The Power to Heal: Roni Jo Scarlett

Karsen Allman may never be able to say the words “thank you,” or “I love you” to Roni Jo Scarlett, but the 2-year-old has her own ways of getting the message across loud and clear.

Each step the little girl takes is a testament to Scarlett’s dedication, skill and passion for her work as a physical therapist.

That is why The Tribune has selected Scarlett as the recipient of a 2007 inaugural Spirit of Freedom Power to Heal Award.

Nominated by Karsen’s grandmother, Elaine Allman of Seymour, Scarlett has had a profound effect not only on her patients but on their families as well.

For more than two years now, Scarlett has been a part of the Allmans’ life. Twice a week she visits Karsen as part of the state’s First Steps early childhood intervention program to work on strengthening Karsen’s muscles and improving her motor skills.

“The dedication, compassion and enthusiasm Roni Jo demonstrates as a physical therapist is exemplary,” Elaine wrote in her nomination letter.

Born prematurely, Karsen was diagnosed early on with a rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome, which is characterized by intellectual and developmental delay, speech impediment, sleep disturbance, an unstable jerky gait, seizures and hand-flapping movements.

“At first they thought she had muscular dystrophy or was autistic,” Elaine added.

Elaine said another unique but welcomed characteristic of young children with Angelman syndrome is that they “are always smiling and are always happy.”

“She takes medicine so she does get tired and kind of drowsy, but other than that she’s one of the happiest kids I know,” Elaine said. “She hardly ever cries.”

Experts told the Allmans that Karsen would never be able to sit up on her own, crawl, walk or talk.

Upon first starting physical therapy treatment with Karsen, Scarlett admitted she didn’t know what to expect.

“It can be frustrating for all involved. There was a time when we didn’t know if she would even be able to sit up,” Scarlett said of Karsen’s condition. “You just have to take it session by session.”

But it was clear to Scarlett that Karsen was a fighter, so she decided to make it her goal to achieve what everyone said could not be done. She was going to get Karsen to walk, but first they had to tackle sitting and crawling.

With patience and encouragement, it wasn’t long before Karsen was strong enough to sit up on her own.

“That was a big accomplishment,” Scarlett said. “It was very rewarding for me.”

But the personal satisfaction didn’t stop there, because not much later, Karsen was crawling.

“We just couldn’t believe how far she had come,” Elaine said of her granddaughter. “It’s amazing how Roni Jo uses her skills to guide Karsen to progress once thought unattainable.”

The next step for Karsen is learning to walk by herself. And from watching her teeter around the room while holding Scarlett’s hands, it won’t be long before they can scratch that off their list.

“Do I think she will walk by herself? Absolutely,” Scarlett said. “It’s just a matter of time.”

“Because of Roni Jo’s dedication, love and perseverance in helping Karsen develop strength and posture control, she is now able to sit on her own, negotiate stairs and best of all, follow me through the house in a perfect four-point crawl,” Elaine said. “She has progressed so well that Roni Jo has procured a special walker for her and is now focusing her therapy on walking, something we never dreamed Karsen would do.”

Since the First Steps program works only with children up to age 3, Karsen will soon be paired with another therapist to continue her physical and mental development.

“Karsen will move forward with our knowledge that Roni Jo has helped her be the very best that she can be at this point in her life,” Elaine said.

And that is all Scarlett strives to do.

“I try to give the best of me in helping them achieve their dreams,” she said.

Besides working for First Steps, Scarlett also works for the Home Health Care department at Schneck Medical Center, where she has the opportunity to work with many elderly patients.

“I love all my patients,” she said. “If given the choice of who I would rather work with, children or my elderly patients, I couldn’t choose.”

From the Tampico area, Scarlett said she never dreamed she would one day become a physical therapist.

“I grew up on a farm and I always wanted to be a veterinarian,” she said. “But when I got older, it seemed like that was too long to have to go to school.”

So while still in high school, she did some job shadowing at the hospital.

“Throughout the course of the day we got to see different areas, and the last one of the day was physical therapy,” she said. “After watching them work, I just fell in love with it.”

She attended the University of Evansville and graduated with a degree in physical therapy.

“It’s been my life for the past 15 years,” she said. “I love it because I get to know my patients and have fun with them. I’m a very social person, so it’s easy for me to develop a rapport with them.”

But unlike physicians, Scarlett doesn’t have to contend with long shifts and on-call hours.

“At the end of the day I can go home to my family and have a life, without worrying about being called into work. My family is very important to me.” she said.

Scarlett has four children, Braden 14, Mitchell, 11, Andrew 8, and Grace, 3, with her husband, Mike.

“I don’t consider myself a healer,” Scarlett said. “I consider myself lucky to have the job that I do.”