YOUTH COACHES WIN REHABILITATION AWARENESS AWARDS

Helping fulfill a disabled 9-year-old's dream of playing on a "regular" baseball team took patience and understanding from three coaches, but it taught patience and understanding to team members.

Steve Green, Bruce Robert and Derrick Smith on Thursday received recognition for their work as coaches of a youth baseball team that allowed a 9-year-old with disabilities to play.

Their awards were among those presented during the Rehabilitation Awareness Awards Ceremony held at St. Francis Medical Center. The ceremony, which honored those whose efforts benefit people with disabilities and those whose have triumphed over disability was held during National Rehabilitation Week, Sept. 13-17.

The conference room where the ceremony was held was full of inspirational stories. There were stroke and accident patients who had overcome tremendous odds, wives and parents who have supported patients through rehabilitation and volunteers who have supported services for or public awareness of the disabled.

"All we did was give Justin our patience and the opportunity to play," Bruce Robert said after receiving his award for coaching the team the disabled boy was allowed to join.

He gave credit to the members of the team he helped coach for the encouragement and understanding they displayed.

"I think it will help them in the future to know that there are children who have physical disabilities who need positive reinforcement, not the negative kind of making fun," Green said.

What was really inspiring, Robert said, is that when Justin would get a hit, not only did his own teammates and their parents cheer, but also the other team and their parents.

Several rehab patients received awards. Some were inducted into the Wall of Fame, for those patients who have overcome tremendous odds to make strides in regaining abilities lost through stroke, accident or other causes. They are Carolyn Blechle, Darlene Bonney, Dalton "Glen" Francis, Jene Kirby, Fenton Langston, Ettie Mayo, Harold McGhee, Ivroy Pittman, Cathy Wahman and Geraldine Wilson.

The Spirit of Rehab Award went to Charlene Linn for supporting services for the disabled through her career. Linn worked at St. Francis for more than 20 years, often in a position where she greeted and comforted patients. After retirement, she founded the Regional Arthritis Center and she now runs exercise and aquatics programs for those with arthritis.

Awards for personal efforts that have furthered a positive image of the physically disabled or the rehabilitation process went to Sherry Dollins, who has made it a personal crusade to make more buildings more accessible to the handicapped, and Jennifer Friedrich, a cerebral palsy patient who has been an inspiration to others.

Awards for supporting family members in the rehabilitation process went to Mrs. William Klein and Mrs. Harry Still, who became actively involved in the rehabilition of their husbands, who were both stroke victims.

Roy and Sharon Van de Ven received an award for increasing awareness in the community. The Van de Ven's 4-year-old daughter has Down's syndrome, and they offer support and education to other families who have children with Down's syndrome.

For making a significant contribution in the area of support services for the disabled, awards went to volunteers at the St. Francis beauty shop, which provides free hair services to patients, and Lucille Thompson, who makes "walker bags," an apron-like storage bag for patients who use walkers.

Honored for advocating for improved services and increased opportunities for the disabled was David Grant, who has volunteered more than 1,000 hours with SEMO Alliance for the Disabled.

The Pet Pals Program received an award for its work in bringing pet therapy to St. Francis and 15 other locations. Sixteen people volunteer in the program, but it's the 13 dogs and three cats that patients really look forward to seeing.