Rick Dornier - Summer 2008

Anyone who knows Rick Dornier knows he’s a truly amazing little boy. This little two-year-old from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is such a happy kid, always laughing and smiling. His family considers him a total blessing, and it’s easy to see why.

His sister, Julia, and brother, Luke, absolutely adore Rick, and Rick feels the same way about them. Rick and Luke are such good friends, always playing together, swinging and even inventing their own games. “What’s wrong with his eye?” people will ask, and Julia and Luke are quick to tell them, “That’s how God made him. That’s how he is. But that’s OK. The doctor will give him a new one.”

Rick also attends a play group with friends his age. Everyone plays together wonderfully. They often go to the park, his friends' houses and to local kids' indoor play places.

Rick loves to eat graham crackers and could drink milk “all day long.” And, like most kids, he’s a big fan of chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream.

One of his favorite shows to watch is Baby Einstein’s “Baby Dolittle.” He’s really into the elephants in the show and can be seen doing elephant impressions on occasion, showing off the “trunk” he makes with meet rick dornier ccakid his arms. He also loves music and enjoys dancing and singing.

And he has a fascination with elevators. This is probably because of all the elevators he has ridden when in the hospital and doctors’ offices. He loves riding them and even has a “pretend” elevator at home. Rick and his family went to the beach this past summer. Sure, he loved playing in the sand, but he was particularly enthralled with, you guessed it, the hotel elevator!

When he was born, Rick had too much fluid in his brain. (This was detected during ultrasounds before he was born.) He had other complications, including a cleft palate and two holes in his heart. His left nostril was very small, and he had no left nasal airway. He was also born without a left eye.

Rick has had five operations with more to follow. He had meningitis last year and had to have fluid drained from his brain. This was life-threatening for little Rick. He had to stay in ICU for 11 days. But he’s a really tough kid, bouncing right back after this illness as well as each of his surgeries. Right now, his health is pretty good. It’s been a “normal” summer so far.

Rick’s cognitive abilities are excellent. In fact, his communications skills are well above average — Rick has been speaking in complete sentences since he was a year old. Walking took a while though, because of all his surgeries and their subsequent recovery periods. However, he’s made up for lost time and is walking and running quite nicely.

If you would like to share your story with CCA, please send an email to Annie Reeves at areeves@ccakids.com. If your story is chosen, with your permission, we will edit and publish it in the CCA newsletter, on the Web site or use it for public awareness programs. Not all stories will be selected.

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