Staff writer
ST. PETERSBURG – Eight-year-old Megan Ortz has always enjoyed being outdoors, and she used to love going on bike rides with her maternal grandmother, Anne Ortz, who would take Megan to the bike trails in Emlenton and Parker.
But those bike rides weren’t spur of the moment, jump in and go, events.
Megan had to ride using a bike trailer.
“Megan loved being able to do that, enjoying the time with her grandmother and the time spent biking outdoors,” said Megan’s mother, Miranda Ortz. “Unfortunately, she outgrew the bike trailer and we have been unable to find anything that would work since then.”
Miranda Ortz has since learned of “Friendship Circle” and its “Great Bike Give-Away” program and hopes her daughter can win an adaptive bicycle tailored to her needs from the group.
But Megan needs some help.
‘Friendship Circle’
According to its website, Friendship Circle of Michigan is a non-profit organization affiliated with Lubavitch of Michigan. Its goal is to provide every individual with special needs the support friendship and inclusion they deserve.
Friendship Circle provides assistance and support to 3,000 individuals with special needs and their families by providing recreational, social, educational and vocational programming.
Megan’s story
Megan has been diagnosed with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy due to complications at birth.
Although it is generally caused by damage to the basal ganglia or cerebellum, all of the tests have shown no physical damage to any parts of her brain.
This specific type of Cerebral Palsy is characterized by slow, involuntary, and writhing movements as well as facial spasms and drooling. It also causes mixed tone, which causes problems with things such as walking, gripping, and speaking as her muscles fluctuate between too tight and too loose.
“Megan’s specific effects are physical in nature: she is unable to walk unassisted – though she is working on it, and has come a long way – she cannot feed herself using any silverware and often has problems feeding herself with her fingers,” explained her mother. “She cannot perform basic hygiene maintenance on herself, such as bathing, brushing her teeth, going to the bathroom by herself, she cannot dress herself; she is completely nonverbal, and has not had much success with assistive communication devices.
“She also has seizures linked to her Cerebral Palsy. But her mind remains unaffected, and she demonstrates an understanding of directions, concepts, words, and how things work.”
Megan is a student at Keystone Elementary School’s multi-disabled classroom.
Due to her Cerebral Palsy, she is forced to endure extra doctors’ appointments, appointments with specialists and neurologists, she goes to a special school, receives three different types of therapy a week (physical, occupational, and speech), additional testing (EEGs, MRIs, CT scans, blood work, genetic testing), adaptive equipment (a wheelchair, a walker, and ankle-foot orthotics), and all of the physical limitations that come with her diagnosis.
“But despite all of this, she has worked harder than any other child I have met, and she has made more progress than anyone expected when she was born,” said Miranda Ortz. “It is really hard for her to find enjoyable activities that she is able to participate in. This (adaptive bike) would once again give her the opportunity to do something she loves, to get out of the house and into nature, and to get away from all the demands and limitations placed on her by her diagnosis.
“It would also help her with some of her physical therapy, including the motion of pedaling, steering, using her hands to hold on and to use the brakes.”
How you can help Megan get a bike
“This sounds corny, or like a Hallmark card, but it would literally mean giving the world to my daughter,” Miranda Ortz said of the family’s hope of obtaining an adaptive bike. “This charity accomplishes that for not only Megan, but for 600 other kids who have special needs, and they have been doing it since 2012.”
Miranda Ortz works as a personal care aide through County Homemakers of Clarion. Megan’s stepfather, Mitchell Conner, is employed as a residential aide through TTSR.
The couple is expecting a son in June.
To learn more about the “Great Bike Give-Away” program, visit http://www.friendshipcircle.org/bikes/
You can search for Megan’s page from that webpage.
You can access Megan’s page directly and donate to her application at http://www.friendshipcircle.org/bikes/2016/03/megan-o-2/