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Worthington first grader receives good news

By Halea Franklin A GENEROUS GIFT: Aubree Miller, 7, of Worthington, will soon be receiving an augmentative communication device from the Rainbows for Rachel charity. A charity dinner will be March 12 in Carmel to raise funds for the $11,000 communication device.

WORTHINGTON -- A Worthington girl has recently been selected to receive something that could quite possibly change her life -- an augmentative communications device.

Aubree Miller, a 7 year old who is in the first grade at White River Valley-Worthington, suffers from cerebral palsy which affects her muscles and prohibits her from walking and talking. Her muscles are not coordinated enough for her to use her breath and allow her tongue and lips to form words clearly.

Aubree is receiving the communication device through a charity called "Rainbows for Rachel" and the Rachel Elizabeth McCoige Toy Lending Library at Riley's Hospital for Children.

In order to raise funds for the $11,000 communication device, the charity is sponsoring its fourth annual Rainbows for Rachel Benefit Dinner and Auction March 12 with a silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner beginning at 6:45 p.m.

All proceeds will help support Rachel's Augmentative Communication Toy Lending Library at Riley's Hospital for Children, the Cornelia De Lange Syndrome (CdLS) Foundation as well as helping pay for Aubree's communication device.

The communication device will allow Aubree to better communicate with her family.

Aubree is the daughter of Chuck and Sandy Miller of Worthington. She has two sisters, Paige, 18, and Lydia, 11.

Her mother, Sandy, said she currently uses hand motions when she is hungry or thirsty.

It would also allow Aubree to better communicate at school. She could even complete her homework using the communication board.

"At school, she's making all A's," Sandy said. "It's hard to imagine how she would do if she could talk."

Sandy said that attending full days of school, as opposed to half of a day, has benefited Aubree. Sandy said her speech has improved since attending school.

"The kids love her," Sandy said. "Sometimes they're too protective and try to do everything for her."

Sandy said that Aubree has made friends at school, while adding that she has two best friends.

"She lights up when she sees either one of them," she said.

Aubree's speech therapist from Riley's Hospital for Children, Phyllis Watson, contacted the charity and submitted Aubree's name.

Rainbows for Rachel was started by the parents of Rachel McCoige in 2002. Rachel, who passed away Dec. 26, 2002, suffered from CdLS.

Rachel's mother, Rhonda, said she and her husband began doing fundraisers in 2002. They donated the money they collected for CdLS research. Rachel passed away in December 2002 and the McCoige's decided to continue raising money for the CdLS foundation and also for the Lending Library at Riley's Hospital for Children. The McCoige's also decided that if there was a child who used the lending library and was in need of a piece of equipment, they would help out.

Rhonda said it feels good to be able to help others.

"It's great because we kind of know with having Rachel that so many things aren't covered by insurance, they're so expensive," Rhonda said. "We decided if we could help another family not have to decide to give up other things they need in order to buy a piece of medical equipment, it was something we wanted to do.

"It's amazing how expensive some medical things children need are."

Sandy is thrilled to be receiving a gift like this.

"It's beyond words," Sandy said. "There's no way we could come up with $11,000."

Sandy noted that the communication board is just one example of something insurance won't cover. She noted that Aubree's speech therapy isn't covered by insurance either.

The dinner will be at the Ritz Charles in Carmel. The evening of the charity dinner will begin at 6 p.m. with a silent auction. It was last until 8:30 p.m. Dinner will begin at 6:45 p.m. Following dinner will be a live auction, band and a DJ until 11 p.m.

The cost of the dinner is $70 per person, with $35 being tax-deductible. An entire table can be reserved for $500. Reservations can be made until March 8. To reserve a spot or an entire table, send the appropriate amount of money to Rainbows For Rachel, Inc., P.O. Box 4352, Carmel, Ind. 46083. Donations can also be sent to that address.

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