[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 50 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E698-E699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF CLAYTON HUNTER HUEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 29, 1998

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute in memory of 
Clayton Hunter Huey. Clayton was born on December 27, 1989 to Lisa and 
Chuck Huey. According to Lisa, Clayton was a ``bouncy, very active baby 
boy with beautiful brown eyes and a heart of gold.'' Early on in 
Clayton's life, his parents noticed that he acted differently than did 
his two brothers. At about three years of age, Clayton was diagnosed 
with Attention Deficit

[[Page E699]]

Hyperactivity Disorder and at the age of four, was put on 
antidepressant medication. However, over the next two years of changing 
medications, treatments and numerous therapy sessions, Lisa came to 
understand that Clayton was Manic/Depressive.
  Despite Clayton's personal challenges, he was a very cheerful and 
loving child who worked very hard to express himself positively during 
his down-swings. Even when Clayton was at his very lowest, he was 
always more concerned about how it affected others in his life than how 
it affected him personally. Clayton often said to his mother, ``Mom, 
it's my job to keep everyone happy.'' In recognition of his selfless 
struggle with his mental challenges, on May 2, 1996, Clayton was chosen 
by the Missouri Statewide Parent Advisory Network (MO-SPAN) and the 
Missouri Department of Mental Health as ``Missouri Child of the Year.'' 
Exactly one year later to the day, Clayton's life came to an end. As 
eloquently stated by Clayton's mother, ``he lived out his reign as 
Child of the Year and then, as if to say my job is done, he walked out 
of our lives.''
  As Clayton's mother shared his life story, it became clear that 
Clayton was a wonderful and very brave young boy who was certainly wise 
beyond his years. She shared Clayton's story with the hope that it 
would help erase the stigma our society often associates with mental 
illness.
  I am now sharing Clayton's story for the record with the hope of 
furthering the Huey family's efforts to honor Clayton's memory. By 
doing so, I hope we can accomplish three things. First, to let other 
families know that they are not alone in their daily struggle to care 
for mentally challenged children. Second, to make it known that there 
are family support groups such as MO-SPAN, which offer tremendous 
support services. And finally, to provide some comfort and 
understanding to others during this difficult time.
  This Saturday, May 2, 1998, the Huey's and MO-SPAN will be sponsoring 
a benefit walkathon in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in memory of Clayton. 
All funds raised in this walkathon will go to the Clayton Hunter Huey 
Memorial Fund. The fund will provide scholarships for parents of 
Seriously Emotionally Disturbed (SED) children so that they can obtain 
training on how to handle the stress related to caring for SED children 
and on how to advocate on behalf of their SED children.
  Mr. Speaker, Clayton is very fortunate to have had such a caring and 
attentive family, and I want to commend the Huey's--parents Lisa and 
Chuck, and brothers Trae and Burton--for having the strength and 
courage to reach out to other families. On this day, my thoughts are 
with Clayton and his family, as well as with all the other families in 
Missouri and across the nation who are and have been faced with similar 
circumstances.

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