[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE DENNISON FAMILY OF FAIRBORN, OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID L. HOBSON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 2005

  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Dennison 
family of Fairborn, Ohio. The Dennison's are a wonderful family that 
has made many contributions to the community over the years.
  Originally from West Virginia, Steve Dennison joined the Air Force in 
1983 as a Munitions Systems Specialist. He served for 22 years and 
retired from the service on May 31, 2005 to go to work as a 
Conventional Munitions Specialist at the Headquarters of the Air Force 
Materiel Command, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
  Steve and his wife, Tammy, had two children, Megan and Jacob. 
Unfortunately, these children were born with the lethal genetic 
childhood disease, ataxia-telangiectasia, or A-T for short. This 
disease causes the progressive loss of muscle control, cancer and 
immune system problems. Generally, the lifespan for children with A-T 
is 20 years. Unfortunately for the Dennison family, both of their 
children were born with severe symptoms of this already brutal disease.
  In 2004, the Dennisons lost Megan at the age of 16, even as they 
worked night and day to keep her healthy and were greatly supported by 
the community. Jacob, age 16, whose mental capacity is sharp, like most 
children with A-T, misses his sister and is fully aware of what the 
future may hold for him.
  In closing, the Dennison family's courage and strength and Steve's 
distinguished service to the country are an inspiration to us all. I 
wish the Dennison family the best in the future. For the Dennison 
family and all the other families with children suffering from this 
devastating disease, I wish for a cure.

                          ____________________