THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE FEATURE STORY
ABOVE: Blake Kinnett also was grand marshal in Rossville’s Fourth of July parade, getting around town in the family’s golf cart wrapped in orange — a favorite color of Team Blake. (photo provided)
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When the proud Vermilion County village of Alvin celebrates its 150th anniversary this weekend, a favorite son will be front and center, leading Saturday’s parade. To mark the occasion, we asked Becky Kinnett, the mother of grand marshal Blake Kinnett, to put into words what the town has meant to her family.
They say it takes a village to raise a child. In our case with Blake, that was so very true.
Blake has been fighting Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) for the past 8½ years. ALD is a genetic disorder that mainly affects the nervous system and the adrenal glands. In this disorder, the fatty covering (myelin) that insulates nerves in the brain and spinal cords deteriorates. The loss of myelin reduces the ability of the nerves to relay information to the brain.
In Blake’s journey, he quickly lost his ability to see, talk, walk and swallow within 10 months of diagnosis. He was only 15 and given two years to live
Blake just celebrated his 24th birthday.
FOR MORE FROM THIS STORY PLEASE GO TO https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/community-events/thank-you-alvin-it-has-been-a-blessing-to-raise-blake-in-such-an-amazing/article_40e846a5-74e9-43cd-bbe7-167b016b761c.html
