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Down syndrome Buddy Walk raises awareness of disorder
By: Jayne Matthews
Source: Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.
09/01/2006

Sep. 1--Jordan Kohlmeier of Belleville can name all the animals he saw at the St. Louis Zoo last year.

He learned to read a few words last year, too. He likes to swim, bowl and hug the people in his life, especially his teacher, Lynnette Schmidt, at Douglas School.

Jordan is 8 and was born with Down syndrome.

"I used to pray that he would crawl," said Jordan's mother, Kathy Kohlmeier.

He developed the strength to crawl when he was 2. He recently gained enough upper body strength to swing.

"I used to pray that he'd just feed himself, all those little milestones," Kohlmeier said.

Down syndrome is a chromosome abnormality that causes both mental and physical disability.

"You don't know with Down syndrome. Their health is a constant battle," Kohlmeier said.

Jordan's brother, 5-year-old Jeremy, is just beginning to understand what causes Jordan's struggles, their mother said.

"When Jordan doesn't act like he's supposed to, he'll say 'He's in Down syndrome.' This year, he's catching on. He's really good about helping his brother," Kohlmeier said.

Kohlmeier has been a single mother since her husband, Scott Kohlmeier, died in a car accident when Jordan was 3 and Jeremy was 17 months old. Jordan underwent his first operation just after his birth to connect his stomach and intestines. Since then he's had four open heart surgeries.

Jordan and other children with Down syndrome will be special guests Saturday at the Cardinals' game at Busch Stadium.

It will be Down Syndrome Awareness Day and the St. Louis Down Syndrome Association's sixth annual Buddy Walk in the Park to raise money for research and services.

Last year, Jordan got an autographed baseball from catcher Yadier Molina. First baseman Albert Pujols has a stepchild with Down syndrome.

Children with Down syndrome and their buddies will raise money by getting donations from supporters for their walk around the ball park. They've also been selling tickets to the game.

There are 275 Buddy Walks planned around the country this year. There were 17 when the first walks were held in 1995.

Last year, 200,000 people raised $4.5 million.

In the St. Louis walk, the child who brings the most buddies to the walk will throw out the first ball at the Cardinals game, and the child whose buddies raise the most money will go on the field to meet a favorite player.

Contact Jayne Matthews at jmatthews@bnd.com or 345-7822, ext. 25.

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