Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 29, 1990                   TAG: 9003300708
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FUND WILL HELP CHILD'S LEFTOVER BILLS

She was an honor student who came to the attention of many Roanoke-area residents more than a year ago when she asked for a computer for Christmas.

Her class at Lucy Addison Junior High School was preparing to work with computers when Sonya had a stroke.

Sonya, the daughter of Corene and James Calloway of Northwest Roanoke, had suffered from medical problems since doctors discovered a hole in her esophagus when she was 14 months old. She later developed a skin condition called candidiasis, which caused crusty patches of blisters over much of her face and hands. She was tutored at home after the stroke but she also asked for an Apple II so she could keep up with her math class.

Sonya's parents couldn't afford the computer because of her family was facing a $29,000 hospital bill, resulting from Sonya's stroke, and other medical bills.

But a couple of family friends offered to help set up a fund to help buy a computer for Sonya. While the fund was being established, the two friends worked with a foundation to get the computer, so the money raised from the fund was used for medical bills.

One of the friends, Edith Murphy, said the family had received $870 in donations before Sonya died March 7 of heart failure.

Murphy contacted the Roanoke Times & World-News after Sonya's funeral on March 10, saying that the family wanted to thank people who had contributed.

"We want to thank the people for helping during the illness and for their contributions and the cards," Murphy said.

She said the fund will remain open until the Calloways have paid off all Sonya's bills. The address is Sonya Calloway Fund, Dominion Bank, Donna B. Goad, Branch Manager, Church Avenue Office, P.O. Box 13327, Roanoke 24040.

Corene Calloway estimated that she and her husband still owe about $7,000 not covered by insurance to various hospitals and doctors.

Prior to Sonya's death, her 54-year-old father had lost his job when Hotel Roanoke closed in November. Corene Calloway, whose job in the Lincoln Terrace School cafeteria brings in $608 a month before taxes, also had to have a tumor removed.

As far as getting the bills paid, Corene Calloway said, "I guess we'll just have to pay them a little bit at a time."