For the Elizabeth and Tom, helping children with disabilities has become a regular part of life, but it wasn't always that way. Their journey began when Elizabeth was in her fifth month of pregnancy.

That's when she and her husband, Tom, learned via ultrasound that their baby was missing her right hand.  "Finding that out was the worst day of my life," says Elizabeth. For months, they worried about it and about what else might be wrong.

In the end, Lila was born with no other problems. Knowing ahead of time became a blessing. While still pregnant, the couple was able to process the news, tour Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, and discuss options for Lila's care with Gillette staff members. "The birth wasn't ruined with the fright of the whole experience," says Elizabeth. "We already knew. So we just said, 'yep, no hand,' and moved on."

At five months old, Lila received her first prosthetic, which helped her balance when sitting up. Then, she tried a heavier, "functional" prosthetic with movable fingers. The increased weight made Lila reluctant to wear it, so her parents chose another passive prosthetic hand that Lila can choose to wear. "She plays with it. She knows how to put it on, and she does from time to time," says Elizabeth.

Lila often figures out how to get what she wants without the prosthetic. "The other night I came home and my husband (had) put her in her highchair and given her an Oreo. While his back was turned, she got it open and was licking the inside," says Elizabeth.

While Lila has been growing and developing her independence, the family has explored ways to help others who have undergone similar health issues. In the summer of 2005, Elizabeth launched a Twin Cities-based support group called Little Fins. The group takes its name from the movie Finding Nemo, which features an adventurous little clown fish with an underdeveloped fin. Anyone interested in the support group can visit the Little Fins Web site at www.littlefins.org.

The family also is committed to participating in the KS95 for Kids Radiothon. "Gillette is a good place for a lot of people, including us," she says. "And we want to keep it that way.  We feel so fortunate to be able to give back because there are parents of kids who can't possibly volunteer, because their child is so sick or disabled that the child needs the parent a hundred percent of the time."

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