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Published Monday, March 23, 2009 in Local

Cheer squad member Sara Tinney's life was changed by brain injury

By Brenda Pedraza-Vidamour

The Times-Herald

Sara Tinney's birthday is this Thursday -- but one awful day more than three years ago, her mother didn't think the now confident, red-headed teen would see past her 10th birthday.

Tinney was riding her bike when she was hit by the driver of a sport utility vehicle. Tinney survived, but her life changed. Her injuries left her in a coma for six months and disabled for life.

Tinney suffers from a traumatic brain injury, and is one of the special needs students in Newnan Southern Stars "Super Stars" cheerleading squad. The squad is sponsored by the Newnan School of Gymnastics and Cheerleading and the Coweta County Special Olympics.

It became the first cheerleading team from Georgia to win a Cheersport National Championship title in its division. The 12-member team won the title last February in the Special Needs II Division.

"It's only the icing on the cake," said Faith Shiffert, mother of 10-year-old Katie. "What they learn here physically, mentally and socially is far more important than any medals they wear around their neck."

The irony of their accomplishments haven't escaped Wendy Gancasz, Tinney's mother.

Her daughter couldn't stand nor walk without stumbling less than three years ago. She had balancing issues because of the brain injury.

"She went from not being able to stand straight up to all the way up in the air and being able to balance on the pyramid," Gancasz said.

Tinney can often be seen balanced at the top of one the squad's stunts in cheer practices and routines.

Cheerleading has not only increased the children's functional motor skills, but has also boosted their confidence, self-esteem and social skills.

"The big thing is because... of the damage to her frontal lobe, the kids in the school would make fun of her all the time... Now they say hi to her in the hallways and if other kids say mean things to her, her new friends stand up for her and make them stop."

Caron Davis has experienced the same changes with her 6-year-old daughter, Caitlyn.

"Those girls know more about their special needs kids than anyone," she said. "She has found friends that will last her all her life."

One of the student volunteers is Cassie Brown, a 16-year-old junior at Northgate High School, who has been so impressed with the program, she's considering it for a career.

"Oh my gosh, it is so much fun. I love it. I love it so much I think I might be a special education teacher," she said.

Parents offer equally high praise for the program, the coaches and volunteer students, including Serik Barrios and owner Greg "Cricket" Shelnutt.

"Coach Serik, Coach Cricket, they're amazing. They're lifesavers," Gancasz said.

The program's impact has been so profound that in many cases, parents have dropped their children's other physical therapies. Such was the case for Kellie Rasch whose son, Brandon, has been involved in everything from occupational therapy to hippotherapy (use of horses). The 9-year-old suffers from numerous disabilities that include Pierre Robin Sequence, laryngo tracheomalacia and sensory integration dysfunction.

"Developmentally, he operates at the level of about a 4- to 5-year-old," she said.

Despite the various therapies, "we never saw any progress with his socialization skills," until Brandon began cheerleading, she said. "He smiles more and more."

But it didn't start out that way. Rasch credits Brandon's assistant, Rose Thompson, for laying down the foundation.

Rasch explained that the music accompanying the cheers was at first so over-stimulating for Brandon that he got scared and started crying. Thompson offered him cotton balls to stuff in his ears and a headband to muffle the sounds.

The instant connection with Thompson and the ease with which she has developed their relationship has helped Brandon deal with the distress that often accompanies in unfamiliar surroundings.

Shiffert said the children's progress can be summed up in the cheer that often begins the Super Stars cheer routine -- "Southern Stars! You're looking at the best! National Champions! Nothing less!"

"And that's exactly what they achieved," Shiffert said.

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