Students get her big tricycle back in the pink

The adult trike provides a lot of joy andhelp to a woman with a severe condition.

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE, Times Correspondent
Published December 27, 2007

Georgianna Volkman, 44, gleefully reacts after getting her pink tricycle Dec. 20. Several Hernando High students rebuilt the adult trike for Volkman, who suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome.
	[Keri Wiginton | Times]

BROOKSVILLE - Georgianna Volkman's old tricycle was a rusty mess, with flat tires and a pink paint job that was mostly a memory.

But it was like a comfortable old friend, and the 44-year-old Brooksville woman missed spending time with it.

Diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome at an early age, Georgianna Volkman really needs to exercise, said her mother, Judy Volkman. Prader-Willi is a genetic disorder characterized by constant feelings of hunger that can lead to weight gain, diminished motor skills and mental retardation.

Judy Volkman wanted to get the adult-sized tricycle fixed, but she couldn't find anyone to tackle the repairs. One day, as she talked to a friend at a store about her circumstances, a young employee of the store interrupted her.

The clerk was a recent graduate from Hernando High School and mentioned that the school has a class for small gas engine repairs. He suggested that Judy Volkman call the teacher to see if he could help.

In a flash, she was on the phone to vocational teacher David Hibbert, who quickly agreed to help. Volkman would have to cover only the cost of any parts needed.

Four of his seniors tackled the job, with Robert O'Brien, 17, leading, helped by classmates Nathen Jones, 17, Lacey Strickland, 17, and Tony Sims, 17.

O'Brien diagnosed the tricycle as "not real good." The color was ugly, the wheels didn't work; but then, the brakes didn't, either.

He and Jones started the makeover by taking the tricycle apart. With Sims' help, they then sanded all of the metal and reassembled the trike.

O'Brien repainted it Georgianna Volkman's favorite color, pink. Strickland, meanwhile, polished the rims to a cheery shine.

The team was working under a self-imposed yuletide deadline.

"We tried to get it done as quickly as possible," Strickland said, "so we could give it back to her for Christmas."

When Judy Volkman heard from the class that the tricycle was ready, she arranged for her neighbor Scott Shuster to pick it up and bring it home.

"We thought we wouldn't be able to have it back until after Christmas," Judy Volkman said.

Georgianna missed the trike but had accepted that the repairs would take some time to complete. Not that she was terribly patient about the wait.

"She talked about it constantly. That's all I heard about since they took it," Judy Volkman said.

The students never met Georgianna Volkman, but they were glad to help. "We enjoyed doing it for her," Strickland said. Hibbert was proud of his students, noting, "They've given a lot of their time and a lot of hard work."

When the beloved tricycle returned, both mother and daughter were delighted.

"I like it, Momma!" Georgianna Volkman said, grinning as she took her new pink present for a spin.

Paulette Lash Ritchie can be reached at eduritchie@yahoo.com.

[Last modified December 26, 2007, 20:54:35]