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Show pjiiam i - uipi rr DAILY HERALD Monday, August 27, 2007 'If I could break him now before I die . Lena DcRosc. . . A3 It's going to be the hardest thing I'll ever do. mother of a son with Down syndrome ld Aging Continued from A 1 Facing the ravage of age, including death, groundbreak- ing parents like Lena are among the first who have to ask themselves what will happen to their 40 and even 50-- .. year-ol- d mentally disabled sons or daughters once they aren't around. When Randy was born, menially disabled infants rarely felt the embrace of a mother or father, says Kathy Edwards, director of Recreation and Habililalion Services r . . infrova "Doctors would go to par- ents and say 'Don't look at them, dont touch them, take them to the training school, Edwards said. The state Training School in American Fork now known , at the Developmental Center . I took in many children during the early years of it's history, almost regardless of the level of mental disability , The center now houses about 250 people who are considered extremely disabled. ' But that first generation of defiant parents shunned the Training SchooL did look at their children, did touch them, and by all accounts provided a good life, alife that know coining to an end.. And so Lena, whose husband died two years ago, struggles to find a reasonable solution for her son. "My oldest boy told me 'Don't worry about him.' But I da I do, she says softly with : Randy next to her taking on corn on the cob with the pred-- . sion of a surgeon. From birth, the lives of spe- - dal needs children intertwine . ... : Y-O.- i. V V., 75-ye- . . ' l! MMIO RUIZLuily Randy DeRosa Herald puts his clothes back on after taking 20 minutes to fix his hair before dinner on Friday. Randy always fixes himself up by shaving and doing his hair before dinner. - , - . homes, to government . increased funding to help care supervision to life skills training for the growing population of to hep getting dressed. says Edwards, who never v assistance. "Were hopeful and requestthought theyd see such a day. , Getting state aid is possible, mentally disabled adults, said , ; "Almost to a person they all but theres a waiting ust George Kelner, director of the ing the governor give considstate Division of Services for eration to build more money in Those in critical need thought their children would : his budget, Kelner Said. "We told ourselves, Hell go pass on before they did,? can take cuts in line, however. ' People with Disabilities. ." This Gov. Jun Huntsman wont besaid. where we go, stay where we year the division reApplicants may qualify based ceived an additional million dot gin budget planning until later Lena was told her son would on state standards of mental stay and if our friends dont like it, well find new friends,' . die by the age of 16, the Com- lars to go with an additional (2 this year, said spokeswoman retardation and related condisaid Reed Cornaby of Salem, abys were told 17. But a funny tions such as cerebral palsy,:- .. million the year before. Because Lisa Roskelley, though his priabout his and his wife's deciautism or severe epilepsy. For ; of Sto-- federal grant dollars, ' orities include health care. thing happened when those that money was able to help 700 There are also businesses sion to take their son Kenneth disabled children began living example, years ago Randy like Danville Services Corp., home 42 years ago. Kenneth .. at home They started living ... , DeRose was determined to ' people on the waiting list and has Down syndrome. have the capacity of an o brought the number of disabled' which provides home or apartlonger. According to a study Disease and his from wife Centers the for Hk mother says that adults being served by the stale ment living options and sup- Lucy ; Cornaby to 4,500. State services include take Kenneth to and from his ; Control and Prevention, life ex-- ', hasnt changed much. port throughout Utah esal other Western states. The state Legislature has ' job at Macy's three times a pectancy for those with Down everything from week. When the LDS couple syndrome nearly doubled, from goes to the temple, their son .. 25 years to 49 years, between 1982 and 1997. The study cites ' goes with them. And there : not only better treatment op-are always plenty of group activities, like Thursday's end tkns but also the turn from in-of summer bash for Recreation stitutionalization to family care. Sq.Fl. and Habitation Services. RAH Life expectancy for many types of mental disability continues to provides recreational and edu;Z5iM;;aQlrai35ril2QPV01-VVOQDl9W3):jSden52SOSFrtewaytt77a-WQO- ai cational programs far people increase as welL with disabilitiesThe organizaOptions for providing for tion offers social skill instruc-- ; mentally disabled children run the gamut, from family mem-- . tion, assistance in getting jobs and becoming independent, ed-- . hers amply taking over, to ucation in dressing and grooming, and sports and recreational activities, according to its Web site, ralvprovatripod.com. For Hes such a sweetheart, Reed said, about Kenneth- - "He I Recreation and wont go to bed until he tucks Habilitation Servicest us in and pulls the covers up 374S074 around our necks, Much like their attention to I Utah Division of detail during life, the Comabys Services for People with have planned meticulously for '. Disabilities. ' when they arent around to be , http:www.hsdspd. .. tucked in anymore. They have state.ut.us setups trust specific to Kenneth that details his support American Fork Office once they die. The 8(y s 861 L90Q North also are confident their six 7634100 other children will be lining up toiake Kenneth. Provo Office " fWeve studied this since 150 E. Center St ..' Day L Reed said. 374-700-5 Not everyone has prepared , as thoroughly as the Cornaby s, or has other children willing to take the reins. There are those, group . . 1,800-stron- g. . Ed-war- 1 . 8-t- . . . . . . Lena would like to see her son in an assisted living facility, not only to provide him a social setting but to allow her other children to focus on their own lives and those' of their children., But after 40 years of daily , devotion, it's proving difficult to break those bonds. If I could break him now , before I die," she says, before trailing off. A pause, then $ look that focuses somewhere in the distance. "Its going to be the hardest thing I U ever da" . . . vrrjcoim:oQmwmEHousB 991 ytdhfiwm Id- - help: . . InlOVU . . HJlUCt . is in Vour . ear-old- Sell your . S'TOff starting at 17 . Call Classifieds for details Run it until it's sold! SU LABOR DAY WEEKEND Jrf. Aug. 31 st&Set. Sept 1st ;XzIC7 10anF8pmaMon. Sept 3hM0em4pin IO E!r!s & WWW, heraldextra .com Restrictions apply, private party, limited time offer. f i |