Shriners' party allows former patients to show gratitude

Just a few years ago, Amelia Luttrull couldn't walk. The 6-year-old was born with hip dysplasia, but thanks to the help she received from Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis, Amelia could run around and hang ornaments on the tree at the Shriners' annual Christmas party and dinner at VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau.

More than 40 children and their families, as well as area members of the Shriners International, gathered Saturday evening to share a meal, catch up and exchange gifts.

But the best part, Amelia said, is seeing Santa Claus.

"I've been here before, though," she said. "I met Santa since I was a little baby."

Her parents, Varina and Larry Luttrull of Jackson, said it's difficult to quantify the effect Shriners Hospital had on their daughter's life.

"It kind of means everything to us," Larry said. "It helped her be able to walk."

The Luttrells aren't the only ones who feel gratitude to the Shriners' work. Jeannie Gerlach said her life would have been different had it not been for Shriners Hospital.

"If it wasn't for them, I'd be in a wheelchair, crippled, not able to do anything, that's for sure," she said.

She found herself battling bone disease from the time she was 10 until she was 21.

"Shriners Hospital was my second home for years," she said. "But you don't miss out on anything. You don't think about yourself; you feel like a family."

Now she's an avid hiker with two daughters of her own. The first year her daughters Kimberly and Kaylie came, Santa gave Kaylie a stuffed panda she still carries years later.

The Shriners began hosting their Christmas party in 1996, under the leadership of former president Eddie Shriner.

"We wanted to do something for the kids, with Santa Claus and the gifts and the meal," he said, but added the event has since become something more emotionally affecting.

Most of the children who receive care in Shriners Hospital for Children are in orthopedic or burn units, and Shriner said the annual party allows the community to see the yearly progress of tough little children.

"Maybe last year one of these children has to be crutched in or wheeled in here or what have you, but this year they walked in," he said. "That's what this is all about. It's amazing what can be done."

Current president Ron Clark agreed.

"The best part is when a child comes up and gives you a hug," he said, recalling a time a little girl in the hospital saw his Shriners fez, hugged him and ran away.

"Haven't seen her since," he said. "But that's all it takes, is one of them."

Fellow Shriner Bob Roloff said that's his reason for devoting his time to the Shriners, too.

"It's really an organization I'm proud to belong to," he said. "I've been through that hospital many times, and despite their disabilities, they are happy people, happy children."

Ron Pratt became a Shriner after the organization helped his daughter, Lauren Casebolt.

"When Shriners took care of my daughter, I wanted to become a part of giving back to that organization," he said.

So now, he and Lauren, who's 21 and married and healthy, are in charge of getting the presents for the children each year.

"The Christmas party is what I look forward to every year. It's truly amazing, just to be able to give something back," he said.

tgraef@smissourian.com

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