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| Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott Jada Robbins, 8, the daughter of Jessica and Travis Robbins of Caribou was recently presented with a $100 check from The Cubby in Caribou, for being named the store’s March Hero of the Month. With the Cubby Hero is her mother, Jessica, left and Jodi Cate, store manager of The Cubby in Caribou. |
By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Jada Robbins, the 8-year-old daughter of Travis and Jessica Robbins of Caribou was recently named The Cubby’s March Hero of the Month, by Cindy Johnson, owner of the second-hand shop.
Born 25 weeks premature on Oct. 20, 2003, and spending the first four months of her life hospitalized at the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Jada has proven she is a fighter. “She has come so far,” said Jessica Robbins, “her doctors didn’t think she would survive very long after her birth.”
Diagnosed at birth with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, bilateral-hydrocephalus and a malformed kidney, which was removed at birth, Jada is blind and has also been diagnosed with global developmental delay. Due to her afflictions, her immune system is easily compromised.
“Jada used to be able to walk more by herself,” stated her mom, “but now she uses her wheelchair all of the time, unless she is scooting around on the floor. You always have that hope — we just keep plugging away with therapy and she now sees a specialist every three months in Houlton who gives her Botox injections.”
Due to Jada’s lack of interest in nourishment and hydration, in December she underwent surgery to have a feeding tube put into place. “Once she became more comfortable with the tube, she started improving and her appetite is much better,” said Jessica Robbins. The young lady also sees her primary physicians every six months.
Jada is a second-grade student at Hilltop Elementary but given her sensitive immune system and all of the seasonal illnesses that frequent any public location, she has been receiving her education, during the recent months via her teacher Miss Victoria Jones, coming to her home. “She looks forward to these visits from Miss Jones,” stated Jada’s mother.
“It’s hard sometimes,” smiles Jessica Robbins, “but she is so special. I begged for her to be here and she is — we get to see her, it’s such a blessing. We do all that we can for her and we never lose hope. She is so sweet and really pretty easygoing — and she is a real trooper when it comes to all of her doctor appointments,” she added.
The Robbins household is a very busy one, as Jada also has two siblings, an older sister Abbi, who is 9, and younger brother Tristan, who is 5. “They are wonderful with Jada, very protective and patient,” said their Mom, “we also have other family members who help out a lot — it’s nice to have that extra support.”
“You have to have faith and hope. With lots of early intervention and the realization that you do what you can handle, parents of special needs children can’t be afraid to ask for help,” stated Jessica. “You see life from a different perspective. Life takes you on a lot of highs and lows — you just pull the strength from somewhere —you have to be able to handle the ride.”
Jada received a $100 check from The Cubby for being named the store’s March Hero. “Jada has been a very busy lady,” said Johnson, “with traveling to medical appointments and undergoing surgeries, we consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have her with us today. We know she still has many health challenges to face but feel confident, that with the support of her loving family and caring community, she will emerge triumphant from any situation.”
