It’s doesn’t seem like it’s asking for too much, but Nikole Lynn hopes to hear someday these four words from her son: “I love you Mom.” It’s not so much the meaning of the words as the actual “sound” of the words. “That’s my ultimate hope…perhaps it’s a pipe dream,” the Versailles mother of four says.

SUBMITTED PHOTO
Jaxson Lynn, 2, can only say a few words due to an oral and motor impairment called Apraxia.

She and husband Alexander’s youngest child, Jaxson, was born with Apraxia, a severe oral and motor impairment. It basically means the 2½-year-old does not have the ability to speak. The child knows what he or she wants to say, but his brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words.

Jaxson also has a rare chromosome mutation that only six others in the world have. Medical experts aren’t sure what that will mean for his future.

Having four others children, (two are in college, one is eight years old, and a third relative, Gabe, just a few months younger than Jaxson whom they have guardianship over), Nikole had a mother’s instinct and knew something was not right with Jaxson in the beginning . He never cooed or babbled, laughed, or looked at anyone. And, he wasn’t eating or swallowing right. Doctors thought he was autistic. At 15 months, he had an epileptic seizure. He has severe epilepsy, but further testing resulted in the Apraxia diagnosis as well. “I accepted it. I was glad they figured it out,” Nikole said, and acknowledged there was a grieving process as they realized his future. “I didn’t realize how much verbal is part of everyday life,” she added.

Jaxson’s brain works just fine. Learning is not affected, and he seems bright for his age. “His learning is perfect,” she said. “He just can’t get the words out of his mouth,” she explained.

It’s frustrating to not know what her little boy wants. “I would love it if he could tell me what he wants, what is going on. Like if he’s thirsty, or he has to go the potty. You take these things for granted,” she said. But, that doesn’t mean these parents are not going to do all they can for this child. The key, mom has learned with this affliction, is early intervention. “If you wait too long, he can lose 50 percent of ability to learn and will be behind,” she says.

Good news
The great news, they learned recently, is Jaxson has been accepted at St. Rita School for the Deaf in Cincinnati. The reputable school has a mix of children with special needs, half being deaf. And, after visiting several times, they were thrilled at how the children readily accepted one another. She wants that learning environment for her son. It’s the only school in the country that has a program for Apraxia, and they feel fortunate they live in the region. “Ultimately, we want him to be a productive happy citizen, but he needs the proper education to get there,” Nikole said.

The school awarded Jaxson most of the $34,000 annual tuition fee, but the Lynns have to still get him there daily, about an hour away, and pay another $2,000 in fees. It doesn’t seem like much, but for a family already struggling to make ends meet, it’s a looming fear. Alexander works at Hitachi Power Metal in Greensburg, and she has to stay home to take care of Jaxson as daycares won’t accept him. “We don’t have a choice,” Nikole says.

School doesn’t start until September, so in the meantime, the family is learning sign language and trying to come up with the means for $80 a week extra for gasoline and the fees. However, Church on the Rock, has coordinated a fundraiser to help the family. It’s a spaghetti dinner this Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Jaxson is quite animated and shows joy in facial expressions. For now, mom and dad will happily take that. “I think it was just a fluke that it happened, but I’m glad he was given to us,”Nikole said. The couple is trying to show their son the depth of love by doing all they can to help him be happy. Afterall, sometimes actions speak louder than words.

Benefit for Jaxson Friday

A benefit “Shout it Out for Jaxson” will be held Friday for Jaxson Lynn. The spaghetti dinner benefit will be held at Church on the Rock, on US 50, Versailles, from 4 to 7 p.m. Proceeds will help pay for school transportation and lunch costs at St. Rita School for the Deaf. In addition, the public may donate online at http://www.youcaring.com/tuition-fundraiser/shout-it-out-for-jasxon/190341 .


Water rates could rise for Osgood

Cathy May
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
clippmay@comcast.net

At the June 17 Osgood Town Board meeting, it was announced that the Holton Water Corporation will be transitioning over to Hoosier Hills Regional Water this week between June 24 and June 27. The Holton Water Corporation purchases 27 percent of water that the Town of Osgood sells. The Osgood Journal asked what effect this will have on the remaining water customers. Town Board president Linda Krinop stated that they do not have all the information to determine the effects yet, but it will more than likely cause an increase in rates.

Street Department
Steve Wilhoit stated the U. S. 421 N. sidewalk project is ahead of schedule. There were some curb issues, but they will be addressed. Johannigman Excavating Pay Estimate #1 was approved for the U. S. 421 N. sidewalk project in the amount of $100,257.83 with retainage of $5,276.73. The rest of the new blue street signs will be going up in the next few weeks.

Drainage Issues
Wilhoit had been contacted about some storm drain issues on Leslie and Morris Streets. On Morris Street, [behind the JayC Store] that subdivision was built by a private person and the road was given to the town. The town did not have any say in the drainage for those properties. A lot of the issues are on private property and there is not a lot the Town of Osgood can do. Wilhoit has contacted Al Stong with Commonwealth Engineers to look at the problems and was told there will be grant funding for up to $500,000 for next year that the town could pursue. Stong will be in Osgood on July 1 at 9 a.m. to discuss water issues and water plant changes. United Community Bank contacted Wilhoit about the possibility of the town using the Jetter to unclog the homeowner’s culvert behind their new building from construction. The street department will take care of that.

New Structure
The gas, water and sewer departments would like to build a structure to hold sand and gravel. The cost would be $1,500. The cost will be divided equally among the three department budgets. Town employees will do the work to build the structure.

Gas Department
Steve Wilhoit stated they have done their first winter hedge at 15 percent. (Businesses that need to buy significant quantities of natural gas can hedge against rising natural gas prices by taking up a position in the natural gas futures market.) The lock-in price will be between $4.60-$4.90 mcs (a thousand cubic feet). “This is a good price.” said Wilhoit, “In 2009 the price was $6.” There will be no other hedges until the middle of fall and then they will price 45 percent to 50 percent of gas used. Wilhoit had a meeting with Badger Meter concerning handheld meter reading devices. The company the town is currently using, Datamatic, filed bankruptcy and will no longer work with the gas meters. If a couple pieces of equipment are bought, the Datamatic remote reads will work with the Badger system. Wilhoit will be getting prices.

Negangard Enterprises
Retroactive to June 11, The Town of Osgood agrees that Negangard Enterprises Inc. shall mow, clear, trim, clean up and haul away debris, pursuant to Ordinances 2009-13 and 2008-4 from parcels within the town that violate these ordinances. The Town will record the necessary vegetation liens to collect the costs on behalf of the contractor.

Osgood Fire Department
Osgood Fire Chief Shawn Negangard gave Run Totals for the months of April and May. April: 1st response runs–12, Mutual Aid– 2, Fire–2, Landing Zone–1; May : Accidents-1, 1st response– 16, Mutual Aid-2, Fire–1, Landing Zone–1.
Attorney Mary Ann Gay auctioned off the 2006 Yamaha Rhino 660. Bids started at $4,500. John Bloom was the only bidder and purchased the Rhino for $4,500.

Present at the meeting were council members Linda Krinop, DeDee Holliday and Norman Kappes. Clerk-Treasurer Tammy Wilhoit and Attorney Mary Ann Gay were present to advise the Council. The next regular meeting of the Osgood Town Council will be Tuesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. at the Osgood Town Hall.



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