"Danielle started life two months before the date she was due. She weighed just 3.78 lbs. When she left the hospital 30 days later, she was healthy but still tiny at just 4 lbs. She received early intervention between six months old and three years old, then entered pre-school. We mainstreamed Danielle through high school, which was tough. It was always a fight for her rights, for her safety, etc., but she excelled. She held many different jobs, and when she left high school at 22, she enrolled in an adult day program through Orland Park District. Although it’s only two days a week, she loves it. They volunteer in the village; they go to “feed my children” and make rice bags. They go to Savers and help hang clothes for donations. They make blankets and deliver them to local firemen.
Danielle is going to be 30 in March. She’s had digestive health problems for many years and is very small — she weighs approximately 80 pounds. For five years, we’ve tried to figure out why she couldn’t gain weight and was frequently anemic. This year, we finally got our answer when she was diagnosed with achalasia, an autoimmune disease where the esophagus is almost closed where it enters the stomach. It’s diagnosed in one out of 2-to-3,000 people. She’s having surgery on December 3. We’re praying for a great outcome and that Danielle will be able to put on some weight.
Danielle has been afraid to ride a bike since she was five years old. She didn’t trust the training wheels or the fat wheels on a bike. When she was fitted for her adaptive bike, she was very excited and said, “I can ride with my niece and nephew now!” We are very thankful for programs like this and donors who are willing to help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart ."