Woman Would Like A Voice Of Her Own 
High-tech Machine Would Do The Talking For 
A Suffering Group-home Resident Who Can't

An Item Published On Page 2a Saturday Misidentified The Country Of Origin Of A 
Diplomat Attending A Panel Discussion At Wilkes University Tonight. James J.

By BILL PEACE; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Monday, December 05, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





Three-year-old Joey Wesley squeezes the plastic dinosaur into the back seat
of the red Corvette, laughing, pushing the toy car atop the living-room table. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm playing," beams the blond-haired youngster with a big smile as he
rolls the car onto the floor and up a chair. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The quiet scene betrays none of the difficulties Joey experienced in the
past year. Nor does it reveal the anxieties his mother, Ann, faces as she
struggles with her son's speech and language problems -- not to mention the
arrival of a baby on Thanksgiving Day. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Wesleys are being featured in the Book of Dreams, a series of 12
stories that allows Times Leader readers to contribute money to families and
individuals with special needs during the holidays. This year's goal is
$20,466.69. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A still-pregnant Ann and her son moved to an apartment in Plains Township
from Edwardsville five months ago. The three are still adapting to their new
neighborhood. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ann, 25, is also adjusting to her son's newfound happiness. Life hasn't
always been this way. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Just last year, Joey was treated for chronic ear infections -- an illness
he developed shortly after he was born. Joey wasn't hearing right, and his
crying never ceased, says Ann, recalling the frustrating months of trying to
soothe her son's pain. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He finally underwent treatment at Nesbitt Memorial Hospital in Kingston to
drain excess fluid from his ears. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I know it was painful for him," says Ann. With no car, Ann had to catch
rides to the hospital from friends or pay for taxi cabs to be with her little
boy. She was able to pay for the needed treatments through medical assistance. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Joey's medical treatments were Ann's first sign that he had language and
speech problems. Now, three days a week, Joey rides a bus to the Westside
Child Development Center in Edwardsville, a private non-profit agency, where
he works with a speech therapist. Soon he'll be attending the school four days
a week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ann, a Pocono-area native, is barely able to make ends meet for her growing
family. She is separated from Joey's father after five years of marriage and
is filing for full custody of the children. Because of her ex-husband's
sporadic employment, Ann says it's impossible for her to get any child
support. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Several years ago, Ann worked in retailing. But she realizes returning to
the work force is now a few years down the road. Until her children are old
enough for school, she will tend to their needs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Among her primary concerns are winter boots and some warm clothes for Joey
to wear during the long winter months ahead. Ann also needs clothing for her
newborn, as well as such essentials as wash cloths, towels and crib sheets,
and such everyday necessities as diapers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And with both a toddler and newborn comes much laundry. The Wesleys'
sparsely furnished two-bedroom apartment has no washer, no dryer. Ann got some
of the newborn's furniture from a charitable organization. She does her
laundry at a friend's house, but she doesn't want to be a burden, because the
woman already works 50 to 60 hours a week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Gathering up the dirty clothes and bringing (Joey) along once or twice a
week is difficult, to say the least. The only time I can really get errands
done is while he's in school. Once the newborn arrives, I know laundry will be
more than once or twice a week," she said in an interview before her baby was
born. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 She tries the best she can to make life comfortable and problem-free and
make financial ends meet, "but just when you think you're getting ahead,
something else springs up. " &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As Ann walks a guest to the back door, Joey puts down his car and stretches
out his arms. "No, don't go," he says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He just loves company," Ann says, smiling. "Just as much as he loves
playing with his toys." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/BOB ESPOSITO &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ann Wesley watches her 3-year-old son, Joey, play with some toy cars in
their Plains Township apartment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The dream &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Child's winter boots: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 $24.99 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 3 toddler's jog suits: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ($17.99 each) $53.97 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 3 fitted crib sheets: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ($9.99 each) $29.97 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 2-in-1 mattress pad/waterproof cover: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 $16.99 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 2 packages of crib blankets: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ($5.99 each) $11.98 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 3 packages of bath sets: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ($8.99 each) $26.97 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Large-capacity, heavy-duty dryer: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 $359 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Large-capacity, heavy-duty washer: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 $319 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Struggling Mom Asks For Kids' Essentials 
Warm Winter Clothing, Crib Dressings And A 
Washer And Dryer Would Prepare Young Family For The 
Months Ahead

Struggling Mom Asks For Kids' Essentials Warm Winter Clothing, Crib Dressings And A Washer And Dryer Would Prepare Young Family For The Months Ahead