January 2011
Disable the Label
by Karen Unternahrer, Coordinator of Respite Care Services, Arc Opportunities, Inc.
Phone: 260-463-4901 • Fax 888-439-6528 • The Hometown Treasure
The Gift Of Time
“Too much love never spoils children. Children
become spoiled when we substitute presents for
presence.” – Having just celebrated Christmas with the
traditional gift giving, this quote from Dr. Anthony P.
Witham caught my attention. The story of Little Annie
(1866-1936) validates in a dramatic way the premise
of Dr. Witham’s words.
Annie was just a young girl when she was labeled as
hopelessly insane. Bizarre behaviors landed the little girl
in the dungeon of a mental institution on the outskirts
of Boston, Massachusetts. Unpredictable, Annie
was locked away in her “cage;” at times motionless,
appearing as though in a daze while at other times
viciously attacking anyone who ventured too close.
With the exception of meal times when someone
cautiously slid a bowl of food between the bars, Little
Annie spent her time alone.
One nurse looked past the label Annie bore and
refused to give up hope. Her simple aspiration was to,
in some way, communicate love to this little girl. The
elderly woman chose daily to take her lunch break in
the dungeon just outside Annie’s cage. One day she
left a brownie within reach with no response from the
girl. When she saw the next day that it was gone she
began bringing Little Annie a brownie every Thursday.
As weeks turned into months, the doctors observed
changes in Annie that eventually led them to move her
upstairs and, in time, release her altogether. Having
become a young woman by then, Annie chose to remain
and help others. In her new role as a nurse at this
institution, Annie tended others who, like herself, were
sometimes known only by the label of their diagnosis.
One such child who received the benefit of Annie’s
time and attention was Helen Keller. Little Annie’s full
name was Anne Sullivan.
Regardless of a person’s mental, medical,
developmental diagnosis (or lack thereof) time spent
interacting with others is imperative to one’s overall
good health. Yet time can be difficult to find; the busyness of life, even all the good activities one is involved
in, can easily crowd it out on the calendar. Time is not
a tangible item to be placed in a box with a pretty bow
and a gift tag attached. Oh, that it were that simple!
In many circles, respite care is referred to as “The
Gift of Time” for families who include someone with a
disability. Respite care is the planned temporary care
of an individual with a disability when the primary
caregiver is not available or simply needs a break.
The demands of constant care can be taxing on the
caregiver and other family members in several ways.
Respite care may benefit according to the specific
needs of the family and the individual with a disability.
The most common reason given for a family’s use of
respite care is time. The need to spend time alone or
together, at home or far away, catching up on that “To
Do” list or catching up on some ZZZZZs.
Time is of the essence. So, the next time you are
reminded of presents under the tree, schedule into
your date book a way to give the gift of time and watch
for those subtle changes to occur. Your presence with
someone may have a larger impact than you realize.
Page 26
Topeka Town Council
by Justin Geigley
The council also approved buying one valve lock for
12/13/2010 - The meeting began with the council
passing three resolutions. The first was to reduce the water department. The lock will allow a business to
the budget by approximately ??????????Q???????????????????????????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????I??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)?????? ??????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????????????? ??????)??????????????)e???????M????????????????????????????????????]???1???????????????????Q?????????)?????????????????????????????Q???????????????????????????????????)%??????????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????????)???????????????????)???????????((0