with her care. More than anything, we would love your prayers that things would continue to go well for Hayden. And if you know a parent of a child with cancer, give them a big hug.

This is a tough road that nobody ever wants to walk, and should never ever walk alone.

A

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Every family picture posted on social media or framed and hanging in the hallway has a story behind it - a “real” story. A picture is worth a thousand words, but the outtakes are worth even more!

! s e k a OU i i I

n the spirit of being “real,” this is my new favorite PEEKABOO feature. When we post that “how many likes can this one get” picture of our kids, what doesn’t get shown is the part where we had to bribe with new toys, reprimand, beg, and break up fights! So, to show that you aren’t alone, above is a recent shoot of my own three little people... including a wrestling match.

(Now, if only we could share the audio of it!)

Even cover models have outtakes– sweet Hayden needed a little love from mommy, a cell phone and bubbles to get that perfect Photography by Bethany Blair Photography

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22 March 2016

NUK® Magic 360 10 Ounce Cup keeps kids’ picture day clothes mess-free. Magically drink from any edge, like a regular cup, without the worries of spills or messes.

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Photographer Lindsay Welsher of Lazer Lee Photography says this picture makes her laugh. With 3-year-old Ashlyn and 2-year-old twin boys Brooks and Carson - what’s not to laugh about when trying to get that many kids at their ages to sit still for a photo?

Mom Candace found herself running after one of her twins and was able to get this beautiful family shot.

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These are the Dickey Cousins! My sister-in-law is a photographer and our mother-in-law always requests new pictures of the grand babies together. With seven kiddos seven years and younger, it’s total chaos. We have kids crying, playing around and running off, while all of us parents are behind the camera yelling their names, making crazy noises, and funny faces in hopes for that one golden shot. It’s completely worth it, though. Just look at these sweet faces!

Photography by Amber Dickey Photography

We support a variety of small shops as “Brand Reps”, which requires us to take daily pictures of the kids posing or playing in the shop’s clothes and accessories. It’s mostly our daughter Reese, and usually she’s on board or doesn’t even notice because she’s just playing while I’m behind the camera playing mama-razzi. However, sometimes she requires a lollipop bribe (and knows right where to find the mason jar full of suckers!) or just lays down and throws a fit just minutes before the perfect shot of her twirling, laughing and being her happy self. Twenty consecutive shots of a toddler will almost always reveal a mood swing or two! - Brittney Skelton

For your next photo shoot, keep baby calm with the new NUK® Airflow Orthodontic Pacifier

1-year-old Lexi Crenshaw got her first taste of frosting to celebrate her birthday, and she gagged! Mom said it was the first time she had ever given Lexi frosting, and this was her reaction. Priceless! Photography

by Lazer Lee Photography

If you would like to be a part of the April edition, email editor@peekaboonwa.com with the final shot, the fun outtake, and photographer name. If you are not a photographer but have great shots on your camera or phone, we want to see those, too!

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by

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ednesday, February 3, was a typical evening at my house. I had just finished the nightly routine of getting my three children ready for bed. Eve (age 9), Will (age 8), and Ethan (age 5) usually extended the intended 8 p.m. bedtime well past 8:30, as they found excuse after excuse to get out of bed, whether it be for a drink of water, some extra snuggles, or sometimes for no reason at all.

A successful completion of our bedtime routine typically signaled the beginning of my own, as I loved to sneak into my bed before 9 p.m. and enjoy some quiet time to myself. An early bedtime was necessitated by an equally early wake up time, where most mornings I would meet my twin sister, Jennifer, for a 5 a.m. workout or run before the work day started.

So, when my doorbell rang at 9 p.m. that evening, I was equal parts surprised and annoyed as I had to get out of my bed to see who had arrived. When I saw a police officer at my door, my heart sank and I knew that something had happened. Officer Dani Stanhope from the Bentonville police department, a beautiful blonde with a kind smile gave me the news that my beloved twin, Jennifer Bikel, had been struck by a car and killed while running near her apartment in Rogers that evening. The initial shock and disbelief soon gave way to sorrow, and I crumpled into Dani’s sympathetic arms. I thought the tears would never stop. In that moment, my life changed forever. I would never be the same.

24 March 2016

Jennifer and I grew up in New Jersey, attended Rutgers University together, and moved to the New York City area immediately following graduation.

We were inseparable, as most twins are. I began running in my early 20s, and to this day still think of Central Park as my favorite place to run. Jen professed to hate running, and usually would only do so begrudgingly at my request. Fast forward several years to 2012 and I was living in Arkansas working for Walmart while Jen still lived in New York. I had signed up for the Philadelphia half marathon with my husband and begged Jen to sign up as well. Jen loved doing things with family, and since the race was relatively close (less than two hours from Manhattan) she agreed to join us. On that cold and crisp fall morning, we finished the race within a few minutes of each other. She didn’t say so at the time, but in retrospect I believe it was this race which ignited her interest in running.

A few years later, a series of career moves would bring us closer together. Jen moved to NWA in December of 2013 for a job opportunity and also to be closer to me and to her niece and nephews. With her move, we rekindled our running relationship.

She became my reliable running partner, and to my dismay, I learned she was actually faster than me (despite the fact that I had been running for over a decade longer than she had). Jen and I ran several local races together, always by each other’s side.

In August of 2015, we successfully completed the Hood to Coast relay with 10 other runners. This relay was 198 miles and extended from the top of Mount Hood in Oregon all the way to the beach

in Seaside. This was an amazing experience that I will always cherish, not only because I completed the race, but because I shared this accomplishment with my sister.

After completing the relay, we took a little time off from running, but we both soon realized we missed the challenge, the camaraderie, and the sense of accomplishment that can only come from a sport where your only true opponent is yourself. So, we signed up for the Bentonville half marathon and joined the local training program sponsored by the Rush Running Company. Here we found a new family of runners at all levels, a sense of community, and began to build bonds with runners and athletes from all over the area.

Jen loved the camaraderie of the group and was always first to post a positive note of encouragement or a selfdeprecating quip about her inability to make it up the Crystal Bridges hill without stopping.

The news of her death devastated the training group, and the larger running community.

all who share our roads. He asked the runners present to petition their local governments for more funding to enforce traffic violations and for appropriate signage and lighting to make drivers aware of particularly dangerous intersections. He challenged us to become educated on traffic safety laws in our communities. He challenged us to honor Jennifer’s life by creating public momentum around this serious issue.

Those present that morning followed this call to action with an eight mile out and back run beginning from the square, down the Greenway

by Crystal Bridges museum toward Bella Vista and back. Along the way, the hashtag #Run4Jennifer appeared every 100 yards or so in chalk. Other inspirational quotes also in chalk appeared along

At the time of Jen’s accident, she was wearing reflective clothing.

She had on LED blinking lights, a headlamp, and was not wearing headphones. She was on the The only way to ensure the safety and security of all Razorback Greenway. She took all necessary precautions and was who use the roads is to create awareness for motorists and athletes alike. We all need to do our part. It is safe. However, any time runners, joint accountability and a shared responsibility to cyclists, or motorcyclists come those in our community. in contact with motor vehicles there is risk. The only way to ensure the safety the entire length of the run that morning urging and security of all who use the roads is to create runners to keep moving forward, together, as one awareness for motorists and athletes alike. We tribe, one group united not only by this tragedy, all need to do our part. Runners need to make but also by the love of running. themselves visible at night and be acutely aware of their surroundings. Motorists need to take the From here on out, I dedicate all of my miles and time to look left, look right, and look left again. It all of my runs to my beautiful, amazing, caring is joint accountability and a shared responsibility twin sister and I know many others have already done the same. However, the greatest thing we to those in our community. can do to honor her memory is to prevent this sort On the Saturday following the accident, the of accident from happening to another runner, or training group and runners from all over the area another driver. That can only be done through came to honor Jen in a 7 a.m. meeting at the First education, awareness, and funding.

Baptist Church off of the Bentonville Square. This meeting took the place of the usual training group On April 2, we will run the Bentonville half meeting, and was moved from the downtown marathon, which will include a memorial mile activity center to the church across the street in for Jennifer. My parents will fire the starting gun order to accommodate the crowd. It was standing and I will wear her bib and her chip along with my room only. In this meeting we not only honored own. It will be the last race where my sister’s name Jen’s life but also began the dialogue around will show among the official results; however it pedestrian safety. Mike Rush, organizer of the will not be the last time her influence is felt. Her meeting and owner of Rush Running Company legacy lives on through the good works we do on urged the group to use the tragedy to become a her behalf, and on behalf of the safety of all in this catalyst for change. To advocate for the safety of amazing community.

The Dalai Mama

by: Kristin Hvizda

DRIVE FOR JEN

In light of the recent tragedy (see previous story), the plan to reroute the portion of the Greenway where the accident occurred has been fast-tracked. Hopefully this undertaking will be accompanied by other attempts to make Rogers safer for pedestrians. As drivers, we can all do our part. Here are some safety tips, as a reminder to all of us: For the full story visit www.peekaboonwa.com or www.facebook.com/dalaimamakh

Driver Safety Tips: 1. Pay attention: Don’t go on autopilot when you get behind the wheel. Recognize the gravity of the situation every time you drive. Even though we do it every day and it feels very normal and comfortable, we are putting ourselves and others at risk every time we drive. Don’t take this fact for granted.

2. Limit Distractions: We all know cell phones have no place in the driver seat. Pack your phone in the back so you aren’t tempted to peak while driving. Even texting at a stop light poses a risk because, in that moment, we aren’t aware of what’s going on around us.

Perhaps the biker crossing the street escapes your vision as you text a simple “yes” or “no”.

This is how tragedies happen.

3. Know the Rules: AR pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks. You know the zebra stripes on the road... those are crosswalks. Cars don’t belong in them, pedestrians do.

4. Be Aware: As NWA grows and spring starts blooming, more and more pedestrians are going to be out and about. Children, runners, walkers, babies in strollers, bikers dragging their toddlers in trailers... as a driver you must take special care to be aware of who or what is around you. You are in a position to cause the most damage, so you have a high level of responsibility to ensure the safety of those around you.

Pedestrian Safety Tips: 1. Make yourself visible: Wear bright, reflective clothing. Don’t assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact and wait for a gesture before crossing in front of a car. Just because you know you have the right-of-way, don’t assume the driver knows too.

2. Scope out the road: If a road is narrow with no sidewalk, it probably isn’t the safest option for a walking path. Try to stay in areas that are made for pedestrians and have high visibility.

3. Light is best: If possible, try to be on the road when it’s light out. Dusk and dawn have low visibility; take extra precautions if you will be on the road at those times.

4. Face it: If you have to be on the shoulder of a road, you should always face the traffic so you can see cars coming. If a car swerves, for instance, you at least have a chance of jumping out of the way versus if they are coming up behind you.

Please, NWA readers, be safe on the roads. We have a responsibility to each other to watch out and keep each other safe. Slow down, and don’t be in such a rush. It could save your life or someone else’s. The NWA running community started a meme to “Run for Jen” in honor of her memory and as a reminder to be extra cautious on the road. In turn, I challenge all the drivers in NWA to “Drive for Jen” in hopes of making pedestrian safety Jen’s legacy. Don’t let this tragedy pass through the community and be forgotten. Let this be an experience that permeates the culture of driving in NWA and makes us all more aware of those with whom we share the road.

