The 2nd AnnualF.A.S.T. RIDEwhich was on Sunday, August 20, 2006 was another great success!

Other 2006 raffle winners:

• 2nd Prize Jasper Tavolacci - $250.00
• 3rd Prize David Thompson - $100.00
• 4th Prize Walt Snodell - $100.00
• 5th Prize Matt Zehner - $100.00

Kathy and her husband have 3 biological children, and have adopted 3 children from Russia. Sean is the youngest child and the last child to be adopted. He was abandoned by his mother at 2 days of age when she walked out of the hospital without him. She was young - 18 years old - and this was her first child. Sean spent the first 14 months of his life in a Russian hospital and the next 10 months in a Russian orphanage. He was born in Ekaterinburg which is in the Asian portion of Russia, where the Tsars were murdered.

Kathy adopted Sean at 24 mos and found out at 36 mos that he had FASD. Sean qualified for early intervention upon arriving and has been in therapy since. In addition to 3 hours daily of therapy and schooling that he has received (from the special education sector of the schools) since turning 3 years of age, Sean also has private therapies. Sean has overcome many obstacles. He has had ear tubes put in twice, and he had his tonsils and adenoids removed. He has had feeding issues, anxiety issues, self-injurious behavior, speech problems, and eye issues. We have gotten over the medical issues however he is still small for his age and is under the 3rd percentile for height. Kathy is pleased that Sean has been accepted into the local school's kindergarten and will also receive at the local school three hours of additional help each day in order to help him catch up.

In her own words, Kathy says, "We don't know what the future holds for Sean but we are trying like crazy to influence the future. His pediatric neurologist is very good and has put him on medication to reduce his anxiety and also medication that is used for Alzheimer's and Parkinson Disease to patients to promote new neural brain connections. It has been very successful and we hope that maybe some of the brain damage has been abated. In addition, he has prescribed some over the counter medication that includes the spice Turmeric which is a natural anti-inflammatory. Some of the latest research has found that the children with FASD has inflamed brains and by decreasing the inflammation behavior improves. We see that as well. And all though it would have been great to keep the Harley Davidson the money will be very well spent in providing future therapy for Sean. It will take quite a while if we see if what we have done significantly changes his life but for right now he is one happy little boy. Who greets everyone and gives them a big hug. I hope we win this battle."