Four families form the core group, and through a variety of resources, including the summer conference, a computer discussion group, and various papers and periodicals, we are learning more all the time about the effects of this genetic condition. The highlight among our monthly meetings was a talk by a developmental pediatrician who has done special medical studies in this area. Over 30 people took advantage of this initial effort at community education to learn more about how to work with children who have this most common inherited cause of mental retardation. After sporadic encounters with mice and spending the better part of a week removing a bat from the house, we discovered this fall that the termites were migrating in our neighborhood. 48 hours later, we finally had water again, just in time to be reminded at Thanksgiving time that we have many things to be grateful for.
Electronic communication brings both enlightenment and consternation to our household.
While Paul toys with turning his hobby into a supplementary source of income, Renita explores her own interests through newsgroups and on a local Christian bulletin board. She won a short story contest to become a sub-operator on one of the discussion groups of this board. Meanwhile, both Paul and Renita have made rudimentary efforts at posting more information, pictures, and links to areas of interest on the World Wide Web . If you look hard enough, you'll find numerous ways to find out more about us or communicate with us by any means you choose. The Leichty Letter is an annual publication of Paul, Nancy, Nathan, and Renita Leichty for the purpose of sending Christmas greetings and keeping in touch with family and friends.