Suffolk News-Herald

In mid-June, Wayne Joyner stood before the Knights of Pythias organization in Norfolk, which specializes in friendship, charity and benevolence, and told them a story.

He spoke of Sean and Michele Markley, who after eight years of trying, had finally been able to conceive. Not just one child. Not even twins. No, Michele was pregnant with triplets.

Unfortunately, the kids had been born several weeks premature. Two of them, Logan and Hannah, had eventually come around to full health. But Hunter, the oldest, had been stricken with cerebral palsy, which, along with cystic fibrosis and Special Olympics, is one of the main charities that the Knights help.

The Markleys sent a letter to Cerebral Palsy of Virginia (CPV), of which Joyner is a member. Now, he was asking his group to help them out.

Meanwhile, back in their Burbage Grant area home, the Markleys watched their children watch television and play video games.

About 10 weeks into her pregnancy, Michele was told she’d have twins. Then almost a month later, she went in for another ultrasound, and a third heartbeat was heard.

&uot;It was very exciting,&uot; she said. &uot;I said to the doctor, ‘Are you sure that’s it?’&uot;

Just after noon on June 4, 2000 the babies arrived at Norfolk Sentara Hospital – about 10 weeks earlier than they were predicted. Hunter came first, and weighed three pounds. Logan was 3.1, Hannah 3.4. They were immediately taken to the nearby Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.

It was soon found that Hunter had a heart defect, one that required surgery at four months. Three weeks after that, he went into respiratory failure, and was taken to Philadelphia for another procedure. At six months, he began speech, occupational and physical therapy. But at age two, a pediatrician at CHKD diagnosed the palsy.

&uot;It was devastating,&uot; Michele said. &uot;You see the children as identical, and you think of all the good things they’re going to do, but the reality is that one of them is going to need a wheelchair.&uot;

The Markleys joined CPV, which specializes in taking afflicted kids on trips and helping them do crafts and other activities. Back in early 2004, they decided to write to the Knights, whose Special Needs Fund provides for local children.

It worked; Joyner’s group unanimously approved the request, and it was sent to the organization’s home board office in Fredericksburg. In early August, the appeal was agreed upon, and less than a week later, the family had received thousands for Hunter’s new equipment.

&uot;Having triplets would be rough on anybody,&uot; Joyner said, &uot;but when one has cerebral palsy, it’s even harder. But we thought it was one of the best letters we’d ever seen.&uot;

Hunter’s glad they felt that way – he’s the proud owner of three difference adaptive chairs, a bath seat and a swing, items that the family insurance wouldn’t cover, as they’re considered &uot;luxury items.&uot;

&uot;They gave us some great equipment,&uot; Michele said. &uot;Hunter can’t sit up, so now we can bathe him without him falling over. He can sit up at the dinner tables instead of having to eat at a lower level like he used to. One of his chairs has wheels, so he can move if he wants to play with the computer to play other games.&uot; The child still goes to physical therapy five days a week, in the hopes that soon he’ll step out of his chair and walk. His mental capacity wasn’t very affected by the palsy, as he can talk, see and hear.

&uot;I would just thank them greatly for doing that,&uot; Sean said of the Knights, &uot;because it’s greatly improved Hunter’s life. He loves his chairs. It makes him able to be part of the family. It definitely gives him a better opportunity to live a normal life like everyone else, and we thank them immensely for that.&uot;