Alison Higginbotham

Alison is my 23 year old daughter who has been an inspiration to me and to many who know her. As you find your way through Alison's web site, you will learn about her life, her loves, and interests.

Alison is a beautiful girl who is full of life, and hasn't let the results of a rare seizure disorder called infantile spasms keep her from enjoying life to her fullest. She loves to be on the go and seeing new things. She loves her family, friends and being in her community. The biggest influence on her life is God.

Infantile spasms are a special form of epilepsy which occurs during infancy. The spasms usually begin when the baby is between three and eight months of age. In approximately 50 per cent of cases, the cause of infantile spasms is not known. However, in the other 50 per cent there are many different conditions affecting the brain such as birth injury and meningitis or head trauma which can cause this type of epilepsy.

Alison's Love of Alison Krauss

Alison has a love for the music of Alison Krauss which has impacted her development. Read Alison's Allure and Hear Bluegrass on the Water .

News:

July 2008:  Alison moves into her own apartment!

Alison has moved into her own apartment under the Supported Independent Living Program through Louisiana's NOW Waiver. 

For years we have advocated for in-home supports and services for people with disabilities.  The Supported Independent Living Program is one of the services that was included in the advocacy we have done.  I am proud to have been part of this that not only will provide some independence for Alison, but also to many others with disabilities.  This is a milestone for Alison!

-- Karen Lagrange, mother

Summer 2005:  Alison wins the "Most Improved" award with at Lion's Camp was accompanied with this letter:

"A picture is worth a thousand words. This camper does not have many words to say, but the lasting pictures of her beautiful smile and wonderful expressions she leaves on the minds and hearts of everyone she meets speaks volumes. At the beginning of the week she was reserved and not eager to participate. After a few days she was up with a smile ready for the day and began participating with the rest of the group, even bowling. That is why from Sioux and sponsored by the Opelousas Lions Club, the most improved girl camper is Alison Higginbotham."

Alison's interests and loves

• music of Alison Krauss, a bluegrass singer and fiddlist!
• yogurt (she could be a poster child for yogurt)!
• Yoo-hoo chocolate drink!
• riding in the van (I had a license plate made that states "Driving Miss Ali")
• rolling skating (I skate and push her in her wheelchair)
• swimming
• being outside
• riding on her new adaptive tricycle
• going to the park to swing on the wheelchair swing
• going to Louisiana Lion's Camp 

Alison is in these books:

Paul Overstreet has put together a book of how songs have affected someone's life.  It's called "Forever and Ever, Amen" and was released in May 2001.  Alison's love of Alison Krauss is in the book. 

You Will Dream New Dreams : Inspiring Personal Stories by Parents of Children With Disabilities by Stanley D. Klein (Editor), Kim Schive (Editor). Alison's story is  in this book.