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President and Founder:  Mary Kay Ballasiotes
Mother of a girl born in 1997 who has right hemiparesis due to a prenatal stroke.

Mary Kay Ballasiotes started the PACHS support group, now known as CSHC of IL, in April 2002 in hopes of meeting other families in similar situations and to share resources.  The group has evolved from that point into a valuable resource for families, medical professionals and researchers.  Mary Kay served on the Illinois State Advisory Council for the Education of Children with Disabilities from March 2004 to December 2006.  She is also a member of the steering committee for Stroke Survivors Empowering Each Other, an American Heart Association, Chicago based advocacy group.  Ballasiotes holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.  

Vice President:  Nicole (Nikki) O’Dell
Mother of a boy born in 2001 who has cerebral palsy (unknown cause) and epilepsy.

Nikki O’Dell has been an active member of CSHC of IL since 2002.  She and her family live in central Illinois, but still participate in person as much as they can.  Nikki is a former paramedic and firefighter.  She has a Master’s Degree in Epidemiology from University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health Education.  Nikki’s background and experience in public health research and grant writing will be a valuable asset to our organization.

Secretary:  Cindy Bacys
Mother of a girl born in 2000 who has right hemiparesis due to a perinatal stroke.

Cindy Bacys and her husband Eric were one of the founding families of CSHS of IL when it started in April 2002.   Both Cindy and Eric have been actively involved in creating awareness of pediatric stroke.  Most recently, Eric ran in the American Stroke Association’s Train To End Stroke, to raise funds and awareness for pediatric stroke.  Cindy is a part-time legal secretary with a Chicago law firm.

Treasurer:  Mary Jo Taira (Officer, not a Board member)
Mother of a boy born in 1996 who has right hemiparesis due to a perinatal stroke.

The Taira family resides in the near west suburbs of Chicago, and has been actively involved in CSHC of IL since 2002.   From the time of the stroke diagnosis of her son at the age of 1, and the later related seizure disorder that developed at age 9, Mary Jo has been his constant advocate for proper care and control of his needs.   In addition, the Taira’s younger daughter also developed an unrelated seizure disorder and thus Mary Jo is very familiar with all the issues involved in proper seizure management – school issues and medication management in particular.   Prior to her current role as a mother of 3 children, Mary Jo was a Certified Financial Planner with Ernst and Young LLP.  She graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Illinois and simultaneously achieved her CPA certificate.

Director of Development:  Michelle Dirks
Mother of a girl born in 2000 who has left hemiparesis due to a perinatal stroke.

Michelle and her family reside in the near west suburbs of Chicago, and have been a part of CSHC since its inception as PACHS in 2002.  She has served as a Parent Liaison with IL Early Intervention Services while her daughter was enrolled in the program.  She is currently the Sales Manager for the Oak Park Area Convention and Visitor Bureau.  Dirks holds a B.A. in Communications from Loyola University of Chicago and has professional experience in broadcast promotion, event planning, marketing and public relations. 

Gina Detmer, M.D.
Mother of a boy born in 2000 who has right hemiparesis due to a perinatal stroke.

Dr. Gina Detmer is a board-certified general pediatrician who works part-time at Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago. She and her husband have worked at the clinic since 1999. She graduated from Yale University and the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine with honors. She completed pediatric residency training at Children's Hospital of Cincinnati. The Detmers have benefited from CSHC of IL since its earliest days and continue to be encouraged by the professionals and families who are involved. Together with their three children, they are grateful for the opportunity to help others whose lives have been affected by stroke or hemiplegia.

Rosemary Kryk
Mother of a girl born in 1997 who has right hemiparesis due to a perinatal stroke.

Rosemary Kryk has been involved with CSHC of IL since its inception as PACHS in 2002.  She takes inspiration from her daughter  — a brave, determined stroke survivor.  Because it took more than a year to get her daughter diagnosed, Rosemary joined the board to help educate parents and the medical community for earlier diagnosis in others.  She also volunteers with a variety of local charities, including the food pantry and family services, while concentrating on achieving special education reforms.  Kryk graduated from the University of Wisconsin –Madison with degrees in Marketing and Administrative Management and holds an MBA from Northern Illinois University.  She has broad sales and marketing experience with a Fortune 100 company.

Amy Kurtz, MOTR/L

Amy Kurtz is a practicing occupational therapist in the Chicago area.  She studied occupational therapy at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri where she obtained her masters degree.  She has since focused her practice and expertise in the field of pediatrics.  Her treatment methods encompass the functional abilities and success of children as well as the specialized area of sensory processing.

Ms. Kurtz has also completed the publication of Occupational Therapy Quick Reference Guide: For the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injured Patients © in 2005 and is currently working on a pediatric occupational therapy guide and co-authoring a book on Asperger Syndrome.  For more information, access her website at www.helpinghandstherapy.net

 

 

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