Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center - (Page 49)

Stride Thanks to a generous family, one Rolla girl lives a more-normal life despite cerebral palsy. Now they’re hoping to help others, too Taking It in A bbie Darnell is a 15-year-old honors student at Rolla High School, where she’s involved in clubs, supports the Bulldogs at games, enjoys spending time with her friends and works the concession stand at soccer games. Abbie also has cerebral palsy, a disorder that results in loss of movement or nerve function and can affect any and every muscle or nerve in the body. STRENGTH AND DETERMINATION Jean and Brent Darnell had been expecting quadruplets, but 30 weeks into her pregnancy Jean delivered Abbie and her brother, Colin (who also was diagnosed with cerebral palsy). Abbie weighed just 2 pounds, 3 ounces. “Abbie spent her first two months in the neonatal unit,” Jean recalls. “When she was 11 months old, we were told she would be deaf, blind and severely mentally challenged. She started talking just about the next day: She heard everything they said and decided to prove them wrong.” Her doctor then suggested speech therapy; a few months later it was no longer necessary because Abbie was speaking in complete sentences at 14 months. Vim & Vigor • SPRI NG 2011 49

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Table of Contents
Opening Thoughts
End Allergy Attacks!
Back on the Beat
A Workout for Every Mood
Don’t Fail Your Heart
If Your Bones Could Talk
Healthy Travels
Over 40 and Fabulous
Do-It-Yourself Health?
Fighting Words
Balancing Act
Giving & Getting
Taking It in Stride
Help Wanted
Spotlight On...
Auxiliary

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center