DIANE MAKAR MURPHY Child's first words brought tears to mom's eyes

Red-haired, perfectly proportioned, 5 years old and -- today, at least -- in constant motion, Gregory Sultan is an ambassador for the Angels of Easter Seals. What a big title for such a little guy.
And a big job, too. For a year, Gregory is charged with attending boccie tournaments, fashion shows, photo shoots, luncheons and more to publicize what the Easter Seal Society has done for disabled adults and children ... what the society has done for him.
"They've done so much for us; I said, we have to give back," Chris Sultan, Gregory's mother, said.
By the time Gregory was 18 months old, Chris and her husband, George, were concerned about his development. There was no question Gregory was a smart little boy; when he sat on George's lap while sharing a picture book, he could point at the objects George identified. But Gregory didn't talk. According to George, the most he would muster was a pointing finger and an "Ah, ah, ah!"
"I worked in a doctor's office at the time. My friend, the nurse there, suggested we go to Easter Seals and have Gregory tested," Chris said.
What's offered: For more than 80 years, the Easter Seal Society has worked to increase the independence of disabled children and adults. Its main services include rehabilitation, job training, employment, child care, adult day services, camping and recreation. More than a million people have been helped by the nonprofit organization. Gregory was about to become one of them.
"They did more than just test him for speech," George said. "They identified the ways in which Gregory was behind. They found a muscle that wasn't fully developed."
Gregory was diagnosed as having developmental apraxia and severe expressive language deficit. "It was as if he had had a stroke," Chris explained. "We would have to teach him to use certain muscles to speak."
Chris took Gregory to speech therapy at the Easter Seal Society every week. At night, she and George practiced with Gregory. "We worked with him on and off all the time, practicing sounds, putting his hand on my throat, then his, so that he could feel the sounds," Chris said.
Though George thought Gregory's being able to talk was inevitable, Chris acknowledged being afraid. "It was a lot of work," she said, "and we were very patient. But I was worried he'd never talk."
Breakthrough: It was a full year before Gregory said his first word, at about 3 years of age.
"Dig!" he said as a speech therapist pointed at a piece of construction equipment in a Richard Scarry picture book. Chris started crying, along with several Easter Seal personnel.
"I ran right to the mall and bought that book," she said.
Another year of work, and Gregory could say almost 50 words. Chris wondered when sentences would come, and the therapist suggested it would take a 50-word vocabulary before that could happen.
Eventually, she heard these words: "I love you, Mommy."
The difference: Today, Gregory continues in Easter Seal therapy and is a pupil at their preschool. His father said he has seen Gregory go from withdrawn "and hanging around us" to someone who's eager to play with other children.
Because Gregory prematurely lost his front four teeth, he's still in speech therapy and has a new set of exercises, focusing on his "f" and "th" sounds.
"I can't wait till he gets those teeth," Chris said. "It will make such a difference."
In the meantime, Gregory will continue with his Angels ambassador schedule, sometimes joined by co-ambassador D.J. Kredel. As part of Angels of Easter Seals 24th Annual Spring Fashion Show and Luncheon, the two will accompany fellow columnist Gail White and I down a runway April 5 at Mr. Anthony's, 7440 South Ave. Several media personalities are scheduled to appear. Angels, which raises funds for the Easter Seal Society in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties, has several corporate sponsors for this year's event to include Kaufmann's and Toys "R" Us, whose stuffed animals will line the jungle-theme runway.
Such fund raising allows the Easter Seal Society to offer their services to Chris and George on a sliding scale fee schedule. "It upsets me because our insurance, Anthem, won't pay for anything like this because [Gregory] didn't have a stroke," Chris said. So she is doubly grateful for the society.
For more information or to buy tickets to see Gregory, D.J. and at least one very honored press participant, call (330) 743-1168.