BY CINDY KRANZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Kourtney Kerregan helps 8-year-old camper Roger Fischer in Stepping Stones' indoor pool.
(Yoni Pozner photo)
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Kourtney Kerregan strains to push Alison Gartig's wheelchair up a steep incline at Camp Stepping Stones in Indian Hill.
"It's like climbing a mountain," he says.
As Kourtney, 14, huffs and puffs, 10-year-old Alison starts to cry. "That's OK, Alison," he assures her between puffs, patting her shoulder. "You're OK."
He pushes Alison to the picnic shelter where her fellow campers will eat sack lunches. Even though Alison is blind, can't walk, can't speak and is nourished through a feeding tube, Kourtney makes sure she doesn't miss a thing.
"I want her to do the same things other people do and enjoy all the things they do," the Amelia youth says. I want her to think she's having fun, whether she's having fun or not."
This is Kourtney's first summer as a volunteer at Camp Stepping Stones, where he was a camper in 1996. Stepping Stones Center, which specializes in programs for people with disabilities, offers the nine-week summer camp for children and young adults ages 5 to mid-20s.
Kourtney, who was born with mild mental retardation, began the transition from camper to volunteer last summer. He works 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, helping campers with arts and crafts, nature studies, games and swimming.
He is one of 13 transitional volunteers -- young people with disabilities -- who were campers or came from other agencies that serve the disabled. The unbridled enthusiasm Kourtney had as a camper spills over into his volunteer job. "I love this camp," Kourtney says. "I wanted to go back here to be a helper. I like other kids to have fun."
Very personal care
Kourtney works with camper Alison Gartig, 10.
(Glenn Hartong photo)
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Stepping Stones campers are divided so each group includes all abilities. Kourtney volunteers with the 10-to 12-year-olds -- the Hornets.
This day, Kourtney works primarily with Alison, but helps other campers as needed. Working with Alison is more difficult because she has personal care needs and does not interact with volunteers like other campers.
Alison was diagnosed at age 4 with metachromatic leukodystrophy, a progressive, degenerative disease in which the body's nerve and brain cells gradually deteriorate. But, her father said, she enjoys summer camp, especially swimming.
The Rev. William Gartig of Norwood has met Kourtney and thinks it's great volunteers with disabilities can work with campers. "I'm sure it's gratifying to them, and they certainly have sympathy and identify with people in their care," he said.
Throughout the day, Kourtney talks to Alison or grabs her hand. He lifts her head out of the neck brace that often envelopes her chin. He finds shady spots to park her wheelchair.
As he climbs up the hill to the picnic shelter, he's distressed by her tears.
"What's wrong? Oh, please don't cry," he pleads.
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ABOUT STEPPING STONES
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Stepping Stones Center, 5650 Given Road, Indian Hill, provides opportunities for children and adults with disabilities.
Services include day care, senior care, swim and gym, aquatics exercise classes and summer camps.
To promote inclusion, the center also offers programs to the general public. For information or to volunteer, call 831-4660.
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Kourtney doesn't know why she's crying, but vows to cheer her up. "We're almost there," he assures her.
As he heaves the wheelchair into the shelter, he says. "You're OK, Alison. You made it, Alison."
When lunch is over, he backs the wheelchair down the hill and takes her to Hillside Hall, where a nurse administers Alison's medication. subhed:Time for nature body:
Next is nature study. This day, campers wade in the creek. Kourtney asks the unit leader to stay with Alison while he joins the others. Sarah Borchers is the Hornets' leader. Now a paid summer staff member, the 16-year-old Mariemont High School junior was Kourtney's volunteer when he was a camper two summers ago.
"Everyone knows Kourtney," she says. "He's always willing to help everyone."
Kourtney returns to Alison and waves the gnats away from her. He pushes her up an incline again. A cool breeze hits his face under some shade trees.
"Ahhhh," he says. "Thank you."
As he pushes Alison up the hill past the outdoor swimming pool, aquatic coordinator Elaine Asbury yells through the fence.
"Kourtney, you're awesome," she says. "That is a hard job." "Yeah, it is," he responds.
"I'm awesome," he murmurs to himself. "Huh!"
Some campers have trouble making the transition to volunteer, Ms. Asbury says, but not Kourtney.
"He is responsible. He is responsive. He has empathy for the campers," Ms. Asbury says.
The Hornets rest under a shade tree outside Hillside Hall.
"How's your day going, Alison?" Kourtney asks, grabbing her hand. "I know you're hot and tired."
With his right index finger, he wipes a bead of perspiration from her face. "We're almost done. Can't wait to go swimming." Alison makes a whinnying sound.
Kourtney points out a yellow, red and green yarn friendship bracelet on her wrist. He made it for her.
"She likes to be around people," he says. "She's a fun person."
What's most remarkable about Kourtney is he doesn't see Alison's disability. Even though she is unresponsive much of the time, he treats her like any able-bodied kid who just wants to have fun at camp.
That doesn't surprise his dad, Kevin Kerregan.
"One thing Kourtney brings to the table is he treats you just like he would treat anybody else," he says. "That's important, not for just him, but for everyone to learn." subhed:Swimming in fun body:
Swimming spells relief from the 85-degree heat and 100 percent humidity. Sarah asks Kourtney to help change the boys while she changes Alison into a swimsuit.
Ms. Asbury assigns each camper to a volunteer. Kourtney will work with camper Roger Fischer. (She assigns Alison to Sarah, because the girl sometimes suffers seizures in the pool).
Despite the heat, Kourtney has to coax Roger into the pool.
"It's not that cold," he says. "C'mon Roger. Come on in." He holds his hand and walks with him into the pool.
Soon, Roger and Kourtney follow Ms. Asbury's directions, doing jumping jacks, twisting and dancing in the water. Kourtney holds Roger's torso as Roger swims from side to side. "I did it!" Roger says proudly, grabbing the wall.
The two collide when Roger exuberantly pushes off the wall to float on his back. His head meets Kourtney's jaw and mouth. Roger cries, and Ms. Asbury pulls him out of the pool to check if he's OK. Kourtney is more concerned about his camper than himself. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Are you OK? Give me a hug," he says, putting his arms around the boy.
"What about you? Are you all right," Ms. Asbury asks Kourtney. "I think you got hit harder." Kourtney shrugs it off.
At the end of the swimming lesson, it's coaxing time. Kourtney and another volunteer have to physically lead another boy out of the pool.
"Don't stop," Ms. Asbury says. "Keep going." They rush the boy into the locker room so he can't break away and run back to the pool.
After everyone is dressed, Kourtney wheels Alison to the flagpole for the last event of the day. Campers gather for songs before saying goodbye to volunteers and heading home.
Kourtney insists he had fun, despite the grueling physical labor and the heat. How does he manage to do this job so cheerfully? "It's just the nature of certain people you run across in your life," his father says. "Some people can be very negative about that situation. Kourtney tries to make the best of any situation." subhed:Volunteer work body:
When campers become volunteers at Stepping Stones, it's done with a eye to the future. The volunteer experience could be the first step toward a job, says Sue Radabaugh, executive director of Stepping Stones.
"This is a way, with our transitional volunteers, we can begin to help them become more self-sufficient, independent and contributing individuals to move out into the community and become productive workers," she says.
Volunteers like Kourtney are a testimonial to the transitional program. When she hears stories about him cheerfully pushing Alison's wheelchair up and down steep hills and tending to her every need, she's moved.
"As long as I've been in this field, for over 30-some years, I still get the goose bumps. To see that sensitivity . . . that's what life is all about."
