QUINCY, ILL. -- You wouldn't know it from looking at her playing with her parents that little Callie Frese isn't a normal, healthy toddler. What you can't see is what she and her parents deal with every day.
When little Callie was born, her heart wasn't beating and she wasn't breathing. After spending weeks in the hospital, she was able to come home. But something wasn't right. She later was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a disorder that affects her coordination and ability to use her muscles. Even as she approaches her second birthday, she cannot sit up by herself, use her arms very well or talk.
Even now her parents, Andy and Crissy Frese of Quincy, must carefully grind up her food so she doesn't choke.
Crissy said, "It's a hard thing seeing her see other kids playing and her wanting to get down and play. And watching her want to get down and play is hard for me."
Even with all their research online, the hardest part for these young parents is not knowing what may lie ahead. That's why they're starting a support group in Quincy for families and parents in the area who have children with cerebral palsy, who are dealing with or have dealt with the same challenges they face every day.
Andy said, "We'd like to know what other parents have faced as their kids grew up."
Crissy said, "If we could learn what comes next. There's certain milestones that Callie is facing that we are unable to work through like potty training and weaning off the bottle and things like that as well as parents being a support for each other. I am sure there are other challenges we don't know about yet."
The Freses say the group also would supply an outlet of support for parents, as well as new playmates facing similar challenges for little Callie.
Andy said, "It's hard as a parent but at the same time we understand what Callie has suffered. We hope for the best."
The Tri-State Support Group for Parents with Children with Cerebral Palsy meets this Thursday, May 6th at six o'clock in the Chaddock Trauma Initiative Building. That is at 131 North 4th Street in downtown Quincy.
The meeting is open to anyone associated with helping a family member or loved one suffering from cerebral palsy.
If you'd like to learn more...log onto the group's face book page....Cerebral Palsy Quincy Illinois.
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