BY MICHAEL BALLWAY
NEWS STAFF WRITER
He looks like a one-month-old, but David St. Denis is actually seven times that age.
Nearly one-quarter of his life has been spent in a hospital. He has five heart defects and a chromasomal deficiency syndrome. Yet his mother Kathleen, gently cradling her sleeping son in her arms, has nothing but pride for her baby. She knows he is too happy to realize how sick he is. He doesnt even know he has a rough life, she says.
On a recent Wednesday afternoon, she and her husband Norman were too happy to dwell on anything but the support they have received from the Auburn community. On May 19, they visited Auburn High School to thank the boys and girls track teams, who recently raised $1,292 to help cover Davids medical expenses.
Auburns student-athletes seemed just as thankful to finally meet their beneficiary. The encounter reinforced their own pride and satisfaction in their community service efforts.
It feels really good to give back, said Dan Hickey, 17, a junior on the boys track team. He explained that to raise money for David, track athletes stood at corners on Southbridge Street (Route 12) soliciting donations from drivers and passers-by. Kaitlyn DiBuono, 14, a freshman on the girls track team, was amazed at how many were willing to contribute. There were some really nice people, she said. Somebody gave $20.
Hickey agreed. Everyone seemed to give as much as they could afford, he said. Everyone was really generous, because the whole family is from around here.
When David was born, Oct. 14, 2003, he was diagnosed with the Tetralogy of Fallot, a group of four heart defects that often occur together. He also had Pulmonary Artesia a missing pulmonary valve on his heart and DiGeorge Syndrome, a genetic disorder that already manifests itself in developmental delays, poor muscle tone, low calcium, a weakened immune system and increased chance of seizures.
As the St. Denis family Medical bills have topped $1 million, with no end in sight. Insurance helps, but it does not cover everything. For instance, prescriptions cost the family $250 per month out of pocket their plight was suggested to AHS Athletic Director William Garneau as a possible community service project. For the last two years, ever since he began working as athletic director, Garneau has asked each high school sports team to hold a community service event. In addition to helping a good cause, he said, it also builds team camaraderie and lets Auburn residents see teen-agers doing good.
Karyn Ferdella, the girls track coach, said her team embraced this fund-raiser. That much was evident by the runners excitement at finally being able to meet David, but they were not the only ones beaming.Ive never been as proud of them as I was that moment, Ferdella said of the May 15 fund-raising date. She said her student-athletes took the extra step of finding new places to solicit donations, even going door-to-door at some businesses. At the same time, helpful community members were exceeding her expectations.
We were going out and replacing the [collection] cans, she noted. People were so generous.
Whats more, the AHS students soliciting donations that Saturday were out on the street at a time when many of their peers may have been sleeping off the senior prom, which had taken place the night before.
Mr. St. Denis, who serves as a tennis coach at Quabbin Regional High School in Barre, said he was impressed by Garneaus community service program. This season, the tennis teams served as dates and escorts for senior citizens at the Seniors Senior Prom; the softball team helped out with the National Association of Letter Carriers food drive May 8; and the baseball team will help with lights installation at Lemansky Park. I think its a great idea, Mr. St. Denis said. It goes along with the theory of what sports are supposed to be about at the high school level: citizenship and sportsmanship. He said he appreciated the athletes sacrifice. We know how teen-agers are, and to get up early on a Saturday morning
.
Thanks to modern medicine, those teen-agers will have the chance to watch David grow and see the life their Saturday morning helped to ease. Mr. St. Denis said that although David has already gone through open-heart surgery and two additional heart surgeries, the doctors are confident in his chances. Mrs. St. Denis said she knows her son is a survivor. Hes always smiling, she remarked. Hes very happy. I would think hes going to do well. The care he gets in Boston at Childrens Hospital is excellent. She noted that recently, David has started laughing, and continues to enjoy his swing set and bouncy chair.
His development still lags behind most youngsters, however. At seven months, David still cannot lift his own head, nor does he have the strength to grip toys with his hands. He will continue to need medication and physical therapy, at the very least.
The St. Denis family knows, however, that they will always have a cheering section among this years track stars. It means so much to us, we really appreciate it, Mrs. St. Denis said. Its not just the monetary help, but also the kids giving their time.
What a tough little boy!
