Limestone County March of Dimes Ambassador Hopes for an Extreme Home Makeover

By Glenni Lorick

Two-and-a-half year old Chesney Forsyth, daughter of Kari and Jeremiah Forsyth of Athens was born on April 1, 2005 at 26 weeks of gestation. Kari had an incompetent cervix. She had lost a previous pregnancy at 17 weeks, so at 16 weeks her doctor put a stitch in her cervix and placed her on bedrest. Nevertheless, her cervix began to efface, so she spent four weeks in the antepartum unit at Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children. Kari was able to come home, but within a week of her homecoming, labor had begun.

When Chesney was born, she weighed only 1 lb. 12 oz., and was 13 inches long. She remained in the NICU for 72 days; she was on the ventilator for the first 40 days of her life. Even when she finally did come home, she was still on oxygen and monitors.

By the time she was 8 months old, Kari knew that something wasn’t right with Chesney. In October of 2005, she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. But Chesney is a fighter! According to her mom, “Even though she has CP, that doesn’t stop her from what she wants. Chesney is considered to have mild CP. She doesn’t walk on her own yet, but she can walk in her gait trainer. We have a new brace on her now that I hope will help with her sitting and walking. She can say some words, but she is so strong, and works so hard to do what she wants to do.”

About the time that Chesney was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Kari began to get involved with the March of Dimes. Although Kari has been told that she shouldn’t have any more children, she wants to help other moms be able to avoid the problems that prematurity inevitably brings. She hopes that it won’t be long before the March of Dimes helps researchers come up with new ways to prevent prematurity. This year Chesney is the Limestone County March of Dimes ambassador.

Several months ago, her local March of Dimes coordinator contacted her to tell her that Extreme Makeover Home Edition is teaming up with March of Dimes in 12 states this coming year. One of them is Alabama! The local coordinator suggested that she apply, so she did. She received a letter from one of the producers asking her to produce a video of their house and explain why they need a new one.
Right now the Forsyth family lives in an old house that just doesn’t have the room they need for Chesney’s therapy. For example, there is no long hallway for Chesney to practice walking in her gait trainer. Furthermore, the bathroom is so small, that even when she does begin to walk using a walker, she won’t be able to go to the bathroom alone. Currently Chesney goes to therapy at the Huntsville Hospital Pediatric Therapy department four times a week for speech, physical, occupational and pool therapies. If she could do some of the therapy in her home, it would be a huge help.

Anyone who wants to nominate her for the makeover can do so by filling out and sending in the nomination form found at here. Valley Babies wishes the Forsyth family the best of luck! If you would like to contact Kari directly, you can email her.