The girl, Lilliana “Lilly” Maupin of Grants Pass, needs to be pretty tough herself these days. She has a medical condition called hydrocephalus that produces excess fluid on her brain, causing her physical and mental challenges, including difficulty with speech.

When Lilliana entered a gymnasium with her mother, Sandra, at the Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility on Wednesday, the inmates gave her a standing ovation. This was a little girl the inmates had never met, but to whom they had given their dollars Ñ about $1,200 in all Ñ to help with her therapy and expenses.

She toddled around, drawing smiles from young inmates who had found it within themselves to donate money they had received from home, or money they had earned at less than $1 an hour working at the prison’s laundry or kitchen.

“I’m proud of you,” facility Superintendent Ken Jerin told them.

The inmates had adopted the girl as a “Sparrow,” a reference to Sparrow Clubs USA, an organization that helps families with ailing children. Hidden Valley High School’s Sparrow Club has “adopted” Lilliana, and raised their own money for her. Staff at the youth prison donated, too, bringing the total from that facility to nearly $2,300.

Before the girl went into the gym, OYA employee Greg Geith predicted that the attention of the inmates would be “100 percent” on the proceedings. Eyes were intent on the speaker’s podium and the girl, during a half-hour event that included a video about Lilliana, a rap song from inmate Eric Smith and presentations of a poem, an engraved wood carving and an oversized card with well wishes.

High school instructor Dennis DeCasas, who once taught at the prison’s New Bridge High School, seemed overwhelmed by the inmates’ donation.

“To make a sacrifice of themselves was touching,” he said.

Some inmates gave “a dollar or two” and some gave $100, according to prison activities coordinator Angela Sabin-Veek. By donating money, the inmates might have been left with less money to buy athletic shoes, a status symbol, Geith said.

Some of those who had no money to give gave their talents, like Smith, who sang about the girl being an inspiration.

“Everything’s going to be all right,” he sang. “Have patience. Everything’s going to be OK.”

One inmate read a poem with words that seemed aimed at the inmates: “If you were wrong, you can make right.” Another inmate presented the family an engraving of Japanese symbols meaning “Believe.”

Afterward, Lilliana’s mother said a card given to the family would be “front and center” in their living room.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said.

Geith said the prison’s basketball team had dedicated its recent performance at a state youth prison basketball tournament near Portland to the girl. They came home to cheers from fellow inmates, holding aloft the tournament’s coveted sportsmanship trophy.

“People committing their hearts, that is what we’re trying to teach,” Geith said. “For them to get their eyes off themselves for even a minute.”

Reach reporter Shaun Hall at 541-474-3813 or shall@thedailycourier.com