The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
A personal mission
Courtney collects books for Ann Arbor hospital
By Sandi Kasha, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 22, 2007
For 12-year-old Courtney Cook reading is more than just fundamental.
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It provided her with escape when she spent time in and out of Ann Arbor's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.
"You can't just watch TV for 24 hours," she said. "It gets boring."
The Mill Creek Middle School seventh-grader decided to lend a helping hand to the hospital that cared for her.
Courtney approached teacher Val Berryman to share her desire to organize book drive to donate to the hospital.
Berryman, who teaches seventh grade English, said that part of the Community Service and Leadership class is to inspire students to give back to the community.
"I'm very impressed with Courtney and this is her idea," Berryman said. "She's a lover of books and found a way to take her passion and do service with it."
And people are appreciating Courtney's efforts.
"People have been responding well to the book drive," said mother Terri Cook.
Courtney approached businesses like Dexter's Dapco Industries and the Foggy Bottom Coffeehouse and asked them if they would display her book drop boxes.
The book drive is set until mid-April and accepts only new books targeted for toddlers through young adults.
"They were really receptive in helping out," Terri said.
With drop boxes in place Courtney has been promoting the drive passionately. She appeared on W4 Country Radio last Tuesday to discuss the project.
Courtney said that she isn't just doing it for class, but for the children at the hospital.
"It's nice to have something else besides playing with stuffed animals," Courtney said.
"It's very personal for her," Terri said.
Courtney who was born with impaired hearing has been in and out of the hospital seven different times.
Courtney was born hearing impaired and was later diagnosed with Waardenburg Syndrome, which is a group of genetic conditions that can cause hearing loss and changes in coloring (pigmentation) of the hair, skin, and eyes.
Although most people with Waardenburg syndrome have normal hearing, moderate to profound hearing loss can occur in one or both ears.
"By the time she was in second grade, she was totally deaf," Terri said.
Courtney also had a cochlear device, a surgically implanted electronic device that helps her hear.
"Fifty percent of her communication comes from lip reading," Terri said. "And she has assistance at school with a paraprofessional who assists her with note taking during class."
Terri credit early detection in helping her daughter learn to speak properly.
"I noticed from early on that Courtney couldn't hear," Terri said. "We worked with the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and someone come to the house and work with her. She's always had a paraprofessional work with her and has had regular speech therapy."
By the time Courtney was two years old she was dividing her time between a hearing impaired preschool and regular preschool.
"We wanted her to go to a normal preschool as well
Courtney has also had multiple surgeries on her eyes to create tear ducts.
But Courtney continues to live a normal life despite the health issues that have required her to have a slew of surgeries.
By organizing a book drive and trying to make a difference in hospital-bound children's lives, Courtney has impressed Berryman.
"She's very mature and is especially giving and diligent in her efforts to give back to the hospital," Berryman said.
Staff Writer Sandi Kasha can be reached at 475-1371 or skasha@heritage.com.
THE FACTS ABOUT THE GIVING LIBRARY AT C.S. MOTT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
C. S. Mott Children's Hospital is a pediatric research, referral hospital that serves over 10,000 inpatients and nearly 60,000 outpatients, from age newborn to nineteen, each year.
The Giving Library is designed to support children and their families by providing diversion from the stress of hospitalization and by providing comfort to the patients at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital via escaping into the world of books.
It also strives to promote literacy to all ages by reading aloud to children and through independent reading. Together volunteers and children select books of interest and this book is a gift to the child from The Giving Library.
Volunteers will happily read to the children as needed. This program has been in operation since March, 2001 and we have given away thousands of books to patients and their siblings. Our staff, patients and families are delighted that this wonderful program is occurring.
Through the generosity of donations, we are able to provide the children at Mott Hospital with the opportunity to experience The Giving Library and the magic of reading. Some children leave Mott with their own library of books.
The Giving Library was first created in memory of Janet Todd Grewe, loving mother, wife, daughter, and devoted teacher.
Janet especially enjoyed teaching children how to read because she understood that this knowledge had the power to change every child's life for the better.
The program has been maintained by an amazing Giving Library volunteer named Janel Fain. She recognizes the special relationships gained through reading with children, and her love of children and of books have made this program what it is today.
Ways to donate
The Giving Library program is able to operate through generous donations by the community and there are a couple of ways to donate.Here are some suggestions.
Do a book drive for new books.
Books that they never have enough of include board books for babies and books for teens (15 years and older). Other books include sports books and picture books.
Do a drive for a cash donation. The library receives a discount off retail prices when purchasing books.
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