SBAWPeople Profile - Elizabeth

TheraDance Class

BluePrints graduate Elizabeth dancing with the TheraDance class

Monday, March 18, 2013 was a day I will never forget. That was the day when my 7 year old daughter, Elizabeth, proved to us that she would never accept the limitations of Spina Bifida. Instead, she stepped "on stage" and performed her little heart out at her first dance recital.

Elizabeth was born with the myelomeningocele form of Spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and symptomatic Chiari II malformation. After she underwent several major surgeries and lengthy hospitalizations my husband and I resigned ourselves to thinking that her physical limitations would make it virtually impossible to participate in a dance class. This was particularly difficult to accept because Elizabeth has always loved music and moving to the rhythm. Her former PT, Pat Smith-Martin, recently commented, "I can remember this kid shimmying before she could even sit!"  And now, after 7 years of hard work in physical therapy, our beautiful daughter was given the opportunity to "get her groove on."

Elizabeth would never have had this opportunity if not for the development of an exciting new "Theradance" program created by her current PT, Jamie Barnhill, DPT. I can’t tell you in this brief message how much this has meant to our family.  I can only hope that by spreading the word, more children will be able to experience the magic and excitement of performing for their family.

- Melanie Dragovits

Watch the TheraDance class performing to "Call Me Maybe" 

https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10200859181546872

TheraDance is a group physical therapy program designed for children with physical limitations, such as impaired balance, body awareness, coordination, flexibility, strength and endurance. The program is offered by the Center for Independence at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC at their Pine Center location in Wexford. The sessions are 10 weeks in length and culminate in a choreographed routine to music. For more information, call the Center for Independence at 724-933-9286.

Want to help SBAWP Programs serve people like Elizabeth?  Support SBAWP in the Highmark Walk (see next article)

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Highmark Walk 2013 - Sign Up Today

May 18, 2013

Sign up today to participate in the 2013 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community for the benefit of the Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania (SBAWP). 

Just follow this link http://highmark.towercare.com/Markslist/site/displaySite.do?siteIdCode=NGRXLCK8  to

• Register to sign up to participate in the Walk.
• Register as a virtual walker if you are unable to walk "in person."
• Donate to just make a donation to SBAWP.
• Search for Participants to support an individual or team in the Walk.
• Once registered, Create or Join a Team
• Ask Your Friends and Family to support you in the Walk.

Call 724-934-9600 for more information or assistance with registration.  100% of the funds raised for SBAWP will go directly to benefit SBAWP programs. 

Thank you - hope to see you on the Walk!

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Fifth Annual Summer Festival

Save the Date - August 10, 2013

Join us for
 2013 Annual Summer Festival
presented by Seubert and Associates

A family-friendly fun day in the park for all ages

Saturday, August 10, 2013
1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Blueberry Hill Park, Franklin Park

Kids activities * Bingo * Karaoke * Sports and Athletic Contests * Basket Auction * Festival Food * Vendors

$10 per person, children 5 and under free
724-934-9600 for more information or register online.

Thanks to our 2013 Corporate Sponsors (as of May 7, 2013): 

Coloplast * Chuck Foley Memorial Foundation * Fifth Third Bank  Fort Pitt Capital * Louis Anthony Jewelers * NexTier Bank * Western Pennsylvania Laborers Building and Defense * HarKel * First Choice Mortgage Services, Settlements, Ltd. * Quest Energy Solutions * Altar TV * Berkley Mid-Atlantic Group

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