Dayton boy lives life one day at a time

Dan and Karla Reardon of Dayton wake each morning wondering whether their 9-year-old son, Danny, will still be alive at the end of the day.

Danny was diagnosed shortly after birth with cerebral palsy.

His parents were told he would be lucky to live seven years.

"He was fine the first few days, and then he started slowing down," Dan said. "The 11th day of his life, the sleep apnea started. He was tested for everything, and as of midnight into the 12th day, the doctors told us Danny was developing calcium deposits on his brain."

Danny spent 28 days in intensive care at St. Mary's Hospital in Reno, with his parents facing three possibilities. Their son would either be "retarded," have cerebral palsy, or be fine.

"We didn't believe the diagnosis would be anything other than fine," Dan Reardon said. "We didn't believe it could happen to us."

Danny's primary way of communicating is a bright smile, but

the family has practical needs to consider.

"Danny's diagnosis is that he is severely spastic, quadriplegic with CP," said Karla Reardon. "And providing everything that he needs is a battle."

Danny wears a brace to sit upright and has a pump implanted in his body that gives him regulated doses of medicine to keep him relaxed. He used to be stiff as a board, a side effect of cerebral palsy.

Very few of Danny's day-to-day medical concerns are covered by Medicaid, which baffles the Reardons. They note that if they had institutionalized Danny, Medicaid would pay 100 percent, a much greater cost to the system.

"Even if he were in foster care, there would be no issue about paying for what he needs," Karla Reardon said. "But when you opt to take care of your own child, different laws apply."

Dan Reardon is an independent high-speed line installer. His wife spends her time taking care of Danny and his younger sister. Regina.

They need but cannot afford a wheelchair-lift equipped van.

Karla Reardon takes Danny to and from school each day, to doctor appointments and through regular daily routines, and lifting him is becoming increasingly difficult.

To raise money for the vehicle, the Danny Reardon Van Fund has been established at Bank of America. Donations may be made at any branch to account No. 004966001055.

Also challenging has been the impact of Danny's condition on the family.

With so much attention focused on him, Regina has probably not gotten as much attention as needed. But, Karen Reardon adds, she is raising a daughter who is accepting of different children.

"She looks at Danny as a normal kid who's in a wheelchair and can't talk," Reardon said. "I think in the long run, this will make her a better person."