Patient Stories: Master Mearkle and Mr. Ewing at the Walk/Talk

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September 21, 2019 the Dankmeyer Cumberland staff got to celebrate a special day! All of the Dankmeyer Cumberland team, including clinician Mark Treasure and Patient Services Representative Heather Iman with her two daughters Kayla and Sarah, were joined by Dankmeyer’s new Prosthetist Assistant Dawn Miranda in order to support Kaleb Mearkle at the Children’s League 2019 Walk/Talk event.

The Children’s League is an 85 year old non-profit that operates and manages the Cumberland Scottish Rite “Rite Care” Childhood Speech and Language Disorders Clinic as well as the Cumberland Cleft Clinic.

Kaleb invited Dankmeyer to participate several months ago, and when long time patient Mr. William “Bill” Ewing found out about it, he jumped at the chance to be a part of the event. Many years ago Mr. Ewing had been the beneficiary of the Children’s League’s services. Team Dankmeyer gathered at the Dankmeyer Western Maryland office on National Highway to start the morning with a cup of coffee and then off they headed to the Allegany County Health Department for the event.

The sun seemed to shine extra bright over the Children's League event. Team Dankmeyer arrived at the grounds ready to have fun and fellowship with a great organization and the families of special needs children. You could feel the children’s energy as they all donned their bright pink Tshirts. The children vote and choose the color each year and Dankmeyer was one of the proud Tshirt sponsors. The morning began with the line up of the teams and families to be ready for the walk. The national anthem was sung and when it finished the crowd clapped and prepared to walk the laps.

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The Chick-fil-A cow, Buffalo Wild Wings mascot as well as the Cellular One phone mascot joined in the fun. There were balloon animals being made as well as face painting! Heather and Dawn took advantage of that to have the Dankmeyer green ribbon emblem painted on their faces! Children got to pet ferrets, touch a giant turtle and hold a sweet young alligator who loved to have his chin scratched. Refreshments were served by the Children's League volunteers. Prizes were given to teams at the end and closing words of thanks spoken. Team Dankmeyer vowed to gather again next fall for this very worthy cause! (Submitted by Dawn Miranda.)



Patient Stories: Kaleb Mearkle

Kaleb's mom, Nicole Warnick, writes this story for us about her sixteen year old son Kaleb:  Kaleb Mearkle resides in Grantsville, Maryland with his family.  In fact, he just celebrated his sixteenth birthday!  He attended Mountain View Christian School in Springs, PA this past year in 9th grade.  A young man who easily wins your heart with his warm personality, he always has a smile and a wonderful attitude.

He enjoys hunting and fishing with his stepfather and uncle, playing video games with his big brother and even baking with his mother, godmother and aunt.  Kaleb is a Junior Cadet at the Bittinger Volunteer Fire Department under the watchful eye of Chief Justin Orendorf. He is just an amazing young man.  He is not disabled, he just plays and lives with a handicap.  Kaleb has played baseball in the past and now he plays basketball for his school.  He also loves to travel, especially going to the ocean and going out to Arizona to visit his Aunt Juju(Julia) and her family.  

This young man of determination and will was born with a congenital deformity of the right leg which required a below the knee amputation at just two months old.   Kaleb is a patient at John Hopkins Hospital under Doctor Paul Sponseller and has been with Dr. Sponseller since birth.  He has also been part of The Children's League since he was eight months old, where he continues his care with them under the watchful eye of Cathy Broaden. He has been with Dankmeyer for a number of years as Cumberland practitioner Mark Treasure's (CP, BOCO) patient. 

Kaleb has not only learned to live with his amputation and wearing his prosthesis since he was six months old, but he has faced other health issues.  Despite numerous obstacles throughout his life, Kaleb finds a way and works hard to overcome them.  His “I can do it” attitude and determination has enabled him to enjoy life.  

NOTE: Recently, another patient encountered Kaleb while on an office visit to the Cumberland office.  This patient commented on a conversation that he shared with Mark Treasure and Kaleb (whom he did not know) - what a "respectful and positive man" Kaleb was.