logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinion
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinion
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Family to bring1 awareness to Rett Syndrome
News
April 4, 2024
Family to bring1 awareness to Rett Syndrome
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER

Rett Syndrome currently has no cure and one local family is struggling to understand this complex neurodevelopmental disorder that has affected their child.

Elaina Donahue was a little over a year old when doctors confirmed that she had this rare genetic disorder that affects brain development, resulting in severe physical and cognitive impairments.

It was extremely hard on her mom and dad, Landon and Lexi Donahue, but it made her grandparents, Mary Whittle and Jay Hayes, want to learn more about this terrible disease and bring awareness to others.

“We knew something was wrong because she had missed a lot of milestones, like walking, talking and not gaining weight,” Whittle said. “We thought it might be autism but when we took her to see some doctors, they told us she had GI issues and was highly allergic to dairy. Then they did three different scopes and decided it was something even more serious. That’s when they sent us to a genetics doctor that did bloodwork and had it sent to the Mayo Clinic. After six weeks the clinic called us and said that it was Rett Syndrome and that she would have to always have fulltime care. They also told us that she would probably start having seizures by age three, which she just recently turned. The doctor described the stages as sporadic because it could be more serious in some children and different in others.”

Rett Syndrome predominantly occurs in females, and generally only one in 10,000 births.

It was first described by Austrian pediatrician Andreas Rett in 1966 and symptoms typically manifest between 6-18 months of age. These symptoms include developmental regression, loss of purposeful hand skills, impaired communication abilities, repetitive hand movements such as hand-wringing or clapping, breathing abnormalities, seizures, and motor abnormalities such as ataxia or apraxia.

“Rett Syndrome is a terrible disease that no one in our area has any idea about and we want to change that. We are heartbroken that Elaina will probably never talk or more than likely lose her ability to talk and so much more. A feeding tube is more than likely in the future and so many hospital stays and visits. Right now Oklahoma doesn’t even have a doctor who treats Rett’s, so we have to travel to Ft. Worth to see a doctor. She has numerous other doctors that she has to see in Oklahoma too. Rett’s is different every day. She could wake up tomorrow having seizures or not be able to ever walk again. This is why my husband, Jay Hayes, and I have set out on a mission to bring awareness to this disease and hopefully they can find a cure someday.”

Currently, there is no cure for Rett Syndrome. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and providing supportive care to improve the individual’s quality of life. This may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, behavioral interventions, and medications to alleviate symptoms such as seizures or sleep disturbances.

“We are now planning a Rett Syndrome Awareness Walk/ 5K on Oct 5 at the Checotah Sports Complex. We hope to share more about Elaina’s journey and want to encourage the community to come out and support her.”

Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
A: Main, News...
Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 10, 2025
The City of Checotah showed off its bold stripes, bright stars and brave hearts this Fourth of July after working countless hours so residents could celebrate their freedom with lots of family fun and...
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Sexual Assault Awareness Honor Walk
July 10, 2025
Friday, July 11 at 12 p.m. Posey Park, Eufaula Show your support for survivors Take a stand against violence! Muscogee (Creek) Nation Center for Victim Services
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Annual Memorial Service planned at Honey Springs Battlefield
July 10, 2025
CHECOTAH — Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service on Saturday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. to honor the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah. The service ...
this is a test
Farewell to Checotah’s friend, Jerri Reaves
A: Main, News...
Farewell to Checotah’s friend, Jerri Reaves
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 10, 2025
Last Thursday family and friends said goodbye to former city councilwoman Jerri Reaves who had passed away on June 26 at the age of 82. Jerri graduated from Checotah High School in 1962. In 1980, she ...
this is a test
News
Trump administration freezes over $70 million state’s education funds
By NURIA MARTINEZ-KEEL OKLAHOMA VOICE 
July 10, 2025
States won’t receive funds from six federal programs, including after-school care and English learner support, until further notice. OKLAHOMA CITY — The Trump administration is indefinitely withholdin...
this is a test
News
Jeff Starling launches campaign for attorney general
July 10, 2025
TULSA ––Jeff Starling, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Energy and Environment, has officially announced his candidacy for Attorney General of Oklahoma. Starling is a conservative, attorney, businessman, and d...
this is a test
United for Oklahoma
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Plumb Theatre News
News
Plumb Theatre News
By MATTIE AND PAUL MALOY PLUMB THEATRE 
July 10, 2025
Never too early to start singing and the HALLELUJAH HONEYS are representative of that. Kate Andrews will be singing and playing with two other Honeys, Aubree,13, and Charlee, 10. They are some cuties ...
this is a test
Freedom Fest
News
Freedom Fest
July 10, 2025
Checotah residents celebrated their freedom with lots of family fun and fireworks on July 4th weekend at Freedom Fest.
this is a test
Police training
News
Police training
July 10, 2025
Recently local law enforcement trained for two days on different scenarios that might arise during traffic stops, hostage situations, domestic disturbances, and more.
this is a test
News
Two from area on UCO Honor Rolls
July 10, 2025
EDMOND - Two from this area have made he University of Central Oklahoma recently announced the students named to the university’s honor rolls; a distinction given to those who achieve the highest acad...
this is a test
Warriors of God, ready yourselves
commentary
Warriors of God, ready yourselves
July 10, 2025
Of my 56 years of being in this world, 50 of those years I have been filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I was only six years old when I attended my first Tiger Mount...
this is a test
Facebook
Twitter
Tweets
Twitter
Tweets

MCINTOSH COUNTY DEMOCRAT
300-A S. Broadway
Checotah, OK
74426

(918) 473-2313

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Mcintosh Democrat

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy