BEST OF THE BEST 2012 - KAREN PORTIS

(MUSIC PLAYS)

Narrator: Nine year old Sar Hawkins just loves Sponge Bob Square Pants. It may be fun, but it's also work. One of the many therapies Sar works on during this busy day. When Sar came to live with Karen Portis and her family in Tulsa almost five years ago he had major health issues and had been in and out of hospitals. 

No Audio: Mechelle Dodgion  Physical Therapy Assistant

Mechelle Dodgion: When he first came in the house he wouldn't even crawl across the room. I mean he just kind of sat and scooted around on his bottom. After a while we suggested to Karen to help encourage him is to set toys out of his reach in big ol circle and they play with the toys and have him in the middle. And he'll start crawling to them. And after a night or two he started... he just got up and went over and crawled to one and that's when they started encouraging him. They would crawl. They would get up and crawl to the toys with him and everything and for him and show him what they were doing and he started imitating. I mean everything we have ever suggested she's followed. She's helped out with. She sees us working with him on something and she'll start doing it. So now she's always walking him when they go out to the car she walks him to the car or walks him into church or into the doctor's office instead of carrying him all the time. They encourage him to walk as often as possible. 

Narrator: Karen makes sure Sar sees Bob Burnett in Ramona Oklahoma for therapeutic horseback riding several times a month. Karen says her little cowboy enjoys his rides and it's also helped his muscle control. 

Mechelle Dodgion: It's a real blessing when you get one of these kids and you really get to know them and you really get to see them progress. So many of them come in kind of different environments when they come into foster care. They come out of different neglectful environments and where, when a family, someone is willing to open their hearts up and show these kids what love is and it really makes an impact on their lives. Karen and Samuel and the whole family has really just taken Sar in and just he's one of theirs now. 

Narrator: Her program coordinator says Karen advocates for Sar at school, in court and clearly has his best interests at heart. She feels Karen has developed a particular intuition when it comes to Sar.

No Audio: Ashley Neel  Program Coordinator, Renaissance Management Group

Ashley Neel: There are some things he may not be able to do, but there's so much he can do. We talk all the time about how intelligent he is. For his ability level what he can achieve is astronomical. Whether it's horseback riding, learning to walk, the gains he's made in showing affection - that's something that a lot of the doctors never thought he would be able to do. They never thought he would walk. And he's done so well with that. He really has. And it's because of Karen's constant attention to him. 

Narrator: Sar is a totally different person from the one Karen described as a blank slate just a few years ago. A boy who never smiled, made eye contact, laughed or even hugged. 

No Audio: Karen Portis - Companion

Karen Portis: It's unbelievable just the little things he does how much it means. He's changed totally. He's... you see expression in his face. He's happy. He's joy. It's no longer that blank face. No longer turning away from you. Now he initiates that. He'll climb up on the sofa and hug you. He smiles. He laughs. He giggles all the time. We went three months before we ever heard him giggle. Now he laughs every day, all the time. I wish that there was a place in everyone's home for someone like Sar, so that they could experience the same joy that we have. And share something with someone in need because even though you think you're helping someone, you're the one who is going to benefit the most. My title actually is companion caregiver. And I'm Sar's companion, but just to love Sar and to take care of him is the best description I have. It's just someone to love and care for.