Dear Editor,

On Nov. 22, 2005, my life changed forever. That was the moment that my daughter Sarah was born.

Shortly after her birth we found out that she had Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS). I don’t think at that time I truly understood what that meant. I could only guess where the road ahead would lead.

Often in the beginning, I think we hear about the challenges that are associated with having a child with special needs. One thing you might not hear of is how having a child with special needs can enrich your life and the lives of those around you.

Recently, my husband and I decided to host a fundraiser for the CdLS Foundation (www.cdlsusa.org). We have wanted to do this for years, but due to the health challenges with Sarah that we were facing, it just wasn’t practical until this year. On Nov. 8, we hosted "Sarah’s Bowl for CdLS" at East Bowl Family Fun Center, Batesville. On that day, we had approximately 100 guests show up for bowling, a silent auction, raffle and various items for sale. We had many volunteers, including family, extended family, friends and even some of Sarah’s therapists and nurses, that helped with the planning and on the day of the event.

As we gathered on that day, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was filled with anticipation for how it would turn out. We had family and friends come from Batesville and the surrounding areas of Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Kentucky. They all gathered to help us raise money for the CdLS Foundation, which provides services to over 2,000 families in the U.S. With their support, "Sarah’s Bowl for CdLS" was able to raise over $7,000 in proceeds. My husband and I have known that we are surrounded by generous and giving people, but neither one of us imagined how wonderful it would be for everyone to come out and support our fundraiser. We are so thankful to the generosity of all the individuals and businesses that supported this event. Without them, this would not have been possible.

Four years ago, I would have never thought of hosting a fundraiser like this. I would have never guessed that it could be so successful. I would have never thought about putting myself out there to organize, plan and execute such an event. I would have laughed if someone told me to write a letter to be published for a paper. But four years ago, I had not yet given birth to my wonderful, inspiring daughter, Sarah.

Many people often feel sorry for a family who has a child with special needs. And, yes, there are definitely some hardships and challenges most others will not face, but just as the challenges are great, the rewards are greater.

Anne Suttmann,

Batesville