By Jolene FarleyAshley Mortimer, Steen, was featured as a Miracle Kid, by the Children’s Miracle Network on Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1, television broadcast.Mortimer, daughter of Don and Danell Mortimer, was featured along with 11 other children from the region.She has life-threatening asthma and her association with the organization began in seventh grade when she attended her first Camp Foster Asthma Camp, Okoboji, Iowa. Asthma has affected Mortimer’s life in several ways. She takes six medications twice a day and must have nebulizer treatments every four hours to help the medications penetrate her lungs. She can’t participate in sports and is hospitalized three or four times a year. She’s also had surgery to decrease heartburn symptoms that seemed to trigger asthma attacks. The Children’s Miracle Network has helped pay for some of Mortimer’s medical equipment and other expenses, according to Mortimer. "They raise money for kids with problems," she said. "It helps pay if they need surgeries or helps pay for medical equipment." Mortimer said the other Miracle Kids featured in the broadcast had asthma, cancer, liver disease or cystic fibrosis.As a Miracle Child, Mortimer was interviewed by KELO television and helped answer phones. This year the Children’s Miracle Network broadcast raised $584,000, up from a record $511,000 last year. Dollars raised stay in the local area and are used for family assistance, medical equipment essential to the treatment of children and other services such as social work and child life. Mortimer has three siblings, Michael, 16, Amanda, 14, and Matt, 13.
