Teacher Aids Youth To Overcome Handicap

Teacher Aids Youth to Overcome Handicap. (1953, August 5). Centre Daily Times, p7.

Teacher Aids Youth to Overcome Handicap

Encouragement by a first grade teacher, plus determination to engage in sports like the other youths, has paid off for a Buffalo Run Valley youth who easily could have lost hope when a childhood accident deprived him of most of one foot.

He is Ronald Brooks 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Brooks of Fillmore.

A star player on the Keckler Little League team in Bellefonte for three years, he was chosen as a member of Bellefonte's All-Star team this summer. Aside from a slight limp, it is difficult to tell that the youth had the foot injury.

On July 9 six years ago while he was visiting relatives in Lewisburg, Ronald fell in front of a farm mower. His left foot was struck by the knives and after the damaged portion had been removed at a Lewisburg hospital only the heel remained. He spent five months on crutches and then was taken to an orthopedic hospital in Williamsport, where he was fitted with an artificial foot and brace.

He was able to get around on the artificial limb, but had virtually given up hope of playing games when at the age of 7 he entered into the Patton township grade school.

The teacher of the first grade was Miss Martha Harpster of Stormstown. She took an interest in Ronnie and Mrs. Brooks claims that if it hadn't been for the teacher's encouragement the youth probably never would have tried to overcome the handicap.

But one day she got him to kick a football. It worked. From then on, Ronnie perked up. Three years ago he and a pal, Joe Taylor who lives on a neighboring farm, went to Bellefonte for tryouts in Little League. Both were accepted. Joe played one year before his age disqualified him. Ronnie has be playing ever since. This year he pitched and played third base on the Keckler team.

He also plays football, rides a bicycle, hunts, swims and fishes. To get from his home to Little League games and practice sessions he hitch-hikes the seven miles each way most of the time. Truck drivers on the road watch for him and frequently give him lifts, but even at that he does more walking than most youngsters his age.

The road hasn't been easy, either for Ronnie or for the family. He outgrows the artificial limb about every three years, and new ones cost approximately $200. Then, too, the hard use he gives them causes them to wear necessitating sending them back to the hospital for repair and adjustment.

Dr. Nevin C. Jodon of the Bellefonte Rotary Club heard of Ronnie some time ago and through his efforts the Club has been assisting him in securing the orthopedic attention he requires.

Among Ronnie's strongest "fans" are members of the family, which includes three other children: Patricia 15, Dannie, 8, and Connie 4. His father is an employee of Claster's in Bellefonte.