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When Abby Sings Submitted by Angie Peterson, DSC, and Helen Stevens, HSTARS, Northeast Head Start Olive Hill, Kentucky |
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| Abigail Holmes, or "Abby" as we know her, is a beautiful three-year-old girl. She attends Head Start at Argillite Elementary in Greenup County, Kentucky. She is enrolled in the blended program with Head Start and Greenup County Schools. She was a referral from Pathway’s First Step program. |
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She was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Weaver’s
syndrome. Dr. Graham Weaver only recently diagnosed this condition in
1974. Abby is only the thirty-third child in the world to be diagnosed
with this syndrome.
There are numerous health problems related to this syndrome varying from spinal cord malformations to cancerous abdominal tumors. Weaver’s syndrome has certain physical traits such as extreme growth and various facial characteristics. Abby has the growth pattern and facial characteristics of this syndrome, although luckily, she does not have the other health problems at this time. She is 46 inches tall, which is the average height for a five or six year old. She receives communication services as she has a severe delay in this area, but she has shown great progress in her communication skills as well as all other aspects of her development. She also has sensory integration disorder that she is making great progress in, with the help of Head Start staff and her parents. Abby has a very unique personality. She loves music. She likes to laugh, sing, and dance. Tim, her father who is a musician, has composed a song called "When Abby Sings" that he sang at Head Start’s Parent Appreciation Banquet this May. Both parents are involved with Head Start and Abby’s education within the public school system. Greta, Abby’s mother, volunteers in the classroom everyday. Abby is fun to be around and has adjusted to her classroom environment and classmates very well. Head Start and Greenup County schools have provided her with items needed to make the adjustment easier, but the staff are the ones who made her feel at ease. Her teacher, Gail McClurg, says of Abby…. Abby was shy when she first started attending our program. Now she is outgoing and interactive with others in the classroom. She loves music. Her favorite song is "Sammy." She is more vocal than she was at the start and asks for things that she wants. One thing that she loves to do is play with shaving cream. She likes it when food coloring is added to make it different colors. Abby will be attending our program again next year and we are looking forward to having another great year with her and her parents. |
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