Music
Press
By Sam Nooney
Contributing Writer
KALKASKA — Presley Hubbard excels in many of the same recreational activities that most girls her age enjoy. Turning 4 years old this May, the Kalkaska resident is already proficient at making messes, disorganizing the house, annoying her parents and playing with everything except her toys.
Unlike most of her peers, though, Presley faces the added challenge of Cerebral Palsy, a group of disorders that appear during the first few years of life and hinder a child’s ability to coordinate body movements.
Presley’s condition is categorized toward the mild end of the spectrum, but even so the challenges can be monumental. She is not quite able to walk unassisted and can only speak a little.
But there is hope the effects of her condition can be subdued, and the community is invited to help.
Adopted by Kalkaska’s Ryan and Marie Hubbard when she was 11 months old, Presley is now hoping to attend Ability Camp with her parents in Ontario, Canada for five weeks.
The unique rehabilitation camp for children and adults offers training and equipment that could improve Presley’s quality of life — but it’s not free.
To help the Hubbards provide this opportunity for their daughter, a benefit concert is scheduled for Friday, March, 19 at 7 p.m. in the Kalkaska Civic Center.
In addition to live music by John Pomeroy and local rock bands Unsilenced and Plowshare, there will be a silent auction and bake sale with food and drinks available.
All proceeds — including a cover charge of $3 per person or $5 per family — will go to help the Hubbards cover the cost of camp.
Their daughter was delivered to them rather suddenly when she was 11 months old, while the Hubbards were in the midst of the foster care licensing process. They received the call that they needed to pick up Presley at 10 a.m. the next morning.
The couple was without a license when they took the call, but were assured they’d receive it the same day they picked up Presley. The next morning they were on their way home with their new daughter, two diapers and the outfit she was wearing.
In addition to Cerebral Palsy, Presley also had a cleft palette, which came with its own set of challenges including plastic surgery by the age of 18 months.
“Everyone says ‘She’s lucky (to have us as parents),’” Ryan Hubbard said, “but we think we’re the lucky ones.”
According to the camp’s Web site, “Ability Camp offers an intensive training and rehabilitation program improving the lives and functional outcomes for preemies born with complications and children with brain injury or Cerebral Palsy as well as adults who have suffered a stroke or brain injury.
“Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy combined with Conductive Education programs in a setting where families can stay together and support each other while having the ability to use the therapy equipment after the class is unique and families have traveled from all over the world to attend.”
URL: http://www.morningstarpublishing.com/articles/2010/03/10/leader_and_kalkaskian/news/doc4b9812100a6bb342870627.prt
- © 2010 morningstarpublishing.com, a Journal Register Property
Discography
Untitled Demo with 6 tracks.
Photos
Bio
The band had it's origins on a construction site where Travis Willson and Sam Nooney began to share musical asperations. Travis' was in the folk-punk band Arming the Amish. Sam was in the progressive instrumental band Pictures of the Infinite. The two had previously rejected each others styles but, as they became friends they began to understand and appreciate each others styles. Some time later the first practice took place in November of 2007 with the addition of friends Dave Hannon and Jeremy VanSice. The first songs were written by Travis and each member contributing their own style. With the evolution of the band; Plowshare is writing more music as a unit. Jesse Nooney came on board in January 2010 bringing with him his classical piano skills and a talent for composition. The focus of the group continues to be the most important thing in their lives as well as the most important thing in the universe; the love of Jesus Christ. Plowshares influnces include System of a Down, Muse, The Larwence Arms, Spocks Beard, American Steel, Nightwish, Korn, Me Without You, The Psalters, Porcupine Tree, Toby Mac and Jesus.
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