Ride for Abigail

Published: 03/27/2008

By Kristal Dixon
Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer

The family of a Holly Springs girl with cerebral palsy is seeking the community's help to pay for much-needed therapies.

Todd and Amanda Mullins on Saturday will present their second annual Abigail's Miles Bike Ride benefiting children with cerebral palsy.

The motorcycle ride will begin at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Kmart on Marietta Highway in Canton. The entry fee is $30 per bike and $10 per passenger. The event also will include live music, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. Participants will receive a T-shirt and lunch.

The Mullinses are hoping the ride will raise enough money for them to pay for a 20-day therapy session for Abigail.

The acquired therapy sessions will be conducted at the University of Alabama Birmingham and cost $15,000, said Mrs. Mullins.

About 75 people participated in the first annual bike ride last spring, Mrs. Mullins said.

The ride raised about $1,000 and the couple also raffled off a custom-made chopper motorcycle to pay for their daughter's therapy.

Mullins said he's hoping the ride also will raise awareness about children suffering from cerebral palsy.

"There are a lot of kids out there that people don't understand how hard they work," he said.

Mrs. Mullins said she and her husband learned of the extent of Abigail's condition eight days after she was born.

Doctors discovered Abigail suffered a stroke, but they were not sure when it occurred.

An MRI revealed Abigail had severe brain damage on the right side, which affected the motor skills on the left side of her body.

Abigail, who's now 4 years old, eventually was diagnosed as having encephalomalacia, or the softening or degeneration of the brain tissue.

"The whole pregnancy was great until my labor," said Mrs. Mullins, who also has two sons, Bryce, 6 weeks, and Brody, 2. "It has completely changed our lives and opened up a world we didn't know existed."

Mrs. Mullins said doctors were unsure if Abigail would walk or crawl.

Mrs. Mullins said Abigail is doing a lot better, compared to last year.

Abigail is able to walk, but puts most of her pressure on her right leg. She wears an ankle foot orthosis on her left leg for balance.

Abigail's left leg, Mrs. Mullin's said, is a half-inch shorter than her right leg.

The muscle tone in her left leg has improved and she's doing great cognitively "by the grace of God," according to Mrs. Mullins.

Abigail also wears a theratog brace on her chest, hips and legs to help with her posture.

Abigail goes to physical therapy four times a week to help improve her gross motor skills.

She also has attended in conductive education therapy in Orlando, Fla., and the Manely Kids' hippotherapy and therapeutic riding program in Woodstock.

She also sees a neurologist every six months to monitor if her head is growing at an acceptable rate.

Every three to four months, Abigail visits an orthopedic doctor to see if she needs a new leg brace due to growth spurts.

Every three months Abigail's eyes are checked by an optimologist.

"We're blessed that she hasn't had to have surgeries thus far," Mrs. Mullins said.

Mrs. Mullins said people continue to be "impressed" with Abigail's improvements as she gets older.

In February, Abigail's individualized education program was evaluated by the Cherokee County School District.

"The district said they were impressed with her speech," she said, adding Abigail had speech therapy when she was younger.

Mullins said he credits his wife in keeping the family together during their situation.

"My wife is awesome," he said. "This situation also makes you appreciate special needs children. You don't realize how special they are until they are in your lives."

Mrs. Mullins said she credits her faith in keeping the family, which attends First Baptist Canton, strong.

"I don't know how people get through things without knowing the Lord," she said. "I'm thankful that I have Abigail and I count my blessings everyday."

kdixon@cherokeetribune.com

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