NORTH OGDEN -- Kaleigh Saunders still remembers the alarm bells that went off in her head when she heard the symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. She knew she finally had a diagnosis for her adopted little sister.
As she sat through the class presentation being taught by Pat Smith from Weber/Morgan Human Services, Smith knew she had struck something in Saunders as well, They became friends, and Smith helped Saunders and her family diagnose and help her sister.
Now, five years later, Saunders hasn't stopped learning about FASD. She and Smith work hand-in-hand to get the word out, and now Saunders has a bigger platform to talk from.
She represents her city as Miss North Ogden and will compete in the Miss Utah pageant in June. She has been using her platform to educate people, especially teen girls, about the dangers of drinking and drinking while pregnant -- and people are listening.
In September, Saunders spoke to more than 2,000 city representatives at the Utah League of Cities and Towns meeting and had Sept. 9 declared National FASD Awareness Day.
"I was terrified. I had never spoken to 2,000 people before," she said.
Saunders is in her third year at Weber State University, where she just received her associate's degree. Her goal is to become a registered nurse.
She had competed in several pageants, but said the experience of being Miss North Ogden has been totally different.
"I didn't do it to be queen, I did it to push my platform, and I knew I could get it out there more with the title," Saunders said. She was thrilled to learn she had to have a platform she was passionate about in order to compete for the title.
"It was something I was already doing," Saunders said.
Kaleigh's mom, Jenny Saunders, is proud of her daughter for doing something that has been so helpful to their family. Jenny and her husband have guardianship of 9-year-old Xavianna, who has FASD.
Jenny said from the day Kaleigh came home from school with the information about the disorder, things have changed for the family. They have done many tests and tried to get help for the little girl. They also have had a name to place on her frustrations and theirs.
Jenny said Kaleigh's help with Xavianna has been immeasurable. "She will see that I am having a hard time helping her with homework and she just comes in and tells me to take a walk and take a break," Jenny said.
She has noticed at times that Kaleigh will be helping her little sister with tears streaming down her face because of her frustration over the disorder.
Jenny said some children don't always show outward signs of FASD. Learning disabilities, impulsiveness, poor judgment and memory deficits are all symptoms common to FASD, but they are often classified as ADD or ADHD, which are not like FASD in any way.
"It's just not fair and it is totally preventable," Kaleigh said several times.
"That's why she is so good at doing this. It's because it hits close to home for her," Jenny said of Kaleigh's passion about educating people about FASD.
Almost everywhere they go, Smith and Kaleigh take with them orange packets containing information about the disorder and how to prevent it, which is simple: Don't drink alcohol while pregnant.
Kaleigh's goal is for more people to be aware of what drinking during pregnancy does.
"I'd like to see more people aware and knowledgeable and more education out there about how to help children in our schools who have it," Kaleigh said.
For more information on FASD, go to www.fasstar.com, www.utah.networkofcare.org or www.dsamh.utah.gov
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