Playing for a Cure: BHS Teen Takes Action for Student with Rare Disorder
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: February 5, 2013
BLOOMINGTON- District 87 senior Abby Durfee likes to help others.
So when she got the opportunity to peer tutor students with special needs she took it.
"They're always so happy," said Durfee. "That's one of the things I love about them especially Stevie."
Durfee assisted students like Steven Barnett with a variety of tasks.
Barnett, diagnosed with a metabolic disorder called Sanfilippo syndrome, couldn't break down sugar molecules in his body.
The buildup causes cell damage and destroys part of the brain.
"Steven was functioning at a cognitive level of a six to nine month old child," explained his mother Valerie Barnett.
Barnett says Durfee made her child feel accepted.
"It brings me a lot of joy to know that my son who was operating at an infant cognitive level went to school and had friends and relationships like any other normal kid," said Barnett.
"You get to know the kids, they're not that different," added Durfee.
When Barnett's health took a turn for the worse, Durfee wanted to make a difference.
"I couldn't do nothing," said Durfee. "I couldn't sit there and watch him get sicker."
So she organized fundraisers during two basketball games hoping to get enough money for pay for Steven's medication.
"Some of the freshman women basketball players actually walked around with a jar during the game," Durfee recalls.
But Steven never saw the games play out, because he passed away before they took place.
So Durfee decided to donate the money to his mother for Sanflippo research instead.
"We're sad, but Stevie's going to live on through the work that we do and through Abby's life, and what she's going to become," said Barnett. "I'm just so anxious to see her grow and the changes she's going to make in the world because she is such an awesome kid."
Slam Dunk Support:
The basketball games raised a total of $1,200 Sanfilippo research.
So when she got the opportunity to peer tutor students with special needs she took it.
"They're always so happy," said Durfee. "That's one of the things I love about them especially Stevie."
Durfee assisted students like Steven Barnett with a variety of tasks.
Barnett, diagnosed with a metabolic disorder called Sanfilippo syndrome, couldn't break down sugar molecules in his body.
The buildup causes cell damage and destroys part of the brain.
"Steven was functioning at a cognitive level of a six to nine month old child," explained his mother Valerie Barnett.
Barnett says Durfee made her child feel accepted.
"It brings me a lot of joy to know that my son who was operating at an infant cognitive level went to school and had friends and relationships like any other normal kid," said Barnett.
"You get to know the kids, they're not that different," added Durfee.
When Barnett's health took a turn for the worse, Durfee wanted to make a difference.
"I couldn't do nothing," said Durfee. "I couldn't sit there and watch him get sicker."
So she organized fundraisers during two basketball games hoping to get enough money for pay for Steven's medication.
"Some of the freshman women basketball players actually walked around with a jar during the game," Durfee recalls.
But Steven never saw the games play out, because he passed away before they took place.
So Durfee decided to donate the money to his mother for Sanflippo research instead.
"We're sad, but Stevie's going to live on through the work that we do and through Abby's life, and what she's going to become," said Barnett. "I'm just so anxious to see her grow and the changes she's going to make in the world because she is such an awesome kid."
Slam Dunk Support:
The basketball games raised a total of $1,200 Sanfilippo research.
