Girl with fetal alcohol syndrome to tell Congress her story
Published: May 13, 2008
cleveland.com
BRUNSWICK -- Eleven-year-old Katia Demchuk talks openly about how difficult it is for her to learn in school.
"It's hard to remember. My eyes, they just don't focus sometimes," the Crestview Elementary fourth-grader said, waving her hand toward her head.
Katia knows why. Her birth mother abused alcohol, and Katia was born with fetal alcohol syndrome.
But the slightly built, energetic child makes no excuses.
"My teacher gives me lots of hard work because she knows I can do it. I know I can do it. I won't give up," Katia said.
Katia plans to tell her story in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday during Hill Day for the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Organization President Tom Donaldson said Katia will be the youngest advocate in the five years that his group has visited Capitol Hill. This year, about 50 residents from 20 states are expected to take part.
Katia and her adoptive mother, Felicia, have appointments with staff members of U.S. Sens. George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown, as well as several lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
Felicia Demchuk said Katia will describe the challenges she faces -- how difficult it is to read, write and remember math facts. Demchuk will talk about the importance of routine and repetition in Katia's life and the need to raise awareness about early intervention, diagnostic testing, not drinking during pregnancy and school support.
Every year, nearly 40,000 newborns in the United States have extensive prenatal exposure to alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Consequences of the traumatic brain injury range from mild hyperactivity to severe mental handicaps. The children face problems with learning, impulsiveness, memory, epilepsy, vision, speech and hearing.
Katia's story began in 1998 when Demchuk and her husband, Richard, a driver for Federal Express, decided to adopt the girl from Russia after seeing her photo.
"We recognized the facial characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome right away," Demchuk said, describing the eyes spaced far apart, small head and a thin upper lip. "But it didn't matter. We just knew she had to be with us."
Demchuk, a special education teacher, said the Brunswick schools have helped Katia blossom academically and emotionally. Katia will always need supportive living, but her parents are confident their daughter can learn to read fairly well and graduate from high school.
Special education teacher Kim Peders said Katia is determined, but gets frustrated when she can't quite capture concepts.
Katia agreed: "Sometimes I feel like my brain's going to explode."
Peders said support at home helps the girl understand what's happening.
When Katia catches on, she's thrilled.
"I did my math all by myself with no whining and no complaining," Katia said.
Katia loves school.
"She's a social butterfly," Peders said.
During music, she has no qualms about helping teacher Jeannette Timko lead the class in song.
"She'll get through life because she's always singing," Timko said.
Published: May 13, 2008
cleveland.com
BRUNSWICK -- Eleven-year-old Katia Demchuk talks openly about how difficult it is for her to learn in school.
"It's hard to remember. My eyes, they just don't focus sometimes," the Crestview Elementary fourth-grader said, waving her hand toward her head.
Katia knows why. Her birth mother abused alcohol, and Katia was born with fetal alcohol syndrome.
But the slightly built, energetic child makes no excuses.
"My teacher gives me lots of hard work because she knows I can do it. I know I can do it. I won't give up," Katia said.
Katia plans to tell her story in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday during Hill Day for the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Organization President Tom Donaldson said Katia will be the youngest advocate in the five years that his group has visited Capitol Hill. This year, about 50 residents from 20 states are expected to take part.
Katia and her adoptive mother, Felicia, have appointments with staff members of U.S. Sens. George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown, as well as several lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
Felicia Demchuk said Katia will describe the challenges she faces -- how difficult it is to read, write and remember math facts. Demchuk will talk about the importance of routine and repetition in Katia's life and the need to raise awareness about early intervention, diagnostic testing, not drinking during pregnancy and school support.
Every year, nearly 40,000 newborns in the United States have extensive prenatal exposure to alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Consequences of the traumatic brain injury range from mild hyperactivity to severe mental handicaps. The children face problems with learning, impulsiveness, memory, epilepsy, vision, speech and hearing.
Katia's story began in 1998 when Demchuk and her husband, Richard, a driver for Federal Express, decided to adopt the girl from Russia after seeing her photo.
"We recognized the facial characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome right away," Demchuk said, describing the eyes spaced far apart, small head and a thin upper lip. "But it didn't matter. We just knew she had to be with us."
Demchuk, a special education teacher, said the Brunswick schools have helped Katia blossom academically and emotionally. Katia will always need supportive living, but her parents are confident their daughter can learn to read fairly well and graduate from high school.
Special education teacher Kim Peders said Katia is determined, but gets frustrated when she can't quite capture concepts.
Katia agreed: "Sometimes I feel like my brain's going to explode."
Peders said support at home helps the girl understand what's happening.
When Katia catches on, she's thrilled.
"I did my math all by myself with no whining and no complaining," Katia said.
Katia loves school.
"She's a social butterfly," Peders said.
During music, she has no qualms about helping teacher Jeannette Timko lead the class in song.
"She'll get through life because she's always singing," Timko said.