Lauren's CyberHome

Welcome to my CyberHome. My name is Lauren Hall and I am nine years old. I live with my mommy (Sherry) and my brother (Brandon) in Madison next to Huntsville, Alabama, deep in the Heart of Dixie and home of the famous Space and Rocket Center.

The doctors said I was born with the Cri du Chat Syndrome. Information about this syndrome is available here via hyperlinks.

One of my main purposes of having a CyberHome is to share with you what I am experiencing (or have experienced) as a child growing up with Cri du Chat. So come by for a visit in my CyberHome at anytime and enjoy some real Southern Hospitality while you are here.

Contents

• Picture Gallery
• Hobbies
• My Friends
• "Bubba" Brandon
• Cri du Chat Syndrome
• Fun things to do on the Web
• Miscellaneous
• URL-Minder (be notified by email when this web page changes - for free!)
• Guestbook (please sign our guestbook)

Hobbies

• Dance

Macarena. I learned the Macarena at the 1996 5p- Society annual conference in Houston, Texas. Whenever I hear the music I get very excited. I start dancing the Macarena even if I am not standing because you can do it using just your arms and hands.

My Friends

I love to watch Barney videos and watch his shows on TV. It was a "dream come true" to see him in a live performance at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Tennessee, March 1997. Someday soon, I hope to see and spend A Day in the Park with Barney® at Universal Studios Florida® in Orlando (Florida). Barney is always there.

I was lucky to receive two Elmo's, a BIG Elmo for my 8th birthday and a little "Tickle Me" Elmo to take with me to the 1996 5p- Society annual conference in Houston, Texas. "Tickle Me" Elmo scared me the first time he vibrated from laughing so hard. He doesn't scare me anymore but to make him "vibrate," I found it easier to sit on his stomach than finding his tickle spot with my fingers.

Sesame Street is where Big Bird and his Friends hang out. The Big Bird I'm holding is animatronics. An audio cassette tape is inserted in him that will synchronize eyelid and mouth movements with the music and narration. None of the animatronics and cassette tape mechanism work anymore because I dropped Big Bird "one too-many times." By the way, my brother can't stand to hear Big Bird or Barney tapes. So don't feel bad if your siblings feel the same way. I never get tired playing those tapes over and over and over again. It makes me feel good and happy.
       Here is another tip if you have audio cassette or video tapes that you like to play a lot: Make copies! For some unknown reason, tape players love to chew up tapes.
       We were at the Huntsville Depot Museum when this picture was taken in January 1997. I love choo-choo trains. It is another hobby of mine so come back for more visits and you might be lucky to see more pictures of me with these BIG choo-choo trains. If you take a good look at my right hand, you may notice that I am clutching something. The items were two marbles. It makes me feel more secure to have something in my hand all the time. Besides small balls or marbles, I like to hold a pencil in my hand, especially yellow (my favorite color) pencils. (click the thumbnail to see a larger picture)

"Bubba" Brandon

Cri du Chat Syndrome

• The Cri Du Chat Syndrome Support Group (CDCSSG) provides support and friendship for families and carers; raises awareness of Cri Du Chat Syndrome amongst the medical profession and the public.

• 5p- Society (five p minus), a not-for-profit corporation, is the parent support group for families in the United States having a child with 5p- Syndrome, also known as Cat Cry Syndrome or Cri du Chat Syndrome.

• Family Village is a global community of disability-related resources. Integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities for persons with disabilities, their families, and those that provide them services and supports.

• Common Health/Disability Acronyms (Denise Ullman)

Fun things to do on the Web

• Carlos' Interactive Coloring Book. Thank you, Jeff/CDCSSG, for the referral!

Miscellaneous