“Take it easy driving- the life you save may be mine.” James Dean

www.peekaboonwa.com

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by: Jenny Marrs

A

s we stepped through the worn metal gate of the Congolese orphanage, dozens of ebony arms, outstretched in a flurry of excitement, greeted us. The deafening silence on the other side of the concrete wall was instantly replaced with shrieks of laughter and soft-spoken greetings.

I saw her almost immediately upon entering. 5 or 6-years-old, rail-thin, with haunted, hollow eyes.

She waited for the other children to scatter before quietly approaching me, a faint smile forming on her lips as she did so. I reached out and clasped her sharp, bony hands in my own as I knelt to her level. I was told her name was Dorcas. I didn’t speak Lingala and she didn’t speak English. Yet, I believed she understood as I told her how honored I was to meet her.

She never left my side. As we listened to the children singing, she stood near me. As I passed out snacks, she held her head low and would steal glances my way. While the boys played soccer with my husband Dave, she sat right next to me on the concrete porch, our legs dangling over the ledge and my arm wrapped around her frail body as she leaned into my embrace.

She was desperate for attention, and mostly for love. I showered her with affection during my short stay, hoping this feeble offering of love would sustain her after I left.

This place - a small compound with two concrete buildings framing a dirt courtyard in the center was no place for a child. There was no grass for playing, only coarse dirt, which stained the soles of their bare feet and created a dusty film over every surface. Children slept on concrete floors and a handful of holes in the ground served as a restroom for the 54 children living here.

As dusk was settling, we said our goodbyes. I held Dorcas in my arms and whispered a prayer into

her ear. Tears pooled in my eyes as we exited the gate. I knew the children would face another night in pitch blackness, as electricity was not available in this place. They would huddle together on the hard floor to face the night.

We were silent during the drive back to our guest home. The reality of what we saw punctured our hearts. The place we had just left had been our own daughter’s home for the first year and a half of her life. Dave and I sat in the back of the van with tears freely falling down our cheeks, holding tightly to one another’s hand.

We knew our lives were forever changed. Children’s faces with haunted eyes were now seared into our memory and we could not go back to life as usual.

Several months after we returned home, our Congolese friend, Dr. Laure, went on one of her monthly visits to the orphanage to deliver a meal and check on the children. She emailed me photos afterward. The hollow eyes and concave chest in the photo belonged to beautiful Dorcas. The child I had held in my arms just months before was starving to death. I had to do something.

That first step felt so small. It felt foolishly insignificant. Yet, I had to try. I had to get food to Dorcas and the other children living there.

I prayed about a fundraiser. I prayed that God would use it to bring full tummies to the 54 children at the orphanage. I didn’t know how much we could raise. I just wanted to do something, even if it felt like a tiny drop in the vast sea of need.

God took this tiny drop and turned it into an outpouring of provision. What began as an effort to raise a few hundred dollars resulted in several thousand. We provided two months’ worth of

WHEN DR. LAURE ENTERED THE GATES AND DELIVERED THE FOOD, THE CHILDREN CALLED OUT, “MAMAN AYE NZALA ESILI,” WHICH MEANS, “MOM COMES, FINISH HUNGER!” food for 151 children living in three orphanages throughout the capital city.

Within weeks of that first food delivery, Dave and I found ourselves sharing coffee with a young Congolese man attending graduate school at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri. We listened as Tresor Yenyi shared stories of his idyllic childhood in eastern Congo prior to the war. As an adult, he was able to revisit the village of his youth. During that visit, he saw the devastation of extreme violence firsthand.

He listened as women who had been brutally attacked shared their stories of violence and loss.

He met young boys who had been taken from their families, forced to become child soldiers and commit atrocious crimes.

Tresor went on to create a non-profit organization, Mwanagaza International, devoted to giving victims of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo a chance at a full life – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Over that cup of coffee, Tresor committed to helping our effort to provide a desperately needed stable source of food to a small orphanage in his homeland. He and his trustworthy team in Kinshasa partnered with Dave and I to formally establish Feed Their Tummies.

The program has evolved and grown in unexpected ways since that first food delivery. Feed Their Tummies now provides three nutritious meals each day to two hundred children in the city of Kinshasa, including 26 young girls, ages 6 through 14, who have been rescued from human trafficking.

We recently finalized a partnership with Help One Now, an organization committed to transforming communities and breaking cycles of poverty around the globe. Together, in partnership with Tresor and Mwangaza International, we will build, establish and sustain a number of HOPE Centers in the Congo. These HOPE Centers will build community and alleviate poverty by hosting after school programs for vulnerable children, serving teenage moms and their babies, providing clean water, literacy programs, job training and more.

Our goal is to strengthen communities and keep families together, preventing the situations that create orphans in the first place.

An estimated four million orphaned children live in the Congo. The number is staggering. When I feel overwhelmed by the statistics, I remember Dorcas. I remember her dull eyes and desperate situation. Because of the life-giving work of providing tangible love through food, she is alive and thriving. She was one of the few children in our daughter’s former orphanage to have been adopted into a family. She is no longer an orphan! She now has a new name, Harper, and a new identity as a

beloved daughter. She is attending school and recently received her first pair of hearing aids to assist with the hearing loss caused by repeated bouts of malaria.

It is truly an honor to be a small part of this important work in the Congo, and I would love for you to partner with us.

Currently, our most pressing need is funds for the construction of our first HOPE center in the area of N’sele Commune. The HOPE center will serve as a hub for development, education and empowerment for families in this village. We are aiming to raise the $100,000 necessary to build and equip the center before the end of summer in order to begin construction later this fall.

You can donate and learn more at www.feedtheirtummies.org You can also join us for the Bentonville Sessions, a monthly concert series in downtown Bentonville. Thanks to our generous corporate sponsors, 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales at these concerts benefit the children in our program. You can view our upcoming events at www.citysessions.org/bentonville.

Name and Number

Dad’s View

Lacy b y: B e n

S

pring is nearly upon us (hopefully).

Warmer weather (again, hopefully) has drawn all of us out of our caves and back into the bright sunshine (really hopefully). It’s time to boot the offspring outside to get some good ol’ Vitamin D. It’s also time for spring sports and the best part of joining a new team: the new uniform.

32 March 2016

There aren’t many things cooler than getting a new sports uniform. The coach hands it to you and you immediately hold it up to check it out. Did I get the number I wanted? Is it Under Armour? Nike? Look at the awesome lettering: team name on front, last name on the back. Suh-wagalicious.

As a youth sports coach, I use lots of coaching clichés to mask my complete lack of knowledge and preparation.

One of my favorites is, “the name on the front is more important than the name on the back.” Meaning, as a member of a team you need to play for the team – which is shown on the front of a jersey – instead of yourself – since your name is on the back of the jersey. The more I think about that statement, the more I think it’s not true. The most important name is on the back of the jersey. It’s your last name. Your family’s name. Your father’s name. The name you share with him.

Back story. Way back when I was a real idiot. Yeah, I know, present results would indicate I haven’t moved the meter all that much, but for this article let’s briefly travel back in time to my high school days. Grab your Aqua Net and cassette tapes, because here we go.

One fateful night, after floundering away a victory as a freshman forward basketball player, myself and two other self-admitted fools decided to “borrow” some yard art from the local folk. Evidently some of the townies did not appreciate us liberating their happy trolls and plastic deer, and notified the local authorities. Before noon the following day, a local deputy had been to each of our homes to ask us if we knew anything about the missing items. How did he possibly know we were involved?! Maybe because we weren’t smart enough to hide the contraband, and, even worse, we left our basketball jerseys in the crime vehicle. It didn’t take Sherlock Holmes to turn the #25 jersey around and see what it said on the back: “LACY.” At the time, the very worst thing about this event was paying for all of the busted and broken flamingos, but looking back, and now as a father, the worst thing was the impact on my dad. He was a small town business owner and having a corrupt kiddo was not awesome. The sins of the son are reflected on the father. Why? Because we share the same last name.

Herm Edwards, a former NFL coach and my all-time favorite coach has discussed this many times on ESPN. “You better respect that name son. That’s my name. That’s not your name. You keep that name clean!” are some of his comments.

Recently, during College Bowl season, a key player was suspended for sneaking out after curfew and getting into trouble the night before the big game. Coach Edwards was at the High School All American Football Camp when he got the news.

He then brought all the players onto the field and lectured (screamed) at them for an hour about how they cannot disrespect their family name. His message? “What you do reflects on those who have raised you and taught you better.”

I doubt many kids are reading this article, so, why are we talking about this topic? Because you, the parent, are in charge of raising and teaching kids to be better. As a coach I’ve seen it almost every Saturday for a decade. If the parent puts the focus on winning at all costs, if she encourages her son to bend the rules, if he suggests to his daughter to call the ball out when it’s not, then why are they surprised when the player gets into trouble down the road? If sportsmanship, respect, honesty and other virtues are not taught at a young age, then how do we expect the kid to follow them once they are older – and can get into serious trouble?

So, let your player enjoy that new uniform. She will be proud to wear it and he’s super stoked to be part of the team. But remind them about that name on the back, and make sure you–and they–respect it.

A positive spin S

“

titches

by: Brittany Smith

People do not need to give up on youth and put us in this bubble and say we’re troublemakers. We have a voice with a lot to say, and adults should listen” - Marsea Lopez , Artist 2016

It’s been said that artists create identities for communities and in Springdale, Arkansas, a group of young artists have come together to use their vision and imagination to do just that. Out of a downtown revitalization movement that has captured a city came Stitches.

Humanism and environmentalism shapes everything Marsea Lopez does in life and her art reflects this. Her friend and fellow artist, Kenny Arredondo, could be described as an ‘indigo child,’ a lover of nature who has a passion for art and all things spiritual. Both local artists are members of a group that is making waves in Northwest Arkansas by seeking to change and interpret their community with all mediums of art.

Stitches was founded by Samuel Lopez when he invited his group of friends to meet him at George Junior High. They sat along the pavement and decided that they wanted their voices to be heard. They wanted to become something. So, the first opportunity they had– they took. It began when they went to the first meeting for Downtown Springdale. Being a group of kids, they feared no one would talk to them, but Sara Sergilin from Crystal Bridges reached out to their table and soon exchanged emails with Marsea. This kind of support from Sergilin helped the group evolve. For Marsea, this was exactly what she hoped to show professionals in NWA. “Adults do not need to give up on youth and put us in this little bubble and say we are troublemakers. We have a voice and have a lot to say, and adults should listen,” Lopez said.

Marsea hopes to reach a lot of people and really help them understand that everyone can make a difference and can do anything in life that they want to do.

Like Marsea, Kenny has a message. He feels Stitches has given him a voice for change, which he has used to contribute ideas to better the

community.

He wants to see Stitches accomplish more to help boost the personality of the city in a positive way, through art and creative endeavors. Kenny hopes they can expand in every direction, and is full of ideas for future events. Recently, the group was contacted by Mike Gilbert, the CEO of the Jones Center, and they are hoping to get approval on a mural design to be unveiled later this year. Past events include park clean ups, two open mic nights, homeless shelter fundraisers, and partnering with Crystal Bridges and The Art Center of the Ozarks.

Stitches has gotten rave reviews from community members who are happy to see young people from Springdale in the spotlight. The group hopes that with every endeavor, Stitches will leave its mark on humanity and extra love on their corner of the world: Springdale. The idea of the NWA community getting a better look at the talent many locals in Springdale always knew existed is just one more way that Springdale, Arkansas, is truly in the midst of a revolution.

