Rick and Jody Prunty have a six year old daughter, Sophie, who is a special child born with an extremely rare disorder called Hereditary Motor-Sensory Neuropathy Type II. She was fully diagnosed after many tests, an original stay in the hospital for one month, and finally a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to see the experts. This "orphan disease" occurs in approximately one in one million births. Born with club feet, (which have since been corrected,) she displays large and fine motor skill delays. One of the unique symptoms of this disorder is that Sophie lacks peripheral feelings. She is oblivious to pain caused to her body from the outside. If she cuts herself or pokes her eye, she has no pain. This is both a blessing and a curse.

Without pain she can do damage to herself easily, and pain can also be a great teacher. Prevention of injury and infection are high priorities. Last February, Sophie and her family faced some challeges regarding her GI tract. Sophie had many hospital stays throughout the Winter and Spring, one of which the doctor's saved her life by placing a tube in her cecum (large intestine) and a Gastrointesinal tube. As of this writing she is still challenged with GI Tract pseudo-obstruction issues which has sent her back to the hospital on occasion.

Sophie is currently followed by a Pediatric Neurologist and a Pediatric Gastroenterologist, along with receiving Physical and Occupational and Speech therapies weekly. Her prognosis is unknown, but she continues to improve at a slow but steady pace in most of her skills. That is the "Medical Side" of Sophie. Ask her family and they will tell you she is a funny, happy, beautiful, delightful 6 year old. Despite her "floppy-baby" diagnosis, she has become a strong-willed, always moving, curious kid. What comes easily to other children, like picking up a small object, is a great challenge for her. Her Father and Mother, Rick and Jody Prunty, along with her health professionals have marveled at her progress despite the challenges she faces. She adores animals, books and kids, and can dazzle you with her charms. Sophie loves life!