Walsh County Press February 29, 2012: Page 2

February 29, 2012 Walsh County Press
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PAGE 2 THE PRESS FEBRUARY 29, 201 2 Olr, aunt,00e ]00o00Jr dhe ,co, l[o,r ,o,]l: ]Li[]G The Brittany Dvorak Story By K. Ellis GRAND FORKS, N.D.- Early in the morning, Brittany Dvorak lifts one leg over the side of the bed with her arms, then the other. Steadying herself against a wall, she moves slowly in a dark- ened bedroom. Things are good on this morning and she is standing upright on the first try. Jumping out of bed and rushing to get ready for the day is out of the question. For now anyway. Twenty-eight years ago this month Scott Dvorak was fighting along with his Lankin-Adams teammates for a Regional Basket- ball title. Today he's still fighting, but this time beside his daughter Brittany who is on the long road to recovery fi'om Leukemia. Don- ning tile Green and Gray of the LA Bruins back then, Scott now pro- motes the color Orange, the color for Leukemia. Brittany's story was first pub- lished in the Walsh County Press in March of 2009 ("Life's a Ride -A Young Girl's Story"), since that time Brittany and her family have seen the highs and lows of the bat- tle going Oll in her life. Brittany has gone though the tough times and is now slowly try- ing to make her way back to nor- real. Or at least what could be considered nonnal for 17-year-old junior in high school. "I am fortunate with where I am today," said Brittany. "I try to stay positive as much as I can." Not an easy task considering where she has been. On fathers day, 2009, when it seemed like life was getting back to normal, Brit- tany woke tip with "useless legs". "My legs and most of my mus- cles were not responding and from there my whole body just kept get- ting worse," Brittany recounted. Brittany and her family imme- diately drove to the Emergency Room in Grand Forks and after an MRI, was air lifted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mime. By the time she arrived, she couldn't move her ,arms or legs and within minutes she, was not able to speak. At Mayo, it was determined that tox- ins entering her body from a re- cent spinal tap procedure caused the paralysis in Brittany's body. While at Mayo, the doctors were able to get her on a protocol and slowly her body began to recover. "I basically had to start my lit functions over," said Brittany. "I had to relearn how to do every- thing just like a baby would." With therapy, Brittany had the daunting task of learning how to walk again. "'Being paralyzed and coming out of it, having all the injections to my legs and the thousands of pills I've taken, it's really made me re- alize how thankful I am right now that there are things out there to help me," said Brittany. Besides the physical problems Brittany has had to cope with, the emotional issues are the ones that perhaps are the most difficult to overcome. "There are hard times," Brittany says, "especially when I'm missing out on the things I would love to do like fi'iends, sporting events and other events at school. "But what I really miss the most is playing Basketball." The Red River High School Junior has other interests to keep her spirits up as well. "I love my puppies, going to the lake, getting to the sporting events I can, going to my siblings basket- ball tournaments and my friends," said Brittany. To get through the really hard times, Brittany has relied upon the support of her family and close friends and those moments to her have been priceless. Brittany added that all the well wishers out there have meant so much to her over these years, many of whom she have never even met; it's all pretty amazing. "My friends help me so much, picking me up for school, helping me with my wheel chair, I am so thankful for all of that." Another one of those people helping the cause is country singer Paulette Carlson, former lead singer of Highway 101. Carlson recently did a benefit concert at the Chester Fritz and a part of that is for "Team Brittany" which is trying to raise money for a basketball court at the new Choice Wellness Center in Grand Forks. They are also looking into building a hospi- tality house in Grand Forks where families who have children in the hospital will have a place to stay while they are here. For more in- formation on this you can see the Sunshine Foundation group's web- site at www.sunshinememorial.org "This whole ordea 1 has changed us a lot." reiterated her Dad Scott. "We probably overreact when one of the kids gets sick, we're hoping it's just a cold. And my brother Ja- son's son Jordan, was diagnosed with Leukemia just 8 months after Brittany was. But cancer is not necessarily hereditary, it doesn't discriminate. "'Brittany has been such an in- spiration to us," said her Dad, "see- ing her fight her way through this on her own and us not being able to help has shown us the true family is all about. Now, whenever we get the chance to do something fun with the family we do it.'" For now, Brittany's goal is to keep pushing so that one day when all of this is over she can make it back to being "100% nomaal." "I don't know exactly where