The life-changing work of Easterseals flew under James Sayre’s radar for 33 years until daughter Julia arrived two months early in May 2017.
“I had probably been past the building hundreds if not thousands of times, never knowing what a critical role Easterseals would come to play in our lives,” James Sayre said.
Eight years later, Julia, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, has had countless hours of speech, physical and occupational therapy at the nonprofit Easterseals Rehabilitation Center on National Road. For her first six years, she had a tracheostomy tube, which her mother, Jen, said was one of the most nerve-wracking parts of her medical care – “It was terrifying” relying on the apparatus to ensure her daughter was still breathing, she said.
Julia has had as many as 15 medical specialists, from an orthopedic surgeon to an audiologist, most of them at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She has had 17 surgeries, the latest of which was July 10 to lengthen the metal growing rods in her back.
Julia bounces back from these surgeries more quickly than one might expect. Her mother said she attributes it to Julia’s strength, high pain tolerance and the fact she eats more nutritiously than the rest of the family — including meat ground by grandfather Dave Rotriga at Miklas Meat Market and fed to her through a gastrostomy tube. Julia also is stubborn and ornery, Jen Sayre added.
During a therapy session at Easterseals last week, Julia squealed with laughter after kicking a large exercise ball to knock over plastic bowling pins.
“She loves chaos. She’s my chaos coordinator,” Jen Sayre remarked.
James and Jen Sayre now have a much better understanding of Easterseals than most people, and they are eager to share their experiences. Thursday night, they shared their gratitude at the 11th annual Kalkreuth Vendor Invitational dinner at Oglebay Resort’s Glessner Auditorium.
“Julia is the one on stage here tonight, but she just represents one of many, many — countless — individuals that have had their lives literally transformed by this organization. ... So thank you to everyone for raising these funds," James Sayre said.
Every year, the dinner kicks off the weekend’s golf events, including today’s Kalkreuth Vendor Invitational golf scramble, followed by the Kalkreuth Amateur Golf Championship Saturday and Sunday, at Oglebay’s Jones and Palmer courses.
Since 2015, Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal has raised over $373,000 for Easterseals, which was founded in 1937. The center accepts all insurances but turns no one away for inability to pay, relying on community donations to fill the gaps.
“We are incredibly grateful to Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal for their continued generosity and belief in our mission,” Easterseals President and CEO Eric Filberto said. “This event is a demonstration of what’s possible when a business invests in its community. We’re proud to partner with a company that understands the true meaning of giving back.”
The vendor event brings together the roofing company’s suppliers and partners locally and from around the country, including co-title sponsors ABC Supply Co., Carlisle Construction Materials and Johns Manville. Local supporters include The Health Plan of the Upper Ohio Valley and WesBanco.
Money raised through sponsorships adds to Kalkreuth’s support of Easterseals. This year’s donation goal was $50,000, and by Thursday night, the total was $60,000. By the end of the tournament and after all expenses were paid, Kalkreuth gave a record $80,000 to Easterseals.
“We are proud to continue our longstanding support of Easterseals and the incredible work they do,” said Kalkreuth President and CEO James Hurley, who serves on the Easterseals board of directors.
“The Kalkreuth Amateur golf event is a testament to the generosity of our community supporters and industry sponsors, whose continued commitment makes this event—and its impact—possible. We’re grateful for the partnerships year after year that allow us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those Easterseals serves,” Hurley said.
Easterseals provides services to over 2,000 clients a year at the center’s Wheeling and Steubenville locations, as well as in homes and schools throughout the Upper and Mid-Ohio Valley. Over 70% of clients receive some form of financial assistance.
“Fortunately, we do have insurance; however, it only covers so many visits,” James Sayre said. “When you have a family member as complex as Julia, these benefits may quickly be exhausted. Everyday life can be challenging enough without the additional financial burden. The money raised from this event makes a direct and lasting impact on those who need it most,” James Sayre said.
Julia received West Virginia Birth to Three early intervention before starting weekly therapy sessions at Easterseals. Every Thursday for the past five years, she has worked with speech-language pathologist Leigh Mull, physical therapist Krystal Wilson and occupational therapist Mary Conley. She also receives in-school therapy at Elm Grove Elementary School, where she will be entering second grade next month.
She loves books, especially the Chicka Chicka series, and music, namely nursery rhymes, the ABCs and hymns, such as “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Julia participates in Miracle League baseball, volleyball, kickball and bowling, she loves to swim, and she dances at Oglebay Institute School of Dance. She also cheers for the Shooting Stars.
Her sister, 13-year-old Jillian, is often by her side, acting as her baseball “buddy” and dancing duets with Julia in recitals and talent shows, including the Everyone’s Got Talent show, which the duo won in 2024. Her grandparents, Dave and Laura Rotriga and Cheryl Sayre, are her biggest fans.
Her therapists use all of Julia’s interests to help motivate her. Julia is nonverbal, but Mull is teaching her to communicate using some signs, some vocalizations and her communication device, which is programmed to teach her sounds, colors, the alphabet, and simple phrases, such as “My name is Julia,” “Thank you,” “Hello” and “Goodbye.”
Recently, Conley has been working with Julia on maneuvering her wheelchair manually. In the past, it was a struggle to get her to place her hands on the push rims. She now has begun to spontaneously and purposefully back up, turn or go forward. Wilson is working to strengthen Julia’s muscles so she can go from lying down to sitting up or vice versa without help. She also is taking steps independently with a specialized gait trainer donated by a local family.
The goal is always to increase her independence as much as possible and to improve her quality of life.
“Julia has been crushing goals since 2020 and together, with Easterseals, we look forward to seeing what she will accomplish next,” her father said.
