Round Lake Park balloon twister lives to make kids smile

To the customers at RJ's Eatery in Lindenhurst, Don Kenimer is just a nice old guy who twists balloons for kids.

Between bites of chicken wings and mozzarella sticks, they watch as he works the room. Wearing a white baseball cap with "Balloon Twister" written on the front, he cranks out poodles and penguins, swords and snowmen.

As the kids watch Don make a bullfrog or a monkey, they probably don't notice his legs are bowed or that his left arm is frozen in a horizontal position, his fingers forever pointing to the floor.

In between the squeaking noise of the twisting latex, they don't hear his slurred speech. He keeps his sentences short.

His goal is clear. His motivation is simple. "I want to make them happy," he says. "I want to make kids smile."

In his 60 years, the man from Round Lake Park has learned that smiles are sometimes hard to come by.

Born with cerebral palsy, he spent months in and out of hospitals. His legs were hit hardest by the neurological disorder. If not for years of wearing tendon-stretching braces, he would have never walked.

He worked maintenance at the College of Lake County until a horrific car crash put him on permanent disability in 1992. The force was so strong, his seat belt broke and he was thrown out the passenger window. His left arm and leg were crushed, his jaw shattered. He spent eight months in the hospital.

And now the doctors say that he should have surgery on his good hand. Years of balloon twisting have left him with carpal tunnel syndrome.

He's not anxious to have the operation. He's worried it would slow down his other passion.

When he's not working at RJ's, he performs as "Stubbles T. Clown." The hobo with the five o' clock shadow was recently elected to the Midwest Clown Hall of Fame. Ask him, and he'll show you the medal.

It's getting late and his legs are tired, but a 4-year-old boy wants a sword.

After about 30 squeaky twists, the inflated weapon is ready. "Say 'thank you'," the boy's mom says.

A little too shy for words, he smiles instead.