Do you know a young person with an inspirational story to share? If so share with Peekaboo by sending us a tip at editor@peekaboonwa.com Brittany Smith is a senior at Springdale High School and a member of DECA who recently started her own photography business. Brittany plans to major in journalism at the University of Arkansas.

Brittany is interested in documenting the everyday life of people with extraordinary spirit, which she believes is all around us.

www.peekaboonwa.com

35

CALENDAR

.

2015

March Library storytimes: Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org

Special Events: Tuesday

|

1

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella Walton Arts Center Fayetteville, AR Tony Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of The Sound of Music and South Pacific delights audiences with its contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love—the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and more—plus some surprising new twists! Be transported back to your childhood as you rediscover some of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s most beloved songs.

Saturday

|

5

Go, Dog. Go! Arts Center of the Ozarks Springdale, AR Adaptation by Allison Gregory and Steven Dietz, based on the book by P.D. Eastman. The classic children’s book comes to life on stage in an explosion of movement, music, color, and space. $16 adults, $9 students.

Sunday

| 6

One District One Book Celebration Crystal Bridges 1 - 4 p.m.

Join us for a wrap-up celebration of the city-wide One District One Book reading program! Bring the whole family for an afternoon of music, art-making, games, and more.

Free, no registration required.

Tuesday

| 8

Salzburg Marionette Theatre Presents The Sound Of Music Baum Walker Hall Fayetteville, AR 7 p.m.

The astounding magic of marionette puppetry animates the entire story, as the world-famous Salzburg Marionette Theatre revitalizes the tale of the Von Trapp Family Singers! You can expect all the highlights of the beloved story, including the treasured songs “Do-Re-Mi,” “The Sound of Music,” “My Favorite Things” and “Edelweiss.” The hills are still alive, if you look past the strings!

Thursday

| 10

Trike Theatre: The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood March 10 - 13 NWACC’s White Auditorium 2 p.m.

38 March 2016

Twenty-two young actors, ages 8 to 18, are turning the legend of Robin and his Merry Men wannabes into a hilarious romp through Sherwood Forest. “Through this play, our young actors are learning how to not only create broad characters, but also play the physical comedy as well,” shares Kassie Misiewicz, director and artistic director of Trike Theatre. This delightful family friendly show is recommended for all ages. Tickets are $10 general admission (under 2 years free) www.TrikeTheatre.org. Tickets are limited!

Preschool Playdate » Road Trip!

Crystal Bridges Bentonville 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Send a greeting from the Natural State! Enjoy art projects, story time, and creative play inspired by the temporary exhibition, The Open Road.

Free, no registration required.

Friday

| 11

Jurassic Quest Springfield, MO Exposition Center March 11 - 13 The largest, most realistic dinosaur event on the continent. We have an exhibit that walks you through the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, NEW walking dinosaur rides, fossil digs, dinosaur rides, dinosaur cinema, science station, dinosaur bounce houses, and MUCH MORE! Huge, life-size, animatronic Dinosaurs (and baby ones too)! For more details and tickets: http://jurassicquest. com/springfield-mo.html Cow Paddy Run Gulley Park Fayetteville www.cowpaddyrun.com 5:45 - 8 p.m.

The Cow Paddy Run is a family-focused 5k race and 1k fun run that encourages youth fitness and wellness and raises money for the Fayetteville Public Schools. Race funds are donated to the Foundation to help support grant-funded classroom projects and PE programs.

Saturday

| 12

Eureka Springs St. Patrick’s Day Parade Downtown Eureka Springs 2 p.m.

The 21st Annual Eureka Springs St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 2 p.m. down Spring & Main Streets. Wear your green and join the fun!

Children’s Storytime with Miss Sarah!

Museum of Native American History - 200 SW O Street Bentonville 10 a.m.

Museum storytimes are geared towards preschoolers, but great for all ages. Free and open to the public! For more information about storytime, please contact The Museum of Native American History at (479) 273-2456 or monah202@gmail.com Storytimes by appointment are available for groups of 10 children or more. If you would like to bring a group, please call the museum.

Wednesday

| 16

Great Pretenders workshop Amazeum 10 - 11a.m.

Ages 3-5 years old with caregiver* Price per child/adult pair: Amazeum members $10 / non-members $15 *Adult, age 18 or older, must accompany child during the workshop.

Advanced registration and payment required.

Thursday

| 17

Girl’s Night Out Downtown Siloam Springs 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

This fun shopping event starts out with a social hour from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and continues from 5-8 p.m. on 3rd Thursdays quarterly.

Refreshments, specials and door prizes highlight downtown merchants and provide a fun way to get extra shopping time!

Saturday

| 19

“Bunny Breakfast” benefitting Circle of Friends for Arkansas Children’s Hospital 8 - 10 a.m.

Go to Applebee’s in Fayetteville to meet the Easter Bunny and have a pancake breakfast! Tickets are $5 per person and all proceeds benefit NWA Circle of Friends for Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

For more information, please contact Mary Lewallen at 479-725-0405 Egg Drop Extravaganza First Landmark Baptist Church, Bentonville 10 a.m.

To register: bentonvilleeggdrop.com/#/register Face painting, prizes, candy, games, and plastic eggs dropped from a helicopter. Toddler - 6th Grade and Special Needs.

Saturday

|

26

26th Annual Kite Festival Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge Eureka Springs 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

“Art With an Altitude,” sponsored by KaleidoKites of Eureka Springs, is a free, family event inviting attendees to bring their own kites or buy one at the refuge. The celebration includes vendors, contests and fun activities for parents and children. KaleidoKites’ experts will be available to assist children in kite making and flying techniques.

Spring Egg Hunt Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks 3 p.m.

2016 BGO Spring Egg Hunt! Collecting eggs stuffed with treats in select locations at the garden and captureing the day in the on-site photo booth. Adults: $7 / Kids (5-12) $4. Free for BGO Members and kids under 5.

Sunday

|

27

Easter Celebration Rogers War Eagle Mill 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Children’s egg hunt and crafts! Also, enjoy a great lunch special at the Bean Palace Restaurant.

Wednesday

| 30

Athletes in Action Free Event Barnhill Arena Fayetteville 7 p.m.

AIA Red White night is a family-friendly event for the whole community. You’ll hear from Razorback coaches and stories of faith from Razorback athletes that you won’t hear in the news. God is moving in spectacular ways on campus. Come hear Coach Bielema share about spring football and support Razorback athletes taking steps of faith. Plus, THE MAZE will perform! Jim Munroe’s illusions will place you in awe as he draws the crowd into “The Maze,” and you’ll be talking for days with your friends about “How did he do that?”

Spring break: March 25 Spring Break Super Science Camp Bentonville Community Center 10-4pm super-sci.com Ages 4-13. Parents and guardians may attend at no charge.

March 21 - 25 “Build Boxopolis” Amazeum Bentonville 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

There are rumors of a town so incredible, it can only exist in your imagination: Boxopolis! Come plan, build and govern the great municipality of Boxopolis where kids rule!

Advanced registration and payment required. Age groups: 6-8 and 9-11 Fee: Amazeum members $160, non-members $175 Trike Theater www.triketheatre.org Broadway Bound | $40 per day/$160 for all five March 21 – 25 | 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Grades K-4 & Grades 5-8 Learn how to be a triple threat! Sharpen your singing, acting, and dancing skills as you explore a different Broadway musical each day.

Spring Break Camp Community Creative Center Fayetteville communitycreativecenter.org Week-long colorful art experience inspired by the joyfulness of spring.

Your week will be packed full of vibrant, fun art that explores watercolor painting, drawing with soft pastels, mosaic sculptures and mosaic flower pots for the garden. We will also explore and observe the outdoors with a magnifying glass and create close-up drawings of nature. Then we will spend the afternoon in the clay studio. This camp in our bright, open studios with experienced teaching artists will fill fast, so early registration is recommended! Projects are designed to maximize the fun for campers of all ages. All students need to bring a sack lunch.

March 19-27 Spring Break Specials Crystal Bridges Bentonville Not heading out on a road trip this spring break? Bring your family to the museum to experience The Open Road exhibition, which offers a survey of works created by nineteen photographers on the move across the nation from the 1950s to today. These spring break specials feature a variety of fun activities each afternoon, including art-making, performance, and more!

Free, no registration required.

Imagine Studios Daily Spring Break art camps Rogers Location Campers aged 5-12 are invited for SPRING BREAK ART CAMP. Each session runs from 9 a.m. until noon and features a variety of projects.

Register separately for each session by visiting: www.imaginestudiosnwa.com

Children of Arkansas Loved f

Our Story H

ow exactly do I put into words the crazy wonderfulness of this God-sized journey we have been experiencing for the past year?

Several people have asked along the way, and I pretty much lose all the words. Then, only adjectives seem to surface... adjectives like wild, amazing, hard, emotional, humorous, sobering, overwhelming, fulfilling, and everything inbetween. But going beyond descriptive words?

Well, that gets a little difficult, because it involves the heart. So, we’ll see how this goes…

What led us to foster and The CALL in NWA? Well, technically, the first official steps of our journey began about a year ago, though, in true God-like fashion, He’d been planting seeds and preparing each of us long before then. He’s pretty awesome like that.

My hubby, Cory, and I had always talked about adoption, even before we married. We knew it was something we both wanted to do; we just weren’t clear on the specifics. The more we discussed it, the more we figured we’d adopt after having a couple littles of our own. Not long after trying to start our family, however, we discovered I had some health stuff going on that would make conception very difficult without medical assistance.

That news certainly stung. I tried to process and mourn such a big loss, but God had other plans.

He gently kept reminding me about the adoption thing. ‘‘Who says there is only one way to have a family?’’ I kept hearing Him whisper. And, just like that, after accepting His gentle redirection, a complete peace about the infertility came over me.

I was ready to start our family through a beautiful adoption.

42 March 2016

by: Shannon Stocks

However, it took Cory a bit longer to process and mourn the infertility.

So, I waited… kind of patiently.

There may or may not have been a few frustrated discussions about when we’d start the process. After another failed attempt at asking when we could begin, I decided to drop it and simply continue praying.

You know, what I should have done from the very beginning--give God space to do His thing instead of trying to interfere like I could do better.

Fast-forward to February of 2015. IF: Gathering, a conference that ended with a challenge. What was my next step of faith? I couldn’t answer that question. How was He calling me? I had no idea. The adoption thing came to mind for a split second, but I didn’t want to bring it up again. So, that took me back to a big fat nothing. I prayed for guidance… for an answer to be revealed.

The next night, the hubs and I were quietly doing our own thing. “Whacha thinkin’ about over there?” I asked playfully, expecting some funny nonsensical answer. “Well…,” he said slowly as he looked up at me, “I think I’m ready to adopt.”

“Uh…what?! Did I really hear what I think I just heard?” I thought to myself, immediately followed by, “Okay... keep breathing and listen.”

He went on to share how God had healed his heart and he couldn’t see any reason why adoption should wait any longer. We had a safe home with tons of love to give, and there were already so many kiddos in need of those things.

So, there it was… not just my next step, but our next step of faith. We’d heard about The CALL from various people and places. We primarily knew they were a Christian organization, which was incredibly important to us. If we were taking such a big step of faith, why wouldn’t we want to work with an organization that understood that? So, we looked up all the information we could on their

for a Lifetime

The CALL community… well, it is simply beautiful. They cheer with us on good days.

