In a lot of ways Jennifer Rolin is a typical 9-year-old.

She is an active child, barely sitting still, hopping from one person to another while an interview is being conducted.

She is also described as fearless, always wanting to immitate her older brother, Cory and, sister, Alexis.

“She doesn’t have a lot of fear,” said mother Donna Rolin with a smile.

But at the same time, when asks a direct question, she becomes shy, uttering maybe a word or two in reply, or a simple nod of her head.

When asked if she likes school, she shrugs her shoulders and replies, “a little bit,” but also responds that her favorite subject is math.

When asked what she likes to do for fun, she responds that she likes to swim and spend time with her dad, John Rolin.

Yes, in a lot of ways, Jennifer is a typical 9-year-old, but her life thus-far has been far from typical.

Technically, it all started while Jennifer was still in her mother’s womb, when she was diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction three weeks before her due date.

“I went and had a sonogram done,” said mother Donna Rolin. “Her head was down (indicating that she was not breech), but there was no fluid left, so she wasn’t getting any nourishment. It was decided to go ahead and induce labor, hoping that she would grow more outside the womb than inside. It didn’t work.”

Jennifer was born three weeks premature, weighing 4 pounds, 11 ounces and measuring 17 inches.

At 5 days old, Jennifer was admitted back into the hospital and diagnosed with hyperthermia. She was released two days later, but in another three months, she was back in the hospital. Despite the family’s best efforts, Jennifer was not getting enough nourishment and was diagnosed with failure to thrive.

Three days later she was released again, but in another three days she was back in the hospital with salmonella poisoning. Doctors said she had received bad milk, but after testing everything, the source of the poisoning could not be pinpointed.

Then tragedy struck the Rolin family. Donna Rolin’s mother was killed in a car wreck, leaving Donna to deal with the arrangements while Jennifer was cared for by various family members.

“She was always a sensitive child and even then knew something was wrong,” Donna Rolin said. “She simply wouldn’t eat and we took her back to the doctor. He asked me what we were feeding her and I told him that I had just buried my mother the day before and I could get him a list, but didn’t know exactly.”

The doctor responded by calling Human Resource Services and reporting that the Rolin family was starving their daughter. What followed was a long, drawn out legal battle. Months later, the Rolins were finally cleared, but the fight to find out what was wrong with Jennifer was far from over.

Doctors in Gainesville told the Rolins that Jennifer could have Russell Silver Syndrome, one of the rarest forms of primordial dwarfism, but it was impossible to tell from just genetics.

At nine months, Jennifer had a feeding tube inserted through her nose and just 10 days before she was a year old, she had the first of many surgeries.

It wasn’t until July of this year that Jennifer was officially diagnosed with RSS.

She has gone through many tests and multiple procedures. She has had a myriad of problems, but the main concern is keeping up her caloric intake. She drinks up to 48 cans of PediaSure per month.

She has also suffered from constipation, for which she has been prescribed various laxatives that don’t always work like they are supposed to.

Starting school presented other problems because of her small size.

“She’s always had problems fitting in because of her size,” Donna Rolin said.

To make matters worse, shortly after beginning her first grade year at Pensacola Christian Academy, a terrible storm named Ivan blew through Pensacola, destroying their home.

Jennifer, along with her older sister, Alexis Wilson, 10; and brother, Cory Wilson, 13; moved with their family to Loxley, where Donna Rolin could be closer to her father, who was terminally ill.

When Donna Rolin’s father died, the family moved again, this time to Robertsdale, another new school.

“It’s been hard on her,” Donna Rolin said.

The Rolin family turned to sports as an outlet for Jennifer.

She wanted to play softball, but her hands were too small to properly grip the ball, and were too small for the softball gloves typically used.

“She also can’t play soccer, because she has a tendency to get kicked in the stomach rather than in the shins,” Donna Rolin said.

Then the Rolins rented the movie “Stick It” about gymnastics. Jennifer was hooked.

“She watched that movie over and over again,” Donna Rolin said. Soon she began imitating the moves she saw on the screen and the family discovered that Jennifer had a natural talent for the sport.

Ironically, her condition, which has been the source of many difficulties, has proved to be an asset in gymnastics. Jennifer is more flexible than the average child her age, practically double jointed everywhere.

When asked if she likes gymnastics, Jennifer’s eyes light up, a grin appears from ear to ear and she nods her head vigourously.

After one day of being evaluated, coaches at Flip Factory gym in Pensacola placed Jennifer at competition level, almost unheard of for someone her age.

“Most kids her age have been working out for four or five years,” said Scot Perry, owner of the Flip Factory. “Jennifer has been working out for six or seven weeks and has already mastered things that take most students years to learn.”

Perry said he has no doubt that Jennifer will be ready and wants her to compete at a meet in Tallahasse in January.

But for the Rolins, finding the funds for Jennifer to compete has been a an additional burden to their already strained finances.

Just for Jennifer to train three days a week, three hours per day costs $175 per month, and soon she will advance to a 4-day-a-week training schedule at $225 per month.

To compete, Jennifer will also need a leotard with the gym’s team logo at a cost of $100, a warm-up outfit at a cost of $70, a gym bag with the team logo at a cost of $30. Then there is the cost of competitions, which can range from $45 to $80. The competition in Tallahassee will cost $68, plus travel expenses and lodging expenses for the family.

“For the first time in her life, she is truly happy,” Donna Rolin said. “I don’t want this to be taken away from her simply because we can’t afford it.”

But you can help. Flip Factory offers sponsorship opportunities that businesses and individuals can participate in.

An account has been set up for Jennifer through Flip Factory. The money goes directly to pay expenses for her and her family as they travel to competitions. For larger, corporate donations, the company’s logo can be place on her gym bag and in some cases, banners placed at the gym and at competitions.

With the proper training, Perry believes Jennifer can be competitive at a high level, possibly Olympic level.

“She has more natural talent than anyone I’ve ever seen,” Perry said.

If you would like more information about sponsoring Jennifer, contact Flip Factory at (850) 969-9111 or online at www.flipfactory-pensacola.com.