Support group is godsend to parents

Two mothers share their experiences in the support group.
EAST FAIRFIELD -- Personal connections make the difference for two families who participate in the Guardian Angels Support Group at East Fairfield United Methodist Church.
Cindy Bussard of Columbiana attends the program with her sons, Duane, 15, who has attention deficit hyperactive disorder and also has seizures, and Leighton, 12, who also has ADHD.
"I heard about it through a friend," Bussard said. "I was looking for a support group to help me with IEP [Individual Education Plan], and I got what I needed here," she said.
The group is sponsoring free training sessions from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the church for teachers, caretakers, professional and parents of children with disabilities. The programs cover a range of topics including family, educational and legal issues. They are being presented by Tina White of the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities.
"The group offers a lot of emotional support," Bussard said. "Sometimes I think I've had a difficult day, then someone tells me about theirs and it's worse. We try to help out each other."
Parties
At the Jesus parties, parents pitch in with crafts, games and kitchen duty. "We have informal discussions," Bussard said of those times. "The group has been small, and recently got bigger. It's a good thing to meet and talk to new people."
When the family first attended the events, Bussard acknowledged her sons resisted it. "Now they look forward to it. There are kids their age there."
And she said she has seen some changes and improvements in her sons' behaviors. "I've seen them help other kids with the same problem," she said because they can relate to them. "And I've seen them helping some of the autistic kids."
Her older son, who isn't fond of homework, recently was helping another boy with a school assignment. "I never saw him do that before," Bussard said.
Also participating are Mary Flynn of East Palestine and her 7-year-old daughter, Shannon, who was diagnosed with central precocious puberty.
"I've been here since it started," Flynn said. Flynn knew Kelli Harding, the support group founder, through a preschool connection.
Flynn said she knew something was amiss when Shannon was just 31/2 months old. Having been through a diagnosis of cancer in 1986 and ensuing treatment herself, Flynn said she knew the importance of detecting a problem early.
"Her bone age at 41/2 months was 11/2 years old," Flynn said, and tests revealed Shannon was experiencing early onset puberty.
Treatment to delay puberty involves a once-a-month dose of a potent medication. "A pharmaceutical company told me she was the youngest ever diagnosed with this so the long-term effects [of the drug] aren't known," Flynn said.
Shared experiences
"The support group gives you someone to talk to, listen to and pray with," Flynn said. "And I've shared my own experience ... keep a paper trail of every test and result. I think that has helped other mothers who didn't think to do that."
"I think of the support group as my extended family. We're close. We can call each other and be there for each other," Flynn said.
Flynn, who is a member of Rogers Community Free Methodist Church, said "faith has helped me, and faith holds me together."
After her bout with cancer and at 41, Flynn gave birth to Shannon. "It was God's timing," she said. "God gave her to me so I would keep fighting."
Shannon knows she has to have the injections, but the whole explanation of why will come when she can understand, Flynn said. "Shannon likes going to the support group. She loves the kids and looks forward to the interaction.
"She's very attentive to other kids, especially those with physical problems. She is protective of them and compassionate," Flynn said of her daughter who has expressed interest in becoming a doctor. "The group gives her a sense of belonging."