Six-year old seeks new ways to help special-needs kids

By THERESA HOGUE

Gazette-Times reporter

ALBANY - Most 6-year-olds are focused on mastering writing, drawing and playing games. Courtney Driscoll's full-time jobs include being her brother's guardian, advocate and best friend.

Christopher Driscoll, 8, was born prematurely, with excess water in his cranium. The boy suffers now from cerebral palsy, autism and other disabilities. He needs constant care for his medical needs. Courtney devotes herself to the rest of his welfare.

For example, Christopher has been in and out of the hospital recently for treatment of a number of ailments, including appendicitis. His little sister was there, riding on the gurney next to him when he was admitted to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland.

Because she finds the hospital too often lacking in cheer, Courtney made her own version of balloon animals and filled a bag with them to distribute to sick children at Doernbecher. Too small to twist the balloons into complicated animal shapes, Courtney still produced triangles and twisty creations to cheer the young patients.

At Waverley School in Albany, Courtney sometimes sneaks over to Christopher's classroom during her lunch break.

"I go visit him," she said. And if it looks like he hasn't eaten, or that he hasn't been paid attention to, Courtney alerts his teachers. It's an important service, as Christopher can only say four-word sentences, and has difficulty communicating. That's never been a problem for Courtney, her parents said.

The confident child even assists with mixing formula that Christopher ingests through a feeding tube. Courtney's role: She pushes the syringes full of prepared nourishment into Christopher's tube. Although she appreciates the different ways they eat, Courtney said she and her brother enjoy the same foods.

"Mostly cookies," she said with a laugh.

Last year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation sent the family to Disneyland so that Christopher could meet his good friend Woody, a character from the animated movie, "A Toy Story." This trip so impressed Courtney, she's formulating ways to raise money for Make-A-Wish so other special-needs children can enjoy a similar experience.

"I wanted to do a fashion show, or a bake sale," she said.

In her direct, no-nonsense style, Courtney set about realizing her goal by writing the following a press release, using a large marker: "Hi. My name is Courtney and I have a brothr and he has speshool needs and I love him so I am goen to help donate this too thr chilgrin for Mack A Wish. That is my story and I need your help."

Courtney and Christopher's parents spend most of their days taking care of Christopher, but also work hard to support the family. Mindy works two jobs, including working at The Retreat Day Spa in Corvallis. Debbie Day, owner of the Retreat, said she's been astonished at the dedication the Driscolls show toward Christopher.

"They've stayed together through some tough times," Day said. "They're really supportive of each other."

Mindy said life with Christopher is a bit of a roller coaster. Doctors didn't expect him to walk or talk, but he now does both. But his medical problems are often unexpected, and dangerous, including emergency brain surgery.

"They can't give me an outlook on his life (expectancy)," Mindy said of the doctors she works with. "It's a day-by-day thing."

Day has held a number of fundraisers at the spa, and collects money by selling bracelets that she puts in the "Mindy fund." She's also helping the family as they try and organize a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish, based on Courtney's desire to help other children.

While they're still trying to establish a date for Courtney's fundraiser, the effort to help the Driscoll family at The Retreat is on-going. To help, you can stop by The Retreat at 777 Ninth St., Suite 200.