she is right now percentage wise but she's got a ways to go", said her Dad, "we just keep pushing every- day to get her back to normal." As for Brittany, her struggle continues and she is looking ahead to the future with optimism. "I will finish high school and go to college one day, then I will see where things take me. For now, I' just want my walking to be 100% again." Brittany's dad summed it up pointing out just how important life is. "Brittany was all about sports, playing basketball on her teams, like a lot of kids growing up. That was her passion. Now," he says, "it's not basketball or volleyball that we're concerned with, it's the game of life we're all fighting to will." Child Passenger Safety Month reminder WALSH COUNTY, N.D. -- In observance of Child Passenger Safety Month in February, the Walsh County Health District (WCHD) urges all parents and caregivers to make sure they choose the fight car seat to fit their child's size, age, physical development and behavioral needs. The number one killer of children in North Dakota is motor vehicle crashes. Car seats, boosters and seat belts are the "vaccines" for preventing deaths and injuries to children in car crashes. For a vaccine to work, it needs to be spaced properly and administered correctly, just like car seats. It is important that children ride in the right kind of restraint to fit their body. Using the wrong restraint and utilizing it incorrectly could lessen the effectiveness of a car seat, booster or seat belt and puts a child at more risk. According to the North Dakota Department of Health, car seat checkup statistics for 2010 indicate that 88 percent of the car seats checked were being misused in some form. One of the categories of misuse was that 15 percent of the restraints used were inappropriate for the child. Of the cases where the restraint wasn't appropriate for the child: • 85 percent of the children were too small or too young. Many were moved from a booster to a seat bellt before they were tall enough and many were too young to be in a booster (younger than 4 years of age). • 46 percent of children were too large and were exceeding the maximum height or weight of the seat they were in. To cut down on misuse, the WCHD suggests always reading the instructions for the restraint being sekcted to make sure the child falls within the guidelines indicated by the manufacturer. Restraint manufacturers are required to use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's testing standards while crash testing their seats. Not following the instructions can cause the restraint to not perform as it should in a crash, putting the passenger at more risk. To offer children the best protection while traveling in the car, even if you are only travelling a block away, the Department of Health offers the following best practices: • Children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat. Have a really • Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a car seat! REAR-FACING - Children should ride rear-facing until at least 2 years of age. Two types of car seats are available for rear-facing: Infant Seats - Most of these seats can be used until 22-35 pounds. Use them until the highest weight limit or until the child's head is within one inch of the top of the seat. Convertible Seats - These seats can be used rear- facing and forward-facing. Most can be used rear-facing up to 30-40 pounds. Use them rear-facing until the highest weight or height limit allowed by the manufacturer. FORWARD-FACING - When children are at least 2 years of age or have outgrown the highest rear- facing limits of their car seat, they may ride forward-facing in a car seat with a harness. Use the seat until the child reaches the harness's highest weight limit allowed by the manuthcturer. Car seats with harnesses can be used up to 40-100 pounds. BOOSTERS - When children have outgrown the harness in their forward-facing car seat, they may be moved to a booster. The child should be at least 40 pounds and at least 4 years of age. Keep the child in the booster until about 4'9" tall or the seat belt fits correctly over the child's body. Most boosters can be used up to 80-120 pounds. SEAT BELT - Children should use a seat belt when it fits over the body correctly. For a seat belt to fit properly, the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest. It should not lie on the stomach or across the neck. Caregivers who need assistance with their car seats should attend a car seat check or contact a certified child passenger safety technician fbr help. To find a certified technician near you, call the North Dakota Department of Health at 701-328-4536 or 800-472- 2286, or visit www.ndhealth.gov/injury or the NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.gov/. For more information about child passenger safety, contact Donna Holand, Walsh County Health District, at 701-352-5139. big thank you.00 We can he,p. Ca,, Z84-63331 The woman then !eft h# waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, "Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" .,.l y ,, , /...-.