THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603080209
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Linda McNatt
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Elizabeth Harrison has big, brown eyes, silky, dark brown hair that curls on the ends and a heart-melting smile.
As Hampton Roads' 1996 ambassador child for the March of Dimes, the 2 1/2-year-old Elizabeth will be promoting the cause of defeating birth defects. She lives in Carrsville, in Isle of Wight County, with parents Angie and Billy Harrison.
The March of Dimes, founded in 1938 by Franklin D. Roosevelt to fight polio, today campaigns for healthier babies and preventing birth defects and infant mortality.
Angie Harrison describes her pregnancy with Elizabeth as perfect. Her baby appeared healthy at birth in September 1993. At 4 months, however, the soft spot on her head closed, meaning her brain probably hasn't grown and developed as it should. Despite numerous tests, doctors are unable to predict Elizabeth's future.
As time goes on, more and more problems show up - urinary tract infections, ear infections, a hernia, reflux, allergies. Her little feet have twisted in until, today, she has to wear a brace most of the time.
But none of it stops Elizabeth. A bundle of energy, she's constantly in motion.
The Harrisons know her speech and language are ``delayed,'' but she keeps up a stream of babbling that obviously makes sense to her.
She watches every movement around her. Unlike children who might bang on the piano when they get a chance, Elizabeth very carefully mimics her great-grandmother, former acting County Administrator Juanita Byrum, touching each key, her eyes widening as she listens to the music.
``She is so precious, so precious,'' Byrum likes to say. She's right.
The hard part of living with Elizabeth, Angie Harrison makes clear, is being so uncertain about her little girl's future. Nobody can tell the family why the toddler has the problems she has, and nobody yet can tell them what to do about them.
Angie Harrison spends a lot of time traveling between Isle of Wight County and the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk.
When she sees other mothers there with babies who are so sick and whose bodies are so twisted, she realizes how fortunate she is. That's why she's spending so much time helping the March of Dimes.
``Maybe what they're doing can't help Elizabeth now, but they can help other children, those who haven't been born yet,'' the mother said. ``We, as parents, have been through it all, and we can understand what others are going through.''
Elizabeth and her mom have appeared at March of Dimes campaign kickoffs in Norfolk, Suffolk, Franklin, Williamsburg and on the Peninsula. They'll also be making special appearances at ``WalkAmerica for Healthier Babies'' events throughout the area, one of the charity's major fund-raising efforts.
All the hard work and all the running - keeping up with the public appearances - aren't for Elizabeth, but there's a good reason behind it, Harrison says.
``What she has been through is a reason to do it. Maybe other mothers can get answers.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
Elizabeth Harrison will make appearances throughout the year as
ambassador child for the greater Hampton Roads area March of Dimes.
by CNB