They pray and encourage us on hard days. They share resources and help provide items needed to care for new littles. They offer respite to families who need refueled.

They rally and support each other. why we couldn’t adopt… like they’d straight up denied us at the meeting or something. (I should probably note, they did discuss adoption at the meeting. We just missed it completely… by our tardiness and “God-directed” hearing. Is that a thing? If not, it is now.) God was definitely working in both of us, but we weren’t ready to acknowledge it, or admit what we both were feeling.

Those feelings… God used them to show us both that our desire to adopt at that time was more selfish than anything. We wanted to start our own

Turn the page ... website and signed up for the next informational meeting in March.

Coming in April!

The weather that day was yucky, which made rush-hour traffic even more fun than normal, so we got to the meeting a few minutes late. Quickly and quietly, we sat down in the back, anxious to hear how far out we were from offering our home to some precious littles who would become our forever family. But, as we flipped through the mound of paperwork we’d been handed and tuned in to the speaker, all we read and heard was info on fostering. “Wait. I know I saw adoption on their website. Did I miss something somewhere?”

I thought.

You can now begin calling for appointments!

The entire meeting, all either of us heard was information about fostering and how huge of a need there was for all these kiddos. Almost upset at how little adoption was even mentioned, I didn’t really know what to think… except, “Oh. Great.

Just got him on board with adoption. There’s no way he’ll be down for fostering.” Because, you know, instead of listening to God give my heart to something new, it was much easier to just blame it all on the hubs.

1502 SE 28th Street, Suite 2

The ever-so-appropriate blame continued as we drove home that night. Things were tense. We bickered pretty much the whole way home about

Dr. Julie Tate and Dr. Jeffrey Savage

Bentonville, AR

479-282-2966

Web: thecallinarkansas.org/nwa Email: nwa@thecallinarkansas.org family more than we wanted to help a little in need.

Who were we to be that selfish, when there were so many precious littles who just needed a safe home and love during a really hard season of life?

Wouldn’t I want someone to love me, encourage me, and walk with me through a dark time? It suddenly seemed so obvious.

There it was: our calling to be foster parents. And it was undeniable.

The CALL in NWA walked with us through the entire process, answering all of our 2,037 questions along the way. (Ok, maybe more like 3,429 but you get the point.) They prayed with us and for us.

They prepared us well with training from people personally familiar with the child-welfare system through one avenue or another. They celebrated with us when we officially opened as a foster home.

Upon opening, we were introduced to the entire CALL community, which is made up of all open adopt and foster homes recruited by The CALL. That community… well, it is simply beautiful.

They cheer with us on good days. They pray and encourage us on hard days. They share resources and help provide items needed to care for new littles. They offer respite to families who need to refuel. They rally and support each other. Another CALL home really describes them best… the CALL community is a beautiful depiction of what The Body of Christ should look like here on earth.

Seriously. These people get it: how to love like Jesus.

Over a thousand words in, and I still haven’t shared all that we’ve experienced since becoming an open foster home– the major context behind all the adjectives. Apparently, all the words found me again, causing me to ramble. It happens. I’m human. Which actually brings me to a point I do want to make…we definitely are not saints or special people, like so many say we are when they hear we’re foster parents. We aren’t even some crazy kind of selfless. Seriously. We are just average humans. That should be pretty clear from the first part of our story. HA! We make a mess of things.

We are real. We just listened to Him, finally, and obeyed by taking a simple step of faith. One step, that’s it.

In fact, as I look back on our journey thus far, I still feel selfish. We’ve gotten to meet and love some pretty fantastic little humans. Seven of them,

actually. We’ve had the honor and privilege to ‘do’ life with them and their families. We’ve grown by leaps and bounds in the faith department. We’re continually blown away at God’s illustrations of just how much He loves us. And, you know what else? We now have a much bigger and way cooler family than we ever could have dreamed! For real. We submit fully to His plan for us and we somehow receive rewards exponentially?! Straight up scandalous.

Even more scandalous and crazy awesome, that’s how God planned it: to use us overly human people with all our faults and quirks to share His love with others and be part of His beautiful work.

I’m so overjoyed that we finally got it and said yes! Because, you know, we would have seriously missed out on so much good stuff.

Please know that I share our story knowing that it is unique. And in absolutely no way do I share to lessen the struggles of infertility or joys of adoption you or someone you know has experienced. Every story is different and God-designed for the one who walks it. I share to be transparent and real. I share with the prayer that God may use our story to tug on the heart of someone reading this. He calls us Christians all to do something to help these little ones. Maybe He’s calling you to adopt. Maybe He’s calling you to foster. Maybe He’s calling you to love on those who do.

If any part of our story resonates with you or tugs at your heart, then please don’t ignore it. Check out The CALL in NWA website. Register for an info meeting, or seek out foster and adoptive families in your church or community. Find out how you can best serve them and love them well. It may be as simple as prepared meal (those are huge in my book.) Seriously, always such a help! Maybe there’s yard work needed or simple home projects that have been neglected in order to care for the newest kiddo in need. Maybe it’s getting them tickets to a fun activity or babysitting for a parents’ night out. Just find them and ask how you can help. That step, in and of itself, will mean the world to them.

I promise.

You guys, I could go on and on. This foster care thing and The CALL in NWA… they’ve both become so dear to my heart. Check out their website above and look at the latest stats of kiddos in care compared to the number of open homes.

The need is huge. Can you help?

ellaflies

It has been My heart aches almost five years, everyday for my and still if I think Bella. There is about it too much I can’t not one thing breathe. I am the mother that I do not miss about of an angel. My beautiful, her. God told kind, intelligent, loving Mary that she would be best girl has wings.

“pierced to the depths of her soul.”

I have tried to explain when asked about how I am feeling, and I cannot find better words to describe how I feel than that.

I am living my worst fear, but I would not change it because that would mean either I never had her to begin with, or I somehow could take her out of Heaven. Both of those are not options for me. She is my daughter, my best girl, and she is worth all of this pain. She is worth the tears that are always just below the surface. She is worth the odd questions that I sometimes get and the moments where I just need to be Bella’s mom and cry. She is worth it all.

She has given me MANY more smiles than tears and memories that distance, hurt, and time cannot take away. She made me a mommy. Becoming a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me and a role that I deeply cherish.

I daydream about her almost 8-year-old self. What would she look like? What would she enjoy doing now? Who would she be? Undoubtedly she would still have that same angelic voice, that innate sense of right and wrong, those soul-warming hugs, and that smile that would light up the whole world.

On September 17, 2011, I wanted my life to end.

46 March 2016

by: Janelle Paquette

She had just entered Heaven and I wanted to go with her. God had other plans. Seven days before, on September 11, my daughter had pediatric strokes and seizures. The day before that, she was fine. She was healthy and playing with her cousins.

At 2:15 a.m. on September 11, I woke up to Bella moaning. She asked me to “pick her up and walk.”

I knew that she wasn’t feeling good when she asked me that. Soon after, she started vomiting. She got some on me and in her sweet Bella nature she tried to clean me up and was apologizing. I told her that “Everybody throws up” and “It’s ok.” Like any parent would, we thought it was a stomach bug and planned to let her sleep it off. We gave her Tylenol and the typical crackers, water and Gatorade. We were out of town visiting my sister, and we were supposed to go home that day. We tried to wake her up, like we had been, to check on her and give her something to eat, and she wouldn’t fully wake up. It was then that I knew something was wrong. I called the Redi Clinic to see if they gave IV’s, because I thought she was dehydrated. Right about the time I got off the phone with them, Calvin came out carrying Bella, saying, “She needs to go to the ER.” My husband is former Air Force Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) and is able to stay calm in stressful situations. His and other lives depended on it. So, when we got in the car and he not-so-calmly told me to “GO!” I knew that it was far worse than I had thought.

Something you have to understand is that Bella was an exceptionally intelligent child. She was only 3, but was far beyond a typical 3-year-old. Because of that, Calvin would ask her questions to keep her awake and she would answer correctly, but in a whisper. She would tell Calvin, “Daddy, I don’t feel good.” That’s important, because I have thought

and thought about what we did wrong, and I know in my heart if Bella knew it was her head she would have said, “My head hurts,” or something along those lines. She felt so bad that she couldn’t pinpoint it. As a mother, that is agonizing to live with. I see my role as not only to protect her, but to fix things and to make her feel better. I couldn’t fix it. I failed. I cannot fully comprehend the thought that she felt so bad she didn’t know what hurt. If I could I would break.

When we got to ACH, it took us a few hours to see her as they worked feverishly to stabilize her. They read the exact same CT scan she had done at the ER and saw brain swelling and pediatric strokes. Her swelling was so significant that her neurocranium had begun to separate. They immediately wanted to do a brain bolt (to drain out excess cerebrospinal fluid) and a central line. I asked the neurosurgeon whether, if it were his daughter, he would do it.

He replied, “Yes,” and so we immediately signed

We got to the local ER and were blown off. We were forced to wait with our Something hurt my limp daughter in our arms. She had a daughter, and I refuse to let 102-degree fever and could barely stand whatever that was be the when she was assessed, but we were still ending to her story. Bella forced to go back to the waiting area. I was and is too amazing say forced because I was not the picture of for that. Her instinctive calm. I was upset and extremely frustrated with the lack of care she was getting. My kindness inspired my mommy instincts were on fire. We debated husband and I to found her going to Arkansas Children’s Hospital 501(c)3 foundation, The (ACH) but we were not sure if she would Bellaflies Foundation. make it there. Plus, we didn’t know exactly where it was. When we were finally called www.bellaflies.org back, she was given sugars because hers were low. Not too long after that, she had her first seizure. I was in the restroom and came back in. My husband told me to go get a doctor. I did, and they didn’t believe us. As I said before, my husband is former CSAR the paperwork for the procedure. We almost lost and we are both educated adults. We know what her while they were trying to place the central a seizure looks like. She was able to talk after her line. That night I didn’t sleep. The staff at ACH first one, telling me that she “had to go potty.” Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is nothing You have no idea how many times I have wished short of amazing. Her night nurses, Chris and that that first seizure had been the only one that Logan, worked harder than anyone I have ever happened. I crawled into bed with her because she seen. They sat down maybe twice. They worked was scared, and honestly, I was too. Right before tirelessly to get her through the night between all her second seizure happened she said, “Mommy!” of the alarms going off and the beeping from the Not a typical ‘mommy!’ but a “Mommy help me… different machines. Looking back now, that first I’m scared mommy.” That was the last word she night of ups and downs would set the tone for the rest of the week. ever said.

Her second seizure is what is called a tonic-clonic seizure. It happened while I was holding her, and then she went limp. I crawled out of the bed and I wanted to scream. I’ve NEVER been so terrified in my life. It took a while for the ER pediatrician to finally come in. They ran a CT scan and the radiology report said she had no swelling and was neurologically fine. It was 100 percent wrong.

Even the pediatrician noted in his records that it did not look fine. I thank God for him trusting his gut and calling ACH. They put her on a ventilator to transfer her, and I was able to ride with her in the ambulance. I had to sit up front because I was pregnant with her little brother. I remember talking loudly so Bella could hear me. I wanted her to know that she wasn’t alone and Mommy was with her. It was the longest ride of my life.