- 4kT2... //" vaiL'-..." J f / ./ .1 t' ' ¢, 2012 by Klll Fealores Syndcalo, Inc WofUl qghlS rewrv - Walsh County Press--Church Director€-- PEMBINA HILLS LUTHERAN, MOUNTAIN ; TRINITY LUTHERAN, EDINBURG Sun.: 9:15 Trinity (10:20 Sunday School), 10:30 Vikur Tue.: 2:30 Bible Study at Borg, 9:30 Women's Bible Study at Trinity Wed.: 4:20 Confirmation, 7:00 Lenten Services at Trinity ST JOHN'S NEPOMUCENE CATHOLIC CHURCH, PISEK Sun: 10:30 a.m. morning Mass ST JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, LANKIN Sat: 5 p.m. evening Mass STS. PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, BECHYNE Sun.: 8:30 a.m. morning Mass ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, CRYSTAL 5undayMass: 8:30 a.m.. Tuesday: 5:30 p.m. • Thursday: 7 a.m. ST. BRIGID OF IRELAND CATHOUC CHURCH, CAVALIER Saturday Mass: 5 p.m. • Sunday Mass: 10:30 a.m. • Monday & Friday: 7 a.m. • Wednesday:. 6:00 p.m. OUR SAVlOUR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, PARK RIVER Sun.:9:00 a.m. Service Sunday/Adult Study/Coffee, 10 a.m. Worship/Communion/Senior Choir ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday.: 9:30 a.m. Morning worship, 10:30 Sunday School ST. MARY'S CHURCH Saturday: 9:30 a.m. Good Sam. Center • 5 p.m. St. Mary's, Park River Sunday: 8 a.m. St. Luke's, Veseleyville • 10 a.m. St. Mary's, Park River FEDERATED CHURCH Sunday: 9 a.m. Worship (Fordville) • 9:30 a.m. Sunday School (Park River) • 10:45 a.m. Worship (Park River) • Wednesday: 3:30 p.m. Confirmation VICTORY FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH, PARK RIVER Sunday: 11 a.m; Worship, Sunday School 9:45a.m. for all ages 3-adult • Wed: 9 a.m. Men s Bible Study, WinGS 7:00 p.m.,Youth Bible Study 7:00p.m. GRACE FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH, EDINBURG Sunday: 9 a.m. Church Services / 10:15 a.m. Sunday School Every Thursday: 9 a.m. Bible Study BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH, PARK RIVER Sunday: 9:30 a.m. worship • 10:30 a.m. Fellowship • Sunday School • Wednesday: 7:30 p.m. prayer service 11 a.m. SEND IN YOUR CHURCH'S SCHEDULE FAX 284-6091 WCPRESS @ POLARCOMM. COM BECOME A CHURCH SCHEDULE SPONSOR $20.00 a MONTH/ CALL THE PRESS 284"6333 TODAY/ BECOME A CHURCH SCHEDULE SPONSOR $20.00 A MONTH/ CALL rile PRESS 284"6333 TODAY/ ' (;¢tl . C'.- samaritan -"- Sxzic .... Q_...) 301 Co. Rd 12B ° Park River Ph. 284-7115 Fax 284-7117 00'00F00IIRsTUNITED --"Bank & Insurance Park River ~ 284-7244 Michigan ~ 259-2112 Adams ~ 944-2231 Grafton ~ 352-3668 "True to a Sacred Trust'" Hwy. 17 West * Park River 284-6086 tolleJonfimeralhome, corn Farmers Union Insurance Co. Dwight ByronJay Thompson OFFICE: 284-6955 Hwv. 17East. ParkRiver BECOME A CHURCH SCHEDULE SPONSOR $20.00 A MONTH/ CALL THE PRESS 284-6333 TODAYI. BECOME A CHURCH SCHEDULE SPONSOR $20.00 A MONTH/ CALL rile PRESS 284"6333 TODAY/ Ye Olde Medicine Center 10% Senior Discounts * FREE Mail Out Sen'ice * UPS *Kodak Kiosk * FREE Blood Pressure Checks Hwy. 17 West * Park River 284-7676 AGASSIZ ANIMAL HOSPITAL *Complete Medical Services/ Surgical Services *Boarding *Grooming *Pet Supplies Daniel J. Koenig, DVM 284-6688 for $34.00 per year in Walsh County, $38.00 for out of county, $42.00 per year for the rest of North Dakota and ottt of state, from The Press building, Park River, North Dakota. Please allow 3 weeks to start new subscriptions or change @address 403 Bdggs kve. So., P.O. Box 49, Park River, N.D. 58270 Phone: (701) 284-6333. FAX: (701) 284-6091 E-mail: wcpress@polarcomm.com (U.S.P.S. Pub. No. 665-320) Penodcals postage paid at Pak River, N.D., and addlJonal rnait POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Walsh County Press. P.O. Box 49, Park River, ND 58270. Nordmark Publishing Publisher 111st Ave NE, Rolla, ND 58367 Allison Climb Editor-in Chief Terra Linn Office Manager Larry Biri Freelance Photographer Heidi Restemayer Ad Rep. 1 Policy on ColTections Any error should be reported immediately. Please check die accuracy of your advcllisemcnt the first day of insertion. The Walsh County Press will offer a free reprint in the even| of an internal error; BL SINt:SS HOURS The Walsh Count,,, Press is own from 9:30 am. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Frith)'. Submission deadline is Thursday at ntxm. Phone 701-284-6333 • Fax 701-284-6091 • Entail: wcpress@polarcomm.cont LE'IIFR/AREA VOICES POLICY The lf'bil>h (kum O' Press will accept letters to the editor and other submissions on issue of public interest. To be published, letteffarlicie must: - Be signed and inchlde your address. Unsigned letters will not be considered. Lette may not be used to thank specific people or organizations. - The lt'?llsh ()mn(v Press reserves the right to shorten letters, edit o111 factual errors and reject those deemed libelous. in poor taste or of a personal nature. - The IIHsh CounO, Pre*s' will not run letters flom the same author two weeks in a row. All opilnons expressed me those of the author and do not represent the opinions of The Ibth ('Dun O' Pre. I III I mlK"rz_ - Be legible. - Preference will bc given to ette s fro n the Walsh Count.. area. Letters from outside tile area will be con,',idered if they are of sufficient interest.