From Deseret News archives:
Waiting list: Help is long in coming for disabled Utahns
The little girl's demeanor changes dramatically, however, when the rest of the Hilton family gets home for the day. Her dark brown eyes light up at the sight of her father, Sterling, and sisters, 14-year-old Liz and 12-year-old Caroline. She squeals with delight as her 11-year-old brother David performs some slapstick comedy for her, throwing himself to the floor and playfully slapping his own face.
"In spite of the disabilities, she is a joy," Heidi Hilton says. "She is just a delightful ray of sunshine. She gives back twice as much as anything we give her."
The Hiltons didn't know the full extent of Katie's disabilities during their years-long international adoption process. Workers at a Calcutta, India, orphanage suspected the little girl had problems with her hearing, but none seemed overly concerned that, at 15 months old, she still wasn't rolling over or sitting up on her own.
"The extent of her disabilities kind of unfolded, and I would say that as they unfolded, we just kind of adapted," says Sterling Hilton, who often calls his daughter by her Indian name, Chetna.
Part of that adaptation process was seeking out other parents in similar situations for support and advice, as well as looking to the state for assistance. The Hiltons soon learned, however, that any state aid would be a long time coming, given an 1,800-person waiting list at the Division of Services for People with Disabilities.
Comments
- Two American pilots die in Iraq 12:47 a.m.
- Murder suspect is vetran, avid skier 12:47 a.m.
- MLB: Zambrano's mom kidnapped 12:32 a.m.
- Lambert surprisingly tops news 12:25 a.m.
- Philadelphia transit strike ends 12:25 a.m.
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd 12:24 a.m.
- 12 high schools ready for 'The Turf' 12:17 a.m.
- RSL unfazed by conference final 12:17 a.m.
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated 12:17 a.m.
- Today on TV 12:13 a.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
216 - House passes health care bill
201 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
151 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
129 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
101 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89 - BYU cuts Women's Research Institute
88
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
STOP blaming the Democrats, BLAME THE REPUBLICANS FOR 8 YEARS DOING NOTHING...
The best way to break the law is to become someone who enforces the law.
It's a real shame so many folks have never gotten out and gotten to know the...
It's all talk... you do not have any evidence for your claims. You assume...
Maybe if you could bat .408 in the major leagues, you too would be paid a...
I prefer the “Wizard of Earthsea” quartet by Ursula Le Guin, an...
The bottom line question that no one can possibly answer is; what will be the...
It looks to me like special treatment.
Jazz will have a tough week, with what should be a easy win against the...
I am very excited for this game. As much as I want the Utes to win, it won't...



You can be the first to comment on this story.