Schuylkill County Society

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1) Why did you seek the help of the United Way? Which agencies were you involved with?

I was born with cerebral palsy and a bilateral foot deformity. I received help from UCP, now Avenues, and the Crippled Children Society.

2) What did you hope to accomplish with the help of these agencies?

Basically I just wanted to be a productive member of society and to be as normal as possible. I wanted to accomplish as much mobility as I could and to be as independent as possible. My ultimate goal was to be independent.

3) What types of treatment did you receive?

At Crippled Children, I started with a doctor who came in from Dupont where I received physical therapy and had three surgeries to correct my foot problems. I basically was learning how to walk better.

At UCP, I went into their daycare program to learn how to prepare for normal school.

4) How long did you receive treatments from these two United Way agencies?

I was enrolled in the UCP daycare up until school, but I received therapy from Crippled Children until I was 18 or 19, right before college.

5) Now that you're done with therapy, how are you getting around? Did you achieve what you originally hoped to?

I get around great. I've achieved my original goals and so much more. I got an associate's degree in multimedia internet production from Central Penn College near Harrisburg (that includes web design, video production, editing, and graphic design) and then I went back for my bachelor's degree in corporate communication, which includes public relations, advertising, and media relations.

6) What are you doing now? Why did you decide to move back to Schuylkill County?

I came back home and did an internship with the Schuylkill County Republican Committee, heading their public relations committee. I've done everything from arranging dinners with the attorney general to answering phones and stuffing envelopes.

I came back home because I enjoy politics and I want to see what I could do to improve Schuylkill County. I see what potential the county has and I want to do what I can to tap into that.

7) Where would you be without the United Way?

I don't know where I'd be without the Schuylkill United Way. I wouldn't have gotten the therapy I needed, or made the connections with the doctor. I owe a lot to the United Way and its agencies. If it wasn't for the Schuylkill United Way overall, I wouldn't be in the position I am today.

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1) Mr. DeWald, tell us Michael's story. What happened when he was born?

He was born in Reading, PA, 10 weeks premature with an open valve in his heart. He needed surgery to close the valve. Surgery was only done in Hershey

at the time.

2) What did that mean for Michael?

His symptoms were: he had low oxygen levels and had a hard time responding to stimulation and staying awake. He needed to be transported to Hershey from Reading and we didn't have the money for the ambulance. The United Way helped us to cover the cost of the ambulance ride so we could get him his surgery. Whatever the insurance didn't pay to transport him to Hershey and back, the UW stepped in and helped.

3) Once he had surgery, what kind of treatment did Michael need, and where did you find the treatment?

How did you find out about UCP/Avenues and how did they help?

Michael needed lots of physical therapy, along with the cardiologist and doctor visits. Through the hospital, we set up physical therapy and family counseling with UCP, now Avenues. That was the best part about UCP—they not only cared for Michael, they gave the entire family counseling on how to handle a premature baby with complications. People really do help. For three years, the counselor and therapist came to the house.

4) What did you hope to achieve for Michael's future? Did you accomplish that?

For the most part, we just wanted Michael to be a normal kid. He just wanted to be normal and do the things that normal kids do and fit in. Michael's now living the way other kids do—he's getting A's and playing football and basketball—just regular kids playing regular sports.

5) Are there any precautions you have to take because of Michael's condition?

He's quicker to pass out because of lack of oxygen, and there's always the potential for a heart attack, but the best thing about the United Way is that they prepared us for those possibilities, even though they're rare. So the United Way was a huge comfort factor for us as well as Michael.

6) Dale, you recently became a Pacesetter for the United Way. Why? Why is it so important for you to give something back?

I wanted to make an impact like they made an impact on me. Without them, my son wouldn't have same chances he has now.