By Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor and David Kilby, Correspondent

In Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, faculty chose to use the proceeds from the Joseph A. Mazzella Memorial Respect Life Educational Grant to sponsor a Respect Life Week with the goal of furthering the students’ knowledge and  appreciation for people with special needs.

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 “We wanted our teaching in the classroom to come alive through speakers and programs that would present clear and accurate information on what it is like to have a disability and the unique gifts that special needs children and adults bring to our world,” said Catherine Sewnig, chair of the school’s religion department.

The array of activities held March 17-21 included hosting three speakers who were invited to share compelling stories on coping with and caring for others with special needs.

Normal Kid Goes to Paralympics

Notre Dame graduate Brian Siemann talked about having been paralyzed since birth and the impact his disability had on his life.

Born the only boy of a quadruplet, Siemann recalled while growing up, he shared how his family and friends treated him like a “normal kid” that just happened to have a disability. But none thought he would one day be a worldwide competitor in the Paralympics.

Now training for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, it’s been a long road in the 10 years since Notre Dame Coach Joe McLaughlin first recognized that the high school freshman could be a potential racer.

Siemann went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in secondary education from the University of Illinois and is now pursuing a master’s degree in special education.

“In my entire life none of this, I thought, was even possible,” he said

Siemann said he had some differences in the way he had to do things growing up, but “I always made sure I was as ‘normal’ as possible…”

“Everyone has their own traits that make them unique from everyone else,” he said. “My difference was just more on the outside.”

When McLaughlin invited him to try out for the track team, neither of them knew what was in store, but as Siemann’s interest in the sport evolved, he saw the possibilities.

He received an athletic scholarship to the University of Illinois, which he chose for its Paralympics program. He passed around a gold medal that a friend of his won, and said although he hasn’t won a medal yet himself he will have another chance in Rio.

When asked by one of the students if he is mad at God, he said ‘no,’ because being in a wheelchair has enabled him to experience many things he wouldn’t have been able to experience otherwise.

Keep the Faith

MaryAnn Raccosta and Denise Reil, both Notre Dame graduates, spoke about the blessings and challenges of being the parents of children with special needs.

Raccosta, who is a member of St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, recapped how her Catholic faith has led her through numerous challenges throughout her life, including dealing with the loss of both parents by the time she was 20; she was 12 years old when her father died at age 44 and her mother died seven years later.

Still she persevered, going on to attend college and earn a degree in art; work in production for 20 years and eventually marry. Now she is the mother of three children, and her Catholic faith has once again become her stronghold especially as she cares for her two sons,  James, 15, and Sam, 14, both of whom are catastrophically ill as a result of trifunctional protein deficiency syndrome which is a rare metabolic disorder that strikes a handful of people in the world.  Her daughter, Gabrielle, 18, is also a graduate of Notre Dame and currently attends college.

In spite of whatever challenges they may encounter, Raccosta encouraged the Notre Dame students to always remember that “God has a bigger plan for you,” she said, noting that her experience as a mother with special needs’ children, led her to author “The Survivor, The Hero and the Angel: A Mother’s Story,” which she maintains “is a story of hope and courage.”

“My strong faith in God has helped me through,” she said, “and if you have faith in God, everything will be OK.”

A Mother’s Greatest Teacher

In her remarks, Reil, recounted how she was inspired to begin Visitation Home, a Catholic home for persons with developmental disabilities based on her own experience as a parent of an autistic child, Scott.

As Scott, who is now in his early 20s, got older, Reil said she and her husband became increasingly concerned about his future and the care he would need if his parents became sick or died.

As Reil contemplated her own plight, she began wondering how other families in similar situations would cope, especially aging parents or elderly widows caring for a developmentally disabled child. Those questions led Reil to try and find a solution to the problem. Her efforts resulted in the establishment of Visitation Home in Yardville.

“Visitation Home’s mission is to be a Catholic community where people with developmental disabilities, and those without, live together as family as called by the truth of the Gospel and recognizes that human life is sacred at every stage and in every situation,” said Reil.

“My son, Scott changed me and taught me how to open my heart to God and to love others and even to love myself,” she said.

Loud Cheers for Respect

The Respect Life Week concluded March 21 with a rousing pep rally in the school gym. Throughout the day, residents from Visitation Home were at Notre Dame during which each resident was partnered with a student and had an opportunity to attend classes and experience high school life.

Other highlights included a demonstration of Zumba to spark interest in a “Zumbathon” that the school is going to host in April to raise money for the Mercy Corps Service Program. Also, teachers, students and school chaplain, Father John C. Garrett, volunteered to have their heads shaved to raise money for St. Baldrick’s Cancer Foundation.

On March 23, the fundraiser for St. Baldrick continued in the Mountainview Golf Club at which time more students and faculty members volunteered to shave their heads for the worthy cause which raised more than $14,000, quadrupling the school’s original goal of $3,500. 

Students Robert Krieger and Morgan McGahran expressed how meaningful it was to have a week during the school year that was devoted to respect life issues.

“It was impressive that Siemann was able to do so much, still go to the Olympics and not let his disability get the best of him,” reflected Krieger.

Similarly, McGahran said she found encouragement in listening to Siemann’s talk and realized that she should not let “little things get her down since there are others who are overcoming much greater challenges.”

“I hope the students have learned that every person has great dignity and worth and that we can all learn from each other if we approach each other with an open mind and heart,” said Sewnig. “I hope they learn that God has a plan for each person and that plan is beyond anything they can dream on their own.”