**********

**** This is my Daughter Jennifer ****

**********

This is a picture of Jennifer with Neal at the Pine Bluff Arkansas concert on Oct. 8, 2000.

**********

Hi, I'm Jennifer's Mom, Mary. I was asked recently about how I felt when Jennifer was first diagnosed. It was during the MDA Telethon, and I was on television. I was almost speechless, not only cause of my feelings about it, but mostly of being on TV. I guess I'm camera shy and I froze up.

When Jen was first diagnosed after months of tests, I was newly seprated from her dad. It was evident that a divorce was to follow soon. My children and I moved in with my parents shortly after my seperation. Jennifer had already been walking, but her walk was different. She had a waddle like walk, but I didn't think much about it in the beginning, The more people would comment, the more I wondered.

Then the tests began, and more test. When she was finally diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, my world crashed. I was devastated, angry, hurt and sad all at the same time. I couldn't understand why this happened, and sometimes still don't understand it. At first, I struggled to find all kinds of reasons of why this happened. Even crazy thoughts like: "This happened because I left her dad." I know that really sounds stupid, but so many things crossed my mind at that time. I use to think this happened to other people. Little did I know, I'm other people.

I cried countless days and nights. I drew away from so many different things. At one point all I did is stay in my bedroom and cry. With the Love and Support of God, MDA, and my Family, we pulled through it. The one person who gave and still gives me the most courage is Jennifer. She has never been down with it, she's always been the most happy go luckest little girl in the world.

Jennifer lives a pretty much normal life as anyone else does. She lets nothing get in her way. The only thing she can't do, which so many of us take for granted....is walk. She use to crawl everywhere, but she was in a car accident with her dad, and broke her leg. Her leg has healed fully, and now she's a little scared to crawl on it, so she scoots all over on her hiney, when she not in her wheelchair.

Jennifer uses a manual wheelchair which she received two days before her big Garth Brooks concert. It was also her first concert, which meant the world to her. She will be getting a power chair soon, which she was able to test drive one at the Telethon, now, that's all she talks about.

I want to express how important the Muscular Dystophy Associatin is. If it wasn't for their support, we wouldn't be where we're at right now. With all the donations they received, they provide MDA Camp, clinic, and equipment, there are so many things they can offer. And most important, is the research to find a cure for this horrible disease. They have come so far with research. We become one day closer to finding that cure that gives us hope. Hope in that our loved ones will no longer suffer, and live a long and happy life. Hope that this dreadful disease will no longer be.

I want to Dedicate this Page to the memory of
Jane Bordelon who passed away this year.
Our Hearts are with You and Your Family

**********

Send Me E-Mail

WMCowgirl@aol.com