That week was a terrible roller-coaster ride.

Feelings of joy because of improvement and bonechilling fear because her brain swelling would not go down, her blood pressure was too high or low, or her heart was not functioning properly. I cannot say enough kind words about the staff. Every procedure she had, whether it was a scan or a surgery, someone would give her three squeezes. In our family that means I love you. It was important to us that she knew that. Someone who loved her was with her 24/7. She was never alone. My family rotated on shifts after I was kindly forced out of the room to sleep and eat. After days of not improving like the head neurosurgeon, Dr. Grabb, would have liked, we decided to do one last procedure to try and save her life. It was our Hail Mary, and we needed this one to work.

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It was around 2 a.m. when she went into surgery. I was so exhausted that I passed out on the floor of the surgical waiting room. When the phone rang to give a surgical update, I jumped over chairs to get to the phone to hear that they had started and she was okay. They did a procedure called a decompressive craniecotomy by removing a section of her skull to allow her brain to swell in hopes of preventing further damage. It didn’t work. Her brain kept swelling. No one knew why. We still don’t. Every medicine, every procedure, everything they tried didn’t stop the swelling. On September 17, her kidneys started to fail and she had to be put back on heart medication. Dr. Grabb came in and performed a vasovagal response, causing pain that would bring a grown man to his knees, and Bella had no pupillary response. Her body had started to shut down, and we were unsure if she would make it through the night. All I wanted to do was hold her, because for seven days I had not been able to. Some days I was not even allowed to touch her because her Inter-cranial Pressure (ICP) would go up and they could not get it back down. There is a limit to how much medicine a tiny body can get.

I crawled in bed with her while we listened to her favorite songs and watched her favorite shows. We read her books, painted her nails, dressed her in the perfect nightgown to twirl around in, and she wore a crown of flowers with ribbon cascading down her beautiful curly hair. Bella’s bed was surrounded by people who deeply loved, and love, her. Before she went to Heaven I asked her to let me know that she got there. When we walked out of the hospital we saw the most beautiful sunset, with rays shooting down to the Earth and up towards Heaven. Golden bursts of yellow, orange, and red filled the sky. The little girl who I called angel from the second she was born had received her wings. She made it, and God let us know.

It took us two years to figure out what caused Bella’s brain swelling. We still don’t have an exact answer. We know that a virus caused her brain swelling. We don’t know what that virus was. We know that her brain swelling caused her to have seizures and strokes, and that she would not have had either of them without it. We have since heard of similar cases, both adults and children, and they do not have an answer or favorable outcome either. Something hurt my daughter, and I refuse to let whatever that was be the ending to her story. Bella was and is too amazing for that. Her instinctive kindness inspired my husband and I to found her 501(c)3 foundation, The Bellaflies Foundation (www.bellaflies. org). We wanted to help other children and families who had been affected by pediatric strokes. We want to provide hope for them. We know that sometimes hope is all you have to go on, and we wanted there to be more that physicians were able to do to help before they said, “We have done all that we can.” We don’t want another family to hear those words, or walk this path. Bellaflies is committed to funding pediatric stroke research and education, promoting pediatric stroke awareness,

supporting children’s hospitals, and helping improve pediatric stroke medication and testing worldwide. ‘Making a Positive’ is our motto because that is exactly what Bella’s life did for us, and what she would want us to do in honor her.

To date, her foundation has given $31,500 in donations. We donated $10,000 to implement an infectious disease protocol at Arkansas Children’s Hospital that will fasttrack any child’s care who comes in with symptoms like Bella had. What does that mean? It means that your child will not be forced to wait hours for proper care like Bella did. Their symptoms and your fears will be taken seriously. Bellaflies has donated $500 to an annual pediatric stroke lecture series given at Washington University School of Medicine. They fly pediatric stroke experts in from around the world to speak, and the lecture can now be viewed online and count as continuing medical education credit (https://cme-online.wustl.edu/). We have also donated $15,000 to pediatric stroke research at the University of California, San Francisco. They have and are continuing to use the funding to research pediatric strokes more in-depth. We have funded a study about recurrent strokes in children and how the children are affected by the stroke. It was recently published and can be found at: (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC4696877/). We also funded the study Understanding Early Childhood Ischemic Strokes, and they will start working on publication in the spring. We have also committed to funding further research and dedicating part of this year’s Strides for Strokes proceeds to UCSF pediatric stroke research team.

The other proceeds will help fund pediatric stroke education in collaboration with our dear friends at World Pediatric Stroke Association, and dedicated neurologists. Bellaflies has helped create three new pediatric stroke guides with the International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke that was funded through a quality improvement grant from the North Carolina Stroke Care Collaborative (An Overview of Pediatric Strokes: Prenatal Through Teenager: An Educational Guide for Healthcare Providers, Pediatric Stroke Patient and Family Guide, Pediatric Stroke Brochure; http:// iapediatricstroke.org/publications.aspx). Bella has been named a Stroke Hero by The American Heart Association|The American Stroke Association, and Bellaflies is listed as a pediatric stroke resource by the AHA|ASA. We helped create united4pediatricstroke, a global initiative to spread pediatric stroke awareness, and we have given out over 4,000 free Act F.A.S.T cards, donated over $6,000 worth of new toys and toiletries to ACH families at part of our annual Books, Barbies, and Bots and Bella’s Blessing Baskets drive, and have an annual familyfriendly pediatric stroke awareness event (Strides for Strokes) every May during pediatric stroke awareness month where we donate all proceeds.

Strides for Strokes 2016 will be on Friday, May 13 in historic downtown Rogers! This year we have decided on a Luau theme and will have a hula performance before the race starts. All proceeds will be donated to pediatric stroke research and education. We will have a professionally timed 5k, one-mile fun run, large auction, bounce house, obstacle course, face painting, massage therapist, bubbles, awards for top runners, gymnastics routine performed by local gymnasts, food, music, and more! We are SO excited about SFS, and are thrilled to be honoring Jacob Rodriguez, a 2-year-old local pediatric stroke survivor! If you cannot make the race and still would like to support Bellaflies you can register as a virtual runner and we will ship the T-shirt to you. For more information about Bellaflies, Strides for Strokes, and to register for the event please visit www.bellaflies. org/stridesforstrokes.

Bella’s foundation allows me to physically be her mother and make a positive in her honor at the same time. Her legacy of kindness is growing and I cannot thank everyone who supports Bellaflies enough! Every time I do something for her foundation, and work with other organizations and families, you give me a gift. I am able to do something for her. I am able to still fight for her, and I will never stop fighting for my best girl!

Confronting Financial Obstacles

By AMBER SPENCER Children’s Therapy TEAM Family Support Coordinator

A

s Family Support Coordinator, I am often Children’s Therapy TEAM’s gateway for new families with financial concerns. In addition to my professional background in finance and business, I often draw on my own experiences as a mother of a child born with Hydrocephalus. As soon as my son arrived, it was clear that he would need special care, and I immediately began investigating the long-term costs. Ten years ago, this served as my own crash course in Arkansas’s state funding options and my own family’s private insurance. Today, I draw on my years of experience to offer guidance to parents.

Four Considerations Parents Should Know

1

Free screenings offer peace of mind Every parent wants what is best for his/her child, but actual parenting choices are not always black and white. Whether it is a slight nudge of parent intuition that something may be wrong or the recommendation of a family member or friend, screenings are a simple way to find answers. Because screenings are offered by Children’s Therapy TEAM at no charge, parents can gain peace of mind without worrying about the cost.

2

It is OK to ask for help When I sit down with parents, it is my opportunity to ground myself in their everyday reality. Every family has their own story to tell. Once I have listened to the family, I am able to guide them in determining

which funding options are the best fit. When I am able to reduce the stress parents may feel about paying for therapy, I know I have done my job well.

3

There are many funding options Many families assume they can’t afford therapy. While I understand family worries here, there are many options to consider. In some cases, I help the family determine how to approach their private insurance about coverage options. For others, I assist with applying for state funding support through TEFFRA Waiver, ARKIDS A or ARKIDS B. Others I collaborate with to set up a manageable payment plan. There really are a lot of options, but I let families know that I am here to provide support and reassurance every step of the way.

Amber Spencer and her son Samuel

4

Financial hardship is not a deal-breaker Families make financial decisions based on what they consider to be of greatest value and importance; so does Children’s Therapy TEAM. What is most important to us is serving children and families. This is why our company’s policy is NOT to turn away any family based on a lack of funding. This bold policy is one of many reasons I really admire and respect our company’s leaders, Kym Hannah (CEO) and Cindy Watson (COO). They make it easy for me to advocate for families.

L E A D I NG P E D I AT R I C T H E R A P Y C A R E I N No rth w est A rkansas

Children’s Therapy TEAM offers:

Adaptive Recreation Activities • Aquatic Therapy • Developmental Therapy • Family Support Services Funding Support • International Outreach • Occupational Therapy • Orthotics • Physical Therapy Serial Casting • Speech Therapy • VitalStim Therapy... all in one FAITH-BASED TEAM!

Call 521-TEAM (8326) to learn more.

TEAMworks Easter picture photo shoots raise money to benefit non-profit outreach to children with special needs locally and internationally.

eet M Brooks O

n the afternoon of February 19, 2014, Brooks Foster McGrew came into the world, 2 1/2 weeks earlier than expected and not breathing--every parent’s worst nightmare.

Suddenly Room #530 at Mercy Hospital in Rogers felt very small, as a team of 15 doctors and nurses rushed in and surrounded Brooks. After five full minutes of CPR (and many tears from myself and my husband Josh) Brooks finally took his very first breath. As he was rushed to the NICU before I had the opportunity to hold him, I turned to Josh and said “It’s going to be okay, no matter what.” Then we prayed. What I didn’t know then is how that statement would truly come to life hours later, and what it would come to mean over time.

We had so many questions as first time parents.

Where did Brooks go? When would he be back?

Was he going to be okay? When would we get to hold him? After 26 long minutes, my incredible OBGYN, Dr. Dittmeyer, came back into the delivery room. He was my doctor throughout my entire pregnancy, and it was a relief seeing him on call when I went into labor. He explained that Brooks looked strong and was breathing on his own, despite a large hematoma on his head. He said he had a very low APGAR score (1-4-7) and that there was a chance of some brain damage due to not breathing at birth, but we wouldn’t know that for a few months (thankfully, he didn’t). Then he went on to say something that would change our life forever. In the kindest, most heartfelt way, he broke the news to us that Brooks appeared to

52 March 2016

by: Angie McGrew P hotos by: Brooke Cowart, Purple Heart P hotography

have many “markers” for Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21. Down syndrome? How could this be? My Quad screening at 15 weeks showed a 1 in 400 chance of having DS, and the ultrasound revealed normal measurements of the neck (something that is a common indicator for a child with Down syndrome.) I even remember the phone call I made to Josh after that appointment, proudly declaring our growing baby did not, I repeat, did not have Down syndrome.

Through the shock, I don’t remember a lot from the conversations that day, but I do remember our great doctor going on to say that he knows of several people with Down syndrome that have gone on to lead very fulfilling lives and that the more “normal” we treat him, the more “normal” he will be. We have never forgotten that statement, and, in many ways, that has become our motto for Brooks. We treat him like we would any other child, although we probably even push him a little harder.

Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, is a chromosomal disorder resulting in three copies, rather than two of the 21st chromosome that causes a lifelong intellectual disability, developmental delays, and in some people, health problems. One in every 691 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, making Down syndrome the most common genetic condition.

Down syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division at conception, and is not a result of something the mother did or didn’t do. A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are

ourselves with many great ones. Before I could even make the phone call to the Down syndrome organization, the president called me. It turns out we had a mutual friend who had seen our birth announcement on Facebook and reached out to her, knowing that I would have many questions Two hours after birth I still hadn’t seen or held and would likely want to talk Brooks. I was at my wits end Two years into this to someone. I welcomed the and my labor and delivery nurse journey, we can happily say president’s offer to drop by the knew it. All I wanted to do was hospital that same day. When go to the NICU to see my son. without a doubt that Brooks she showed up, she had a huge is the best thing that has Lucky for me, my amazing new parent basket for us from ever happened to us. nurse stole a wheelchair from DSCNWA. In it were books, another new mom who was poems, resource flyers, and getting ready to be discharged gobs of baby essentials. I cried. (sorry new mom, whoever you What she didn’t know about me are – I just needed to see my is I am a resource hound and baby). Begging to be pushed when something is wrong and I faster down the 5th floor hallway that seemed to go need to “fix it,” I try to absorb as much information on forever, and with my husband following closely as I can. This new parent basket was exactly what I behind, we finally made our way into the NICU needed. The organization board president sat with where we got to hold our son for the very first time. us for over an hour. She shared her personal story We cried as he reached his arms up towards us as if and shared pictures of her spunky 9-year-old with frantically trying to find his parents. Due to some Down syndrome. She told us about how life was additional trauma he experienced during birth, different for her daughter. She told us about her his forehead and some of his face was completely progress. She told us about the medical challenges. black. This was, of course, a little distracting, but The school challenges. Through subsequent visits through it, we could definitely see some traits that she even walked us through mounds of paperwork presented themselves like Down syndrome. we would need in order to get additional funding low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm. Every person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.

He has forced us to have a new perspective on life and not take anything for granted.

Over the next several days in the NICU, the pediatricians walked us through the dozens of markers he had, all pointing to the fact that he most likely had DS. We talked about risks around Down syndrome, the additional diagnoses Brooks may experience in his lifetime, things to watch for, and blood tests he would need on a regular basis. We talked about therapy and how early intervention was one of the most important things to get a child off in the right direction. Brooks actually had his first speech therapy session for feeding right there in the NICU, when he was only 14 hours old. It took a week for the blood work to come back to confirm he had Down syndrome, and, when it did, the first thing the pediatrician on call did, after answering our questions and concerns, was hand us a brochure on Down syndrome from the local organization “Down Syndrome Connection of Northwest Arkansas” (DSCNWA) and a business card with someone to contact. We were terrified.

Our world was changing. This wasn’t what we had dreamed for our child. What did this mean for the rest of his life? Becoming special needs parents wasn’t what we planned. But here we were, right in the middle of it. So, we did the only thing we knew; I held onto that business card like it was my only lifeline, and we pushed on.

In a world where good friends are hard to come by, Josh and I are fortunate enough to surround

for Brooks to help with medical expenses. But mostly, during the first visit, and all of the visits that followed, she talked about the blessing her daughter was. We were able to see some flicker of hope, even if it was trying to hide in the dark corners of the room. There were some good things that came with having a child with Down syndrome. I can’t say we recognized them right away, but she was right.

Two years into this journey, we can happily say without a doubt that Brooks is the best thing that has ever happened to us. He has forced us to have a new perspective on life and not take anything for granted. We celebrate every accomplishment, big and small. Whether it is a first tooth at 19 months, finally giving up army crawling, or shocking us all by saying “I did it” as his fourth, fifth and sixth words, we celebrate! I joke that it’s a constant party at our home, because we are always celebrating a new achievement and it keeps things fun for us.

It helps us be optimistic and focus on the now, instead of focusing on what may or may not be 15, 30, 45 years down the road.

Brooks was in the NICU for 17 days. He came home on a heart rate monitor, which he had for another two months. He has since been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. He has a terrible immune

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system that has us winding up in the doctor’s office more times than we’d like... and sometimes in the hospital. Despite all the challenges and obstacles, he has come a long way from his first appearance in Mercy Hospital Room #530 on February 19, 2014.

Josh and I were welcomed into the Down Syndrome Connection of NWA group with open arms, and quickly became very active in the organization. Because of that, we are able to connect with other new parents and others that are well into their journey. We are able to attend monthly informational programming sessions and fun family get-togethers.

We’ve discovered that these connections give us the opportunity to learn more about Down syndrome, to learn more about Brooks, to find out the latest research and plan appropriately for the future. The organization was instrumental in our ability to quickly adapt to the heartbreaking news at birth and then focus on getting to know and falling in love with our new little guy. DSCNWA has also encouraged us to have a team at the Annual Buddy Walk event in October, which is

incredibly inspirational. We are definitely better parents to Brooks because of this organization.

You can find more about the Down Syndrome Connection of NWA by visiting www.dscnwa. com. There you can read more about Down syndrome, view our upcoming event calendar or make a donation. You can even join our organization! It’s open to anyone in the community that supports or encourages individuals with Down syndrome in any way.

And be sure to save the date for the “Uniquely Crafted” event on April 9th at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks, benefitting DSCNWA. The event has two parts and will feature a “Local Bites and Brews” food and craft beer tasting event as well as NWA’s 1st Brew Mile.

We hope you will join us for this event and others and thank you for supporting Down Syndrome Connection of NWA! Today, Brooks attends a typical early childhood education center where he is a very active toddler. He has made friends and does just about everything they do. He learns best from his peers, and has shown tremendous growth. Brooks works really hard to learn new things. He is enrolled in nine hours of therapy a week (speech, physical, occupational and developmental). He even participates in an Aquatherapy session once a week. Brooks now has seven teeth, eagerly says new words daily, and just took his first steps the day after his second birthday. And you know what?

Just like I said in the beginning: it is all okay. More than okay; great in fact!

by: KYLA GILLESPIE

Make a Wish

Harper began her journey on September 27, 2010, when she was born with a congenital birth defect of the airway and lungs. Although she was full term, her trachea was smaller than most premature newborns, and collapsed with every breath she took; the cartilage in the walls of her bronchial tubes were also weak, and her larynx also collapsed, causing obstruction in the upper airway.

Harper was in immediate respiratory distress and was flown to Arkansas Children’s Hospital the next day. Harper was 2-weeks-old when she received her first tracheal reconstruction, followed by a tracheotomy at 2-months-old, and a gastric feeding tube at 3-months-old. At this point, all I could do was hold on to the words, “She just needs time to grow,” and hope that the projected 1-3 years window would be all that Harper needed to thrive; but that wouldn’t be the case.

Harper continued follow-up appointments with doctors at Children’s, routine airway scopes in the operating room under anesthesia, and daily medications and breathing treatments, as well as numerous unexpected hospitalizations for illnesses she was unable to fight on her own. Despite her critical care, I was able to find a local therapeutic daycare that could take care of her daily medical needs, as well as provide her with the countless hours of speech, physical, and occupational therapies she needed. Without a doubt, this facility, and its staff, continues to be a true blessing in Harper’s life.

Almost three years had passed and, while Harper was developing very well cognitively, there was still no major improvement in her airway. In August of 2013, we opted for another airway reconstruction; hoping this would give Harper a trach-free life.

Sadly, it was not what we had hoped for. While

56 March 2016

the surgery went well, it didn’t provide enough improvement to allow her to maintain oxygen levels on her own. I had come to terms with the fact that we would be leaving the hospital once again with a trach. I hadn’t, however, planned on watching my daughter begin the biggest fight of her life.

While in the hospital, Harper developed the rarest case of Clostridium difficile colitis (C. diff) ICU doctors and Infectious Disease had ever encountered in someone her age. Within hours of being diagnosed, Harper was taken into emergency surgery to have her entire colon removed; it was “dead” and leaking, causing early symptoms of sepsis. Not only would Harper be coming home with her trach, she would also be coming home with a temporary ostomy bag.

I carried a lot of guilt during this time, thinking if I had not been so adamant to have Harper trachfree, none of this would have happened. Someone assured me that this would have happened regardless, and that I shouldn’t carry that burden of guilt. From that moment on, I let go of my personal guilt, and my frustration with God. I realized that He had a plan, and He knew where she needed to be when this all unfolded. Two months after coming home, Harper went back for yet another surgery, this time to reverse the ostomy by reconnecting her small intestine to her rectum. The surgery went smoothly, and we were home within five days to celebrate Thanksgiving with family.

Fast forward to February 2015, for an ENT follow up. We had seen significant changes and growth in Harper. For months now, she had found her voice and it was the sweetest sound. Her speech took off, and she was beginning to speak full sentences. At times it was surreal. I found myself

saying “Harper, be quiet. You’re too loud!” We left the appointment that day with a plan. We would return in one month for another airway scope, followed by hospital admission for a few days of observation. They wanted to closely monitor Harper with her trach capped off, keeping an eye on her respiratory rates and oxygen levels, making sure she could maintain them both during the day and at night without full use of the trach. I was so excited. Could this be the end of our trach days?

One month later, we were back, and they scoped her airway, and for the next several nights we were admitted for observation. After the first night, I was worried. It didn’t go well. She was on pain medicine and too relaxed to control her breathing. Respiratory had to come in quite frequently to give her treatments. However, within the next 24 hours Harper made a complete turnaround, and by the third morning, ENT came in and said, “Let’s do it.” It all happened so fast, I barely had time to grab my phone to video it!

Within two minutes, Harper’s entire world changed. She had officially joined the “naked neck” club after four and a half years! It was the most beautiful naked neck I had ever seen. Besides the trach coming out that day, two things I will always remember: Harper asked me, “When do I get to go swimming?” and “Mom, will you rub my neck?” We hung out in the hospital one more night for observation, and while we were coloring, Harper sang her favorite song, “Roar” by Katy Perry. If she only knew the irony in that song and the new journey she was beginning.

In September of 2015, I received a phone call from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Harper had qualified as a Wish Kid. Tears filled my eyes as I realized Harper would be getting the wish of a lifetime, and for once in her life, it wouldn’t include doctors, nurses, needles, X-rays, IVs, catheters, trachs, therapists, and all other things medical.

Her wish to go to Disney World was coming true.

The Wish Reveal, although a little overwhelming for Harper, was perfect. The University of Arkansas Chi Omega Sorority was there, along with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Elsa, and some of our close friends and family to announce the big news. “Surprise Harper. Your wish has been granted. You’re going to Disney World! Yay!” Then they presented her with a Cinderella dress, Princess Aurora tiara, a Disney Frozen suitcase,

and both she and her big brother received travel backpacks filled with activities and snacks for the plane. Two weeks later, we were packing our bags and flying to Orlando. It was the most amazing trip, not only for Harper, but for our family. We needed this time (Harper, her brother, and I) to enjoy some time away to laugh, reconnect, and create new memories.

