Contest Win Could Help Girl With Cerebral Palsy, Parents

It's been more than a year since Lori and Jason Griggs turned to the Internet to help find funding to pay for the start of intensive therapy for their daughter, Kiley, who has cerebral palsy.

They entered Kiley, now 4, into an online sweepstakes and won the grand prize of $10,000. 

Now Lori, a Rushe Middle School teacher, and Jason are seeking a new contest win. This time, the winnings would finance Kiley’s therapy and would also go to funding therapy for her parents.

The New Port Richey residents have entered the Tampa-based Laser Spine Institute's Make a Comeback contest. The winner of the contest gets $5,000 to help with spine health.

The winner of the contest will be “determined by popular vote from the public Facebook and YouTube communities,” according to the contest rules.

Contestants in the “Make a Comeback” contest post videos on how they would use the prize money on the contest’s Facebook app. The public can vote on the their favorite entrant via the app.

In her entry video, Lori notes that kids with cerebral palsy have a high incidence of scoliosis and hip dysplasia “so we would really like to help (Kiley) with her physical therapy.”

Lori and Jason dream of Kiley being able to walk on her own some day. She can’t now.

Working with Kiley also puts strain on the backs of Kiley’s parents. Kiley weighs 35 pounds, and her wheelchair weighs another 45 pounds.

Jason “Jay” Griggs is a firefighter in Dunedin. He has strain on his back and four herniated discs.

“Some days, I’m afraid I won’t be able to lift my little girl to help her succeed at walking, so I would love the extra money to help with chiropractic and massage therapy, ” he said in the video.  

The majority of the contest money would go toward funding TheraSuit Therapy, said Lori. Therasuit helps increase muscle strength, flexibility, coordination and range of motion.

“She finished her last session in November and one month later started taking a few steps in her walker unassisted,” Lori said. “That is a huge step for us. With additional physical therapy, we are on our way to having her walk in her walker longer distances.” 

Kiley has been enrolled in TheraSuit Therapy since October of 2011. The Griggs won the grand prize of the UPromise Sweepstakes, and used that to start funding the therapy. They also won money from Disney’s I Heart My Family Contest to help with funding the therapy.

Kiley's next TheraSuit session will be in April.

The Griggs are looking for votes in the “Make a Comeback” contest. Voting opened Tuesday, Jan. 8, and will continue through Jan 21.

Anyone who wants to vote in the contest must first “like” the Laser Spine Institute’s Facebook Fan page and also approve the contest’s Facebook app. Votes can be made once a day.

Visit the Laser Spine Institute Facebook Fan page.

See Also:
'God Bless These Little Legs'

Rushe Teacher 1 Step Closer to Dream Of Seeing Her Daughter Walk

Child with Cerebral Palsy Reaches Huge Milestone