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Andrew Kriebel’s Walk For most people walking 2½ miles is nothing very special, depending on how physically fit they are, but for one 12-year old Duboistown youngster it will be a very demanding and perhaps painful task. Andrew Kriebel was born with a condition that has produced five different types of debilitating seizures. These seizures have produced in him in a condition that makes him function at just a one-year old’s level of development and has also impaired his physical movement. In 2009, Andrew began having problems with bending over and walking. It progressively got worse until he was totally dependent on people to move him. He had lost his ability to walk. This went on for 16 months. Andrew went through an array of tests at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to include, bone scans, several MRIs with and without dye & EEG's (brain scans). Andrew showed many characteristics of condition called "Angelman’s Syndrome. Those characteristics included severe seizure disorder, sleep disorder, excessive mouthing, non-verbal, easily excited, frequent laughter, wide unsteady gait, severe developmental delay, not potty trainable and not heat tolerant. "It was suggested to us by a doctor from the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital that we try a drug that was available in Canada," Dean Kriebel, father of Andrew, told Webb Weekly. "Approximately three weeks after taking the drug, Andrew started taking steps. We couldn’t believe it. His nurse and physical therapist started pushing him to get his strength back. His nurse,from Bayada Nurses, Kevin Schreckengast, walks him every day. He is now walking up to two miles per day with assistance. His nurse holds his hand in case of a seizure. His walking does not look pretty as he is pigeon toed but he is doing it." Dean said on Friday May 31, during the last week of school Andrew will complete a 2½ mile walk from his home to school All of the children in his elementary school will be lining the streets to cheer him on as they have known him since his was 6 years old. He will be leaving them to go to the South Williamsport High School next year. They all know how hard he has worked because they see him walking the playground and hallways every day. This will be a major event with 1,200 children, school staff, family and community attending. "This walk is a way that Andrew can accomplish something on his own, with a little help from his nurse, Kevin. Andrew loves to walk," Dean said "In addition to just walking, we hope that Andrew’s walk will bring about an increased awareness of the challenges of children with special needs. This is also a celebration of what Andrew has battled back to accomplish. This is his one chance to shine because he won’t have any high school graduation, no prom to go to, he’ll never be able to drive a car or ride a bike, or have no outstanding sports feat to celebrate." Dean and his wife Amy held three assemblies at Central Elementary and Rommelt Middle School two weeks ago to teach the students about Andrew and what special needs are. They showed them an inspirational video about Matt Woodrum (Google Matt Woodrum ESPN) a young boy who suffers from Cerebral Palsy. All children received a rubber wristband with askandrew.org on it so they could log on to the the website they have started ( www.askandrew.org) and discuss special needs children with parents and siblings.The day of the event all students and faculty will receive a South Side Blue and White T shirt to wear in support of Andrew. On the front is a motivational saying, "The will to succeed can overcome the greatest adversity." This is very true in Andrew's case. He refuses to quit and has overcome every adversity thrown at him during his 12 years! The Leroy O. Buck Duboistown VFW Post purchased 900 T-shirts for the event. Andrew’s 2½ mile walk begins at the Kriebel home in Duboistown at about 8:30 a.m Dean said about 90 percent of the walk will take place on West Mountain Avenue. He said that Andrew may be physically tested at some points, because he will have to negotiate some steep hills but everybody, including his nurse, believe that he is up to the task. Andrew will end his walk at the Central Elementary School at about 10 a.m. Come out, show your support and cheer Andrew on as he makes his walk to school. Dean is hopeful that many people will line the route to root Andrew on his walk of courage, hope and determination. There will be a celebration party at the Duboistown VFW that evening at 5p.m., which is open to the public. There will be food and entertainment by Lou Mauro. The Country Store in Pennsdale is donating a large pig for a pig roast as part of the celebration. "We can’t say enough about all the generosity that others have shown for Andrew and this event," Dean said. "In addition to the Country Store, we would like to thank the South Williamsport PTO for buying the wristbands and for the donuts they bought for the essay winners and of course, the Duboistown VFW in buying the T-shirts and hosting the celebration there at 5 p.m." Perhaps what best sums up what the Kriebels have gone through and how they feel about Andrew is contained in this quote by them. "Andrew's life is like a hand of poker. Sometimes your dealt pocket aces and sometimes your dealt a seven and a two. It would be easy to fold the seven and the two. Andrew has decided not to fold but play the seven and two like it is pocket aces. He will win this hand and hopefully the whole poker tournament of life." For more information about Andrew’s walk you can access the website of Andrew’s Special Kids Foundation: www.askandrew.org. |
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