HELP Forgotten Children

Seven-year-old Paola of North County was born with spina bifida. When Nurse Toby contacted STLHELP, Paola was still crawling and had never been to school.

School Nurse Toby Arman, of Riverview Gardens School District in North County, believes in helping little children. She was determined to change seven-year-old Paola’s life. Paola was born with spina bifida. ”Paola was still crawling, not yet walking, and had never been to school,” said Toby. Paola, of North County, required a pediatric wheelchair, but it proved to be a challenge for Toby to find one. 

"I reached out to everyone I could think of, all the big names. No one was able to help,” said Toby. "Then the words ‘STLHELP’ appeared. I dialed the number listed and said ‘Hi. I need help. Please tell me you can help me.’ The kindest voice replied, ‘You have called the right place.’"  Toby Arman, School Nurse

Things move quickly with STLHELP. Within a week, Paola received her appropriately sized wheelchair and immediately began attending school - for the first time! The bright child is expected to catch-up with her classmates within a year - thanks to Nurse Toby. “She now has what she needs to feel that she belongs,” said Toby.