We boarded our plane out of XNA, and the flight attendant approached us and said some passengers in first class had given up their seats for us. I was shocked. We didn’t meet those passengers, since they wanted to remain anonymous, but I made sure our flight attendant told them how grateful we

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LOCAL WISH KIDS AND SUPPORTERS COME TOGETHER FOR FIRST-EVER MAKEA-WISH® MID-SOUTH WALK FOR WISHES® Free walk invites Northwest Arkansas community to support local wishes Make-A-Wish® Mid-South invites Northwest Arkansas residents to participate in the first-ever Walk For Wishes, a community-wide celebration of the organization’s mission and local wish granting efforts. On May 7 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Arvest Ballpark, Wish Kids and their friends, families and supporters will come together to raise funds that will support future wish grantings of local children with life-threatening medical conditions. Walk for Wishes is free and open to the public, and includes many familyfriendly activities. Registrants can sign-up and create fundraising teams at www.WalkForWishesNWA.org WHO: Wish children, their families, volunteers, corporate sponsors and supporters of Make-A-Wish Mid-South.

WHEN: Saturday, May 7th, 2016, 9 a.m.

- 12 p. m.

WHERE: Arvest Ballpark 3000 S 56th St., Springdale WHAT: • Participants of all ages can enjoy the less than two-mile walk and family-friendly activities, including music, face painting, and additional surprises at Arvest Ballpark.

• The 2016 Walk For Wishes is an official participating event of the Bentonville Film Festival.

SPONSORS: The Walk for Wishes is sponsored

by Walmart and Frigo Cheese Heads.

About Make-A-Wish® Mid-South: Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human condition with hope, strength and joy. Each year, Make-A-Wish Mid-South fulfills the wishes of more than 240 children across the Mid-South. Founded in 1986, the Mid-South chapter has granted more than 4,800 wishes since inception. With the average cost of a wish being more than $8,000, the organization relies on fundraisers, corporate support and donations from the public to bring hope, strength and joy to families who need it most.

To learn more, visit www.midsouth.wish.org

were. As our plane left the gate, the captain announced Harper as a Wish Kid celebrity on board, and our plane was saluted with a rainbow water cannon as we left the runway. We hadn’t even left Arkansas and I was already emotional!

Our home for the next seven days would be the cutest little villa at the Give Kids the World Village--a resort only for Wish families.

Everything we needed was there; it was truly home away from home. The kids loved that we got pizza delivered for free every night. In fact, that became our nightly routine; we would come home each night after a full day at the parks, upload our pictures, look at them and laugh hysterically, all while eating pizza. For the first time in five years, life was normal again.

We loved every second: Legoland, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We were exhausted by the end of our trip, but it was worth it getting to see Harper meet the princesses. The highlight of the trip was seeing Harper watch the Main Street Parade at Magic Kingdom with her favorite princess, Aurora, in her garden. The characters would wave at them as they passed by, and to see the joy on Harper’s face at that moment brought a sense of peace over me. We truly have begun a new journey. We have so many videos and pictures that document the time we got to spend together.

Make-A-Wish is so many things. For us, it brought our family together so that for a moment, we were able to forget all we had been through. There are so many kids and families out there that deserve the same opportunity. I can only hope that after reading Harper’s Journey, people will be inspired to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation, whether it be through donating or volunteering; any form of contribution can make a difference and change a family’s life. It sure did change ours.

:

Surgical Weight Loss Changes Lives Patients Who Chose Surgery Tell You Their Stories “I’ve been overweight my whole life.”

“Other people don’t have to think about where they are going to sit when they go to a restaurant.”

“I have to buy my clothes online because I can’t find my size in any store.”

“My knees hurt.”

“I was diabetic.”

“I had high blood pressure.”

Caroline Carr was 17 years old when she decided to attend a free seminar at Dr. Roller’s Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery center in December of 2015. “My mom’s friend had it done in 2014 and that’s when I first thought about it,” Carr said. “My sister and I decided to go to the seminar together and check it out. The whole time I was thinking, ‘This is it. This is going to work.’

I decided that night to do it.”

“I couldn’t participate in a lot of activities with my friends because I was physically unable.”

“I tried everything to lose weight, and always failed.”

These are the real life experiences of people just like you, or someone you know, who face the challenges of being obese on a daily basis. Obesity is a disease in which fat levels in the body exceed healthy limits, most widely defined as a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or higher. Individuals with a BMI of 35 to 40 are considered clinically, and severely, obese, which can lead to challenging health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, reflux disease, heart and lung disease, arthritis and joint problems.

According to the American Medical Association, a BMI of 40 or greater indicates a person is morbidly obese and such individuals are at very high risk of not only developing obesity-related health conditions but early death.

“It is a fact that obesity shaves an average seven years off a person’s life,” said Joshua E. Roller, M.D of Roller Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery.

“Combine that with the fact that if you have a BMI of over 35 (meaning you are 60 to 70 lbs overweight), the chances of you losing it on your own is less than 1 percent.”

The physicians and staff at Northwest Health System understand that obesity is a cruel disease.

“My patients feel discriminated against everywhere they go,” Roller explained. “We make sure they know when they come to our practice, they are like a member of our family and we do everything we can to make sure they feel that.”

62 March 2016

Caroline Carr 336 lbs to 188 lbs Not everyone has such a positive outlook.

51-year-old Beth Nikodim also attended a seminar; twice, in fact. Each time she was there to support a friend who was considering surgery.

“I’m not one for doctors or surgery.

I was just there to

Beth Nikodim 330 lbs to 180 lbs

support my friend. I wasn’t considering it for myself,” she said. But something someone said at the second seminar she attended stuck with her.

“A former patient asked us, ‘If you had cancer and could have it removed, would you?’ So after that I went home and began to research bariatric surgery and Dr. Roller, and after a lot of research, I decided to do it.”

48-year-old Judith Gustafson decided to attend the seminar because she was planning a big trip with friends and knew it would include lots of walking. She knew she would be unable to keep up with the group and also knew two people who had success with Dr. Roller. “But I was skeptical going in. I thought, why do I have to do this?

I should be able to do this myself. I took a few weeks to think about it because I thought, do I really want to use my vacation money to do this?

But I felt that if I wanted to live, I have to do this,” Gustafson said. Judith had her

Terry Simmons 485 lbs to 274 lbs Sometimes what motivates a person to attend the seminar isn’t to support a friend or because they feel they need it. “My primary care physician told me to not even try to have kids because it would kill me. He told me I was going to die!” said 33-yearold Terry Simmons. “But I was happy with my life. I went to the seminar just to get my doctor off my back,” he added. After the seminar, his wife encouraged him to go to Dr. Roller’s office for a oneon-one appointment. “When I was waiting for the doctor, a patient came out and was in tears because she had met her weight goal. I decided then to do it.”

Judith Gustafson 445 lbs to 222 lbs surgery at Northwest Health System in Springdale, and was understandably anxious the morning of her surgery.

“The nurses specialize in this, and my nurse could tell I was really scared. He said to me, ‘This is going to change your life. It’s going to be okay.’ And I knew it would.”

And what do these four people now have to say about their lives?

“My blood pressure was normal the day I was discharged.”

“I take the stairs.”

“I’m no longer diabetic.” “I love shopping!” “I don’t need knee surgery now.”

“For the first time in my life, my daughter If you struggle with obesity, you have quality can put her arms around me.”

“I’ve zip lined and scuba dived.”

“I can cross my legs!” “I walk everywhere.”

“My whole life has changed.”

options to begin your journey to a healthy life.

Make this the year you take control and start living the life you want and enjoying the life you have!

Call (479) 757-2040 for information and assistance in registering for an informational seminar. Or visit us at https://northwesthealth.4bariatrics.me/.

Deja M e e t

by: deja frieden

photo by: Caroline Derosette

My Story...

O

ver the past nine years of my life, I have lived to be the epitome of the prodigal child explained in Luke 15 in the Bible: a 17-year-old broken girl with low self-esteem and a serious heart and soul issue. I was a sophomore in high school when my priorities shifted completely and any morals that I had went right out the window. If there was a party, I was there; not only was I was there, but I was sure to be drunk and acting absolutely obnoxious.

My junior year began, and I started partying more and more, skipping school and eventually using drugs recreationally. My family and I experienced the loss of people that were very close to us during that time. Justin, whom I had known since before I could remember, was killed in a car accident when we were seventeen. I grieved those losses pretty hard, and used my grieving as ammunition for my continuous rebellion. Before I knew it, I was put on juvenile probation for missing too many days of school and about to lose my spot as a 2007 graduate. Unfortunately, juvenile probation wasn’t a serious enough consequence to kill my spirit of rebellion and cure my deep depression, so my mother reached out to my probation officer, Gina.

that I would be required to attend school every day. I remember my mom walking into my room telling me to pack my bags, because I was going to go somewhere. Once I figured out where she was taking me, I became furious. Were my parents seriously disciplining me?

Little did I know that the disciplinary action was done out of love and done ultimately to help save my life, “for the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child� (Hebrews 12:6). I walked into Youthbridge with every intention to sabotage and self-destruct myself, but, instead, I was obedient and eventually my heart softened. Youthbridge provided my parents peace of mind during a very difficult time. They also provided counseling that my mother and I were able to attend together.

She mentioned a temporary placement program called Youthbridge that would house me in a structured environment; their biggest selling point was

However, my probation officer was a little more interested in finding something that was long-term to help me overcome the depression and anxiety I was experiencing. Even though I wanted help for my depression and anxiety, I was absolutely terrified about being away from my family for at least three months.

64 March 2016

How did I get here? Life had been so different a year ago. About three weeks after leaving Youthbridge, my parents and I packed a big suitcase in hopes that this far-away facility could, and would, provide the mental help that I so desperately needed. I stayed three months, and left the program with a new head on my shoulders. I made it home in just enough time to enroll for my senior year of high school. I had missed so many days during my junior year that I wasn’t eligible to graduate with my class unless I attended an alternative high school. My mother and I fought for weeks about whether or not I should just get my GED, but she finally put her foot down and made the decision that I would go to school and receive my high school diploma.

I wasn’t pleased with this news; I was embarrassed that I had gotten myself into this mess to begin with and I wanted to take the easy way out.

School started, and I was doing very well; many of my “old friends” commended me on how well I was doing. I maintained a high grade point average, and this is where I saw the fruit of hard work come to fruition: “Do not grow weary in well doing, for in due time you will reap a harvest if you do not tire and give up” (Galatians 6:9). Before I knew it, I had one semester under my belt, and I was rolling into the second and final semester of high school! When a recruiter from the United States Marine Corps came to one of our classes, he talked about all the benefits of being part of the Marines: travel, free college tuition and an awesome job. Needless to say, I was sold on joining the Marines, and before I knew it, the recruiter was at my house with papers in hand ready for me to sign my life away. Even my mom cried.

It’s funny how things in life don’t work out even when our intentions are good, “many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). I called my recruiter about two months later, only to tell him that I would no longer be able to meet the physical requirements. It turned out that I was pregnant. Of all the things in life I ever wanted to be, a teenage pregnancy statistic and single mother was not one of them. I was so disappointed in myself, and felt like all my dreams were shattered. Fortunately, I had an amazing family that stood by my side and vowed to help me. I graduated from high school six months pregnant, and gave birth to my son on September 13, 2007. When I came back to work after having some weeks off, one of my managers asked me what I was going to do now that I was

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a single mother. This question challenged me: How was I going to provide for my son? I didn’t want to just provide for Kade, I wanted him to have opportunities that statistics said I couldn’t give him.

