The 2009 poster child for the Al Sihah Shriners temple in Macon is a 10-year-old girl from Jones County, and she will be riding in the Gray Jaycees Christmas parade today.

Katie Huggins is in the fifth grade at Gray Elementary, and she says her favorite subject is math. She enjoys singing and playing with her iPod, and she can capture a heart in about 30 seconds with her twinkling eyes and impish grin.

It is difficult to imagine how this vivacious youngster could have endured what she has in her few short years. Katie was born 11 weeks premature and weighed 2 pounds, 15 ounces. She did not progress as the doctors hoped, and when she was not walking at 18 months, tests confirmed that she had cerebral palsy caused by a lack of oxygen to her brain at birth.

Katie’s mother Lisa said CP can cause both physical and mental disabilities, but in her daughter’s case, it is only a physical presentation.

Katie walked on her tiptoes, and her feet were turned inward. She also sat slightly hunched to compensate for tight leg muscles caused by the disease. The child started physical therapy immediately and was given a walker.

At age 3 she was given Botox injections in her legs to loosen the muscles, which helped for a while, but doctors then suggested a very risky procedure of cutting into Katie’s spinal cord and clipping the nerves that controlled the area of spasticity.

“This was not something I was willing to do without a second opinion,” the mother said.

Katie was referred to the Shriners’ Hospital in Greenville, S.C., by a friend, and the youngster started going to the clinic when she was 5.

Lisa said the doctors at the hospital did not recommend the spinal surgery and instead suggested having her hamstrings lengthened and heel cords released. In 2006 Katie underwent her first surgery, and she went home with casts on both legs.

“When I saw her walk for the first time after the casts were removed, I was amazed at how well the surgery worked,” the mother said.

The youngster’s third and most recent surgery was in February, and Lisa is again pleased with the results.

“Katie is able to walk unassisted and only has to use her walker for really long distances. We owe all of this to the Shriners,” she said.

Lisa said the hospital is made a fun place for the children with the numerous activities available, which provides a great escape from the stress of being there. She said throughout the entire process the family has been treated exceptionally well, with the Shriners even covering their meals and transportation to and from the hospital.

“If not for the Shriners, we would not have been able to do this. The medical bills alone would have been too much,” she said.

Shriner Russell Curry said he has grown quite attached to Katie during her year as poster child. He said he and Buck Smith, who is also an Al Sihah Shriner who lives in Jones County, interviewed and selected Katie.

According to its website, Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth. There are approximately 350,000 members from 191 temples (chapters) in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama.

Shriners International supports Shriners Hospitals for Children, an international health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs.

It appeared Katie took delight in reminding Curry of many of their adventures this year. She was center stage for several performances of the Shrine Circus in Columbus, and she said the funniest thing was there were no real elephants.

“The clowns came out pulling toy elephants,” she recalled while giggling.

Curry said Katie will be on the Shriner’s float in the Dec. 8 parade, which is pulled by the hospital van.

“It means the world to me that we’ve been able to help Katie,” the Shriner commented.

For more information about the Al Sihah Shriners or to refer a child who needs their help, visit their website at www.alsihahshriners.com or call 785-5900.