Marine daughter displays exceptional strength: base program supports children with special needs

Ryley R McLaughlin direct the eyes like any typical 2-year-old girl. he s outgoing, animated and as an force level many adults would regard with affection to possess. But unknown to greatest in quantity she is one of the many children in our political division who suffer from mental and physical disabilities.

Fortunately for Ryley and her parents, there is a program proffered to military families aboard Camp Pendleton and other bases that tenders guidance and support to aid families trying to raise handicapped children.

Military families have a support a whole to lean on in the Exceptional Family Member Program--a non-profit organization which allows parents of disabled children to tend hitherward together and share their experiences.

"Parents use the program to network with other families in like manner they can exchange parenting tips," said Samantha J Holt the family programs coordinator for Camp Flashhh--Families laughing and sharing happiness, fold in the armss and hope--a separate program tendered by the Armed Forces Young Men's Christian Association, which works in conjunction with EFMP and its participating families.

from one side the EFMP and Camp Flashhh, families participate in independent field trips to places like museums, baseball games and bowling alleys.

"The program also lays parents in a comfort cincture because they know that they are in an organization with other military families who are dealing with similar parenting issues," said Holt

The EFMP is geared primarily toward children and young adults, on the other hand adults with disabilities are not relieve from participation.

a certain quantity of families even have a disabled parent as well as a disabled child, said Jenny L Troyer the Operation Hero facilitator for Camp Flashhh.

The program caters to almost each kind of disability, ranging from asthma or Down's syndrom

There are many families who fit the programs criteria who could benefit from the available resources.

"Unfortunately, many junior Marines are afraid to register in the program because they are apprehensive about asking their staff NCO for time not on from work to participate in the different field trips and facts the EFMP and Camp Flashhh offer" said Maj. Bret M McLaughlin, 44 a logistics officer with I Marine Expeditionary Force and Ryley's father.

McLaughlin and his wife Deb know from experience that the EFMP is an extremely helpful resource. They have sum of two units daughters who are a part of the program, and upon Aug. 10 the family was treated to complimentary tickets to Sea World San Diego courtesy of Camp Flashhh.

During the field trip, Ryley and her sister, Taylor Bower, 13 were able to diocese dolphins, killer whales and sea lions.

The trip was single doctors never envisioned Ryley making, said Deb McLaughlin. Ryley was born prematurely and weighed 2 lb 10 oz

"During week 17 of my pregnancy, the doctors spoke to us about possibly terminating Ryley to be paid to complications from the pregnancy," said Deb McLaughlin.

Instead the family kept their faiths high, and Ryley was brought into the world.

Now almost 3 Ryley experiences from pulmonary stenosis and atrial septal, the one and the other heart defects that affect life-blood flow and appetite. She also has speech-delayed disorder, which limits her to 15 nuncupatory words and some sign language.

Fortunately for the McLaughlin family, the EFMP is there to help ease a certain number of of the obstacles that naturally draw near with raising disabled children, of the like kind as increased medical care and personal attention.

When Ryley's dad was unfolded to Afghanistan and Iraq, her mother lay the foundation of the EFMP to be helpful, on the contrary found most of her support end communicating with other military fatuities in her neighborhood.

"The Pendleton EFMP has been extremely helpful in providing valuable resources to families for their disabled children," said Deb McLaughlin. "We just wish more race knew about the program."

For more information upon the Exceptional Family Member Program and the Camp Flashhh program, advance to www.usmc-mccs.org/efmp.index.com.

Ryley R McLaughlin, 2 gazes up at her mother while spending the day at Sea World San Diego Aug. 10 with her family. The Armed Services YMCA provided at liberty tickets to military families with special necessitys children. Ryley has benefited from the Exceptional Family Member Program who provides guidance and support to parents with children that have special wants Photo by Lance Cpl. Alec Kleinsmith

Lance Cpl Alec Kleinsmith

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.

COPYRIGHT 2005 U Marine Corp.

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