I decided that getting my degree was the only way to do this, so I began looking up scholarships, grants, and made an appointment with an advisor at NWACC. I found out that I was eligible for a scholarship that a local nonprofit offered only to single parents! I enrolled in college and even excelled in my classes. I landed a job at Bath and Body Works working as a partI see God’s divine intervention time manager; my life with every place I was throughout was flourishing! The my journey, from Youthbridge to next two years seemed rehab. I am so grateful that to fly by since my time each place was able to provide was consumed with a vital need to help me build Kade, school and relationships, and take away work. exactly what I needed.

My days were long and my nights were short, so, with good intentions, my parents encouraged me to go out and have fun with other young adults. My outings were few and far between in the beginning, but, as time went on, they became my priority. I was fighting against the desire for the young adulthood that I felt like I was missing out on, and who I was “supposed” to be as a mother. Unfortunately, the insecure girl that I once knew began to show back up again in my behavior, and in my choices.

Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.”

I chose parties, lake days and long nights on Dickson Street over being with my family. I let the world convince me that this is where a person finds happiness, and that if I didn’t partake in these activities, I would look back one day and regret it. I started a relationship with an old friend from high school, and by this point our relationship was deteriorating. We were like fire and gasoline: always fighting, lying, cheating, etc. We were two broken people trying to hang on to what little bit was left of our relationship. The desire to be perfect consumed me, and when I realized that I had a less-than-perfect past, I fell hard into an addiction. From the ages of 22 through 25 I walked through the darkest parts of my life. I went places and hung out with people that still to this day haunt me. My family cut ties with me, leaving me to make a decision to get help on my own. That’s when I applied for a faith-based transitional living program, and decided to get back what I had lost. I worked hard for two years, and was blessed beyond belief with an amazing job, awesome mentors, and a family in Christ.

However, I let work become my focus, and neglected to heal from my previous wounds. This mistake eventually caught up on me. I lost everything yet a second time, leaving me broken but hungry for a permanent change.

Soon after, a God-fearing woman whom I love and adore mentioned a year-long rehabilitation program. My pride almost kept me from going, but on October 1, 2014, I walked through the doors of the faith-based rehabilitation program and had a

66 March 2016

Deja M e e t

radical encounter with God. Like the harlot with great debt who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair, he washed me white as snow.

“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

(Luke 7:47).

I came back home on September 13, 2015, as a completely different person, “For if any man be in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) God softened my heart so much and promised me that not one single dark moment would go to waste.

This is when I made the decision to devote my life to help others crawl out of the same slimy pit I once dwelt in: “You intended it to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives,” (Genesis 50:20). Without my past I wouldn’t have the passion and fire that I have to help others who struggle like I once did.

I see God’s divine intervention with every place I was throughout my journey, from Youthbridge to rehab. I am so grateful that each place was able to provide a vital need to help me build relationships, and take away exactly what I needed.

I can proudly say that I now work for a ministry in Fayetteville that helps local youth, and I continue to see God opening doors for me to help others through my past.

God’s pursuit is relentless, and he will always lead us according to his will.

run wild

Let your child’s imagination this March: National Youth Art Month

By Meagan Ruffing Meagan Ruffing is a parenting journalist who loves watching her kids get creative with art. Visit her at www.meaganruffing.com and follow her on Facebook at writer/meaganruffing. Her forthcoming book, “Overwhelmed to In Control: Keeping Things Simple When Life Gets Tough,” will be available on Amazon this summer.

M

arch is national ‘Youth Art Month’ and that makes me happy. My 7-year-old is just starting to get into the swing of things in art class at school, and I love seeing where his imagination takes him. Just yesterday, I was going through Dylan’s backpack and found a pile of beautiful pictures that I could not figure out the meaning of. I found a printout from the art teacher with interpretations of the Pacific Ocean where three specific areas of art were represented; Japan, Marshall Islands and Hawaii. I looked at the pictures she included and then looked back at my son’s artwork. Pretty neat.

There was one piece of art in particular that I could not stop looking at. He used all sorts of materials like beads, yarn, stickers, tiny seashells and beans.

This is adorable stuff, you guys. It takes me back to when I was just a little girl in art class, expressing my individuality and how I craved to be in art class all day. I saved the most precious pieces from my youth, and have found myself, on more than one occasion, showing my son my paintings and sculptures. They’re nothing special, but they hold memories from different times in my life that I can’t seem to let go of. I find myself wondering if Dylan will do the same thing one day with his children.

Like any parent, it’s hard to know which pieces of art to hang on to and which ones (dare I say) to toss. I admit, I do let go of the scrap pieces of paper where only doodles and dots take over the canvas, but I have to hold on to the other pieces. I bought myself a big artwork tote where I carefully keep all of his most precious works.

I also use the walls of my pantry as a blank canvas that I cover with every piece of Dylan’s work. I may walk in to get a box of pasta, but I walk out filled with the awe and beauty of his innocence when I trace my finger over the faces he has drawn. It’s like a piece of his soul is out in the open for everyone to see, and for me, it just puts this mama’s heart over the edge.

68 March 2016

Youth Art Month is important to me. Not just the month of March, but the actual necessity to have art in our children’s lives is something which unites children and parents.

When’s the last time you sat down with your kids to paint something or make something? You need to

w ww .be nt o

ary.org do it. Even if you don’t consider yourself crafty or libr e l one of those sit-on-the-floor type parents. That’s l i 2 nv okay. Move outside of your comfort zone and buy a Bentonville couple of paintbrushes, a ream of paper and go for Public Library it. I guarantee you that you will learn something This is one of my favorite about your child that you did not know prior to places. My kids love going w ww making art together. .a m to story time because there is az 1 almost always a hands-on art There are tons of resources in Amazeum in project afterwards. This library Northwest Arkansas where Bentonville, AR has a ton of programs for kids you can let your child’s This gem just opened in July of all ages and the best imagination run wild. The 2015. It is a fun, interactive part...it’s free! museum for kids of all ages. One next time you’re looking of my favorite places for my 3 for something to do with 2-year-old since she can put Crystal your kids – think art on a smock and paint to Bridges Museum and visit one of these her heart’s content on of American Art kid-friendly places. the glass walls in There are so many great their art room.

I’ve learned that Dylan is pretty good activities going on for at drawing. I’ve learned that it helps calm children here. Check out their him down when he’s especially wound up. I’ve website to get a schedule of learned that it evokes questions he might not their drop-in drawing and otherwise think to ask me and questions I may drop-in studio art not think to ask him. Art is just another area of sessions. parenting that opens up a whole new world of ideas.

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Celebrate national Youth Art Month and try something new. Take it one step further and turn your child’s artwork into stickers, notecards or turn it into a coffee mug. I did this recently for my husband’s birthday and it has been one of his all-time favorite gifts. I like to get mine from www.shutterfly.com or www.snapfish.com. Create something great this month and every month!

www.davidadams.com

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

At a Glance

ARTS and MUSIC

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 75) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Kindermusik at The Little Gym (Pg. 44) (479) 636-5566 Trike Theatre (Pg. 44) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 76) waltonartscenter.org (479) 443-5600

First Security (Pg. 40) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

BANKS

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 49) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 70) (800) 445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com Early Learning Academy (Pg. 67) www.wacd.net Gentry: (479) 736-9012 Rogers: (479) 899-6675 Springdale: (479) 717-2586 Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg. 59) (479) 273-1011

CHURCH Crosschurch (Pg. 59)

crosschurch.com/easter The House (Pg. 67) welcometothehouse.com

DANCE/CHEER/TUMBLE/STRETCH

The Little Gym (Pg. 44) (479) 636-5566

DENTIST

Dr. Nick DDS (Pg. 33) (479) 876-8000 DrNickDDS.com Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 12) (479) 631-6377 Rogers

DERMATOLOGY / SKIN CARE

Advanced Dermatology / Skin Care Center (479) 268-3555 (Pg. 34) Lips and Lines (Pg. 55) (479) 330-1201 NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com Spa 810 (Pg. 34) (479) 439-6027 Fayetteville spa810.com

72 March 2016

EDUCATION/TRAINING

The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 4) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville)

Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 32) (479) 633-9900 The New School (Pg. 13) thenewschool.org (479) 521-7037 Super Science (Pg. 55) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 44) (479) 464-5084 www.triketheatre.org

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 75) (479) 418-5700 Fast Lane Entertainment (Pg. 28) (479) 659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com Girl Scouts (Pg. 39) (800) 632-6894 Imagine Adventure World (Pg. 57) imagineadventureworld.com Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 32) (479) 633-9900 Ozark Natural Science Center (Pg. 60) (479) 202-8340 onsc.us Princess Party Palace NWA (Pg. 20) princesspartypalacenwa.com Starlight Skatium (Pg. 27) (479) 444-STAR Super Science (Pg. 55) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 44) (479) 464-5084 www.triketheatre.org

FITNESS

ATA (Pg. 21) Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425 FreeRide Studio (Pg. 27) freeridestudio.com (479) 802-6245 The Little Gym (Pg. 44) (479) 636-5566

FOOD / DRINK

Girl Scouts/Girl Scout Cookies (Pg. 39) (800) 632-6894 TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY)

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 8) nw-physicians.com

Tate HealthCare (Pg. 65, 73)

(479) 271-6511 www.tatehealthcare.com

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

Natural State Treehouses (Pg. 71)

(479) 387-0701

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

David Adams (Pg. 69) davidadams.com (479) 444-7778

LEARNING CENTER

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 49) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 4) (479) 443-4420 (Fayetteville)

MARTIAL ARTS

ATA (Pg. 21)

Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425

OPTOMETRIST

Pediatric Vision Development Center (Pg. 54) nwavisiontherapy.com (479) 795-1411

PEDIATRICIAN

Bentonville Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 15) (479) 273-5437 Best Start Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 8, 17) (479) 575-9359 The Children’s Clinic at Springdale (Pg. 8) (479) 751-2522 The Children’s Clinic at Har-Ber Meadows (Pg. 8) (479) 306-4242 Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 36) (479) 524-2458 Siloam Springs Living Tree Pediatrics (Pg. 43) (479) 282-2966 Northwest Pediatric Convenient Care (Pg. 8-9) (479) 751-2522 NWA Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 41) (479) 442-7322

THERAPY

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 49)

(479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com

Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M (Pg. 50-51) www.childrenstherapyteam.com

The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 4)

(479) 443-4420 (Fayetteville)

Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 36)

Lowell: (479) 770-0744

Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465

West Fork: (479) 839-3359

Tate HealthCare (Pg. 65, 73)

(479) 271-6511

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Birth Center NWA (Pg. 37) (479) 372-4560 bcnwa.com Lifespring (Pg. 55) (479) 271-0005 Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 8) (479) 927-2100 Northwest Women’s Health Associates (Pg. 7) (479) 553-2525 Parkhill Clinic for Women (Pg. 19) (479) 521-4433 parkhillclinic.com Siloam Springs Women’s Center (Pg. 74) (479) 524-9312 siloamwomenscenter.com Willow Creek Hospital (Pg. 5) (479) 684-3035

PLASTIC SURGEON

NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2)

(479) 571-3100 www.nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com

PRESCHOOL/ PRE-K

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 49)

(479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com

Early Learning Academy (Pg. 67) www.wacd.net

Gentry: (479) 736-9012

Rogers: (479) 899-6675

Springdale: (479) 717-2586

Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 36)

Lowell: (479) 770-0744

Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465

West Fork: (479) 839-3359

Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg. 59)

(479) 273-1011

The New School (Pg. 13) thenewschool.org

www.peekaboonwa.com

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