by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
ROELAND PARK — Emily Paredes was overjoyed when she found out her daughter Alicia, 5, would have a custom-made Halloween costume this year for the very first time.
When she realized students from her alma mater — Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park — would be creating it, the moment was even sweeter.
“Bishop Miege already held a special place in my heart,” said Paredes, “but words can’t describe the love we felt and how much we appreciate all the support and effort put into our daughter.”
One of a kind
This Halloween season, Alicia is sporting a custom-made Rescue Rosie ambulance costume from the animated children’s series “Doc McStuffins.”
It was created by a group of Miege students under the leadership of Project Studio coordinator Jackie Arico.
They were paired with Alicia through Walkin’ and Rollin,’ a nonprofit that builds costumes for children in walkers and wheelchairs at no charge to families.
Miege began working with the organization in 2022 under the direction of 21st Century Learning director Matt Peterie.
When Arico found out Alicia’s mom happened to be an alumna, “it gave me goosebumps,” she said.
Hearing Alicia’s story made the project even more meaningful.
“Alicia was born at 31 weeks,” said Paredes. “She lost oxygen at birth and had a stroke. We didn’t know that when she was born.
“We just knew that she was very premature.”
When Alicia turned 1, Emily and her husband Jamie realized she wasn’t meeting all of her milestones.
She was ultimately diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).
“That’s brain damage to the left side of her brain that affects the whole right side of her body,” said Paredes.
Alicia has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and dystonia. She has developmental and speech delays and receives therapy at Ability KC in Kansas City, Missouri.
“It doesn’t get any easier,” said Paredes, “but we are trying to have her involved in so much that she’s not missing out on things.”
Organizations like Walkin’ and Rollin’ make all the difference.
Jamie Paredes read about their work through an article and entered Alicia as a possible costume recipient. Finding out she was accepted and being matched with Miege was a “Holy Spirit” moment, said Paredes.
“It’s just really special,” she said. “It means a lot.”
Made with love
Work on Alicia’s costume began at a build day at Hammerspace Community Workshop in Kansas City, Missouri, after the students had met her and measured her wheelchair.
They continued to work on the costume during study halls and after school in Miege’s Project Studio makerspace.
“The students did all the measuring, cutting and gluing to make the frame,” said Arico. “The students do all of the decorative work.”
“It’s all hands on deck,” she added. “Whatever needs [to be] done, people jump in and help.”
Miege junior Rita Baca Olivas, who’s interested in a career in architecture and design, saw the project as an extension of her faith.
“God gave us a reason to help other people,” she said. “The Christian community is a community for a reason. We should help people out.”
Sophomore Connor Droege, who hopes to become a mechanical engineer, enjoyed putting his passion for building to good use.
“I think what we’re doing here is really good to fill that need in our community,” he said, “and bring these kids who usually don’t have a Halloween costume that special moment of being able to go to trunk-or-treats, trick- or-treats and stand out and have this amazing costume.”
Sophomore Gregory Arico said the project teaches practical skills and valuable lessons.
“I’ve learned some skills with how to construct things and, importantly, how to plan things when you’re building them,” he said.
“I think it’s a very rewarding thing to do something for someone else,” he added.
The students’ hard work paid off the moment Alicia received her costume during the “Squeals on Wheels” reveal party on Oct. 18 at Kansas City Young Audiences in Kansas City, Missouri.
“She giggled so much she couldn’t get the words out when asked what she was dressed as,” said Paredes.
“She jumped up and down during the countdown,” she continued, “and when the costume came out, she truly did squeal with excitement.”
Alicia had her first chance to show off her costume at a trunk-or-treat event.
“It was a huge hit,” said Paredes, “and everyone was amazed by the creativity of the costume and thought it was adorable.”
Baca Olivas was grateful for the opportunity to make Alicia’s Halloween special.
“Wheelchair costumes are very hard to find,” she said. “And above that, it could be expensive if you find a higher quality [costume].
“Being able to provide costumes for people that are not always available or friendly to their bodies — it brings me a lot of warmth knowing that we can bring that to them.”
