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Lauren Dungy Tells Of Local Agencies' Role In 'Jordan's Story'

Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN

Lauren Dungy spoke at the Early Childhood Council's 25th Anniversary Celebration luncheon Tuesday.

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By LENORA LAKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 3, 2008

TAMPA - Lauren Dungy, wife of Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, credits social services available in Hillsborough County with making a difference in the life of their 7-year-old son.

Jordan Anthony Dungy was diagnosed at age 2 by doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore with a rare, incurable, genetic condition: congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis. Those with the disease feel little pain and can run high fevers. Jordan also was developmentally delayed in speech, behavior and health.

Their son is a first-grader in a mainstream classroom at Lutz Elementary School. She says a variety of special services he received helped him to grow physically, socially, emotionally and academically since the diagnosis five years ago.

Dungy, whose husband coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, encouraged other parents to seek help for their children.

"Pray, pray, pray for guidance. Then act on that," Lauren Dungy said today in a presentation called "Jordan's Story."

Dungy spoke Tuesday at a luncheon of about 125 social service professionals and educators in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Early Childhood Council of Hillsborough County. The council, a collaborative effort of 40 agencies, provides free developmental screening and other services.

"Early intervention was right here in Hillsborough County," Dungy said.

Through the Early Childhood Council, Jordan had a complete screening and began services in the home for speech, occupational therapy and recreational therapy, she said.

Following the luncheon at the Hillsborough Achievement and Resource Center, Dungy said one of the top five reasons her family makes the Tampa area its home is "because we really couldn't find anything like what they have here" in Indianapolis.

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

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