Couple Makes Special Connection with the Anne Carlsen Center
T
he day before a blizzard swept through much of the Upper Midwest, Kim and Jerry Pederson made the journey from their home outside Fergus Falls, Minn., to the Anne Carlsen Center’s Jamestown Campus.
Adam was diagnosed with Batten Disease, a degenerative disease that shares some similarities with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. When Adam was diagnosed, he was only expected to live to be 6 or 7 years old. Instead, he would live to be 15.
Rearranging their schedules to beat the storm, the couple was determined to celebrate Christmas with students from the Center. Jerry was going to play Santa Claus … Kim would be one of his elves. Along with bags of gifts, they brought their Great Pyrenees dogs to play with the students.
“It seems worse when it attacks children,” says Kim. “They don’t understand what is happening to them. They stumble when they used to be able to walk. Then Adam started having seizures and had a kind of strange gate when he was walking.”
The couple stayed at ACC for a few hours, sharing laughter and love, before returning safely to their home. A day later, snow and high winds blasted North Dakota, shutting down travel throughout much of the state. The Christmas visit is one of many Kim and Jerry have made to the campus since becoming supporters of the Center. Their gifts have provided many unique opportunities for the individuals the Center serves. But, they are quick to point out, ACC students have provided much for their family. Adam Kim and Jerry’s story is rooted in the life of their son, Adam. The Pederson’s only child was the picture of normalcy when he was born in 1991. But, when the bright and smiley boy was about 18 months old, the family would be changed forever.
14 The Ambassador
The symptoms continued to worsen, and after years of seeking answers, the Pedersons received word on the final diagnosis.
Kim and Jerry Pederson have formed a special relationship with the Anne Carlsen Center in loving memory of their son, Adam.
“At first you thought, there was no way to live with this ... and the journey it will take you on,” says Kim. “But you have to because your child depends on it. Life with Adam took many twists and turns.” Adam’s parents were determined to have their son live as normal a life as possible. “He is your son, and there is nothing more valuable,” says Jerry. “We always said Adam would never be without one of us, and we would care for him to the best of our abilities. It was a very tough disease. But we tried to do as many ‘normal’ things that you could do.” Adam, much to his parents’ delight, embraced every experience he encountered. “Adam’s favorite thing was to steer and bounce,” remembers Jerry. “He was a bulldozing machine with me. Doctors attributed him living until he was 15 to us having him upright, bouncing and having fun.” Adam passed away on February 15, 2007, about six weeks before his 16th birthday. That first birthday without their son, Jerry and Kim made their first visit to the Anne Carlsen Center.
Adam’s spirit lives on through the deeds of his parents. “What Adam did with his life was a testament to whoever watched him,” says his mother, Kim.