There comes a time in your life that you look back at things and you realize how all the dots connect. The chaos and the sweetness to your life that at first glance look like graffiti but when you look closer--you see it's a work of art---in all it's flawed glory.
For the first time in 5 years Casey scored at the "borderline normal" range for her short term memory quiz. I know this sounds absolutely crazy to some but she can essentially be Dory from Finding Nemo ...at times. A diagnosis none of us wanted to hear in 2011 but it is clear as day when you talk to her sometimes.
For the first time in 5 years Casey scored at the "borderline normal" range for her short term memory quiz. I know this sounds absolutely crazy to some but she can essentially be Dory from Finding Nemo ...at times. A diagnosis none of us wanted to hear in 2011 but it is clear as day when you talk to her sometimes.
She talked to the doctor alone for a good 20 mins. Then she chats with the nurse and I get to talk to the doctor alone. Today he didn't ask me how she was doing from "Mom's Eyes" he said and I quote "That girl spent 18 of the 20 mins talking about dance. She's in transition but this I will say--she smiled, she laughed, she cried and then with a confidence I have never seen in her she said this (and he played back the tape for me).
What I heard come from my daughter brought me to tears. "Miss Jenny tells me all the time "YOU GOT THIS" and I believe her. My silver team has my back even when we get on each other's nerves and the whole COMPANY like 40 girls all try to be friends. If I'm sad or worried someone always asks me if I'm ok. They help me with the choreography and remind me I can do it. They are like family to me. I want so much to have the little girls look up to me and I hope some day they do. I know I'm not the best dancer but I'm better than ever before because of Miss Jenny's Dreams"
I had to make him stop the recorder. I was in tears. Took me a good few minutes before I could hear her finish talking about her teammates and what she loves and what makes her happy and where she knows she struggles. The doctor goes on to say "all that choreography can help her brain retrain itself some and clearly it's working..not to mention she probably destresses a little there and overall it's NOTHING but good for her"
People often complain about the cost of their kid's hobbies. The expense of something that to them doesn't seem a worthwhile cause.
Dance isn't about competitions or winning medals. Don't get me wrong-- you want to see the kids rewarded for their hard work but for Casey it essentially is part of her therapy. It is the biggest part of where she draws her confidence from and even when I can see her "sitting" out aside from her team -- the lonely one it's because she's watching, taking it in and sometimes it's because she is LITERALLY doing her dance in her head before it's time to take the stage.
Today I left Lurie's Children's Hospital with a good cry, a new perspective and nothing but gratitude for Dreams and every single person that is involved in it.
Our "normal" is so different from everyone else's but for the first time in a long time..."borderline" normal felt amazing.
I honestly can't express my gratitude.
What I heard come from my daughter brought me to tears. "Miss Jenny tells me all the time "YOU GOT THIS" and I believe her. My silver team has my back even when we get on each other's nerves and the whole COMPANY like 40 girls all try to be friends. If I'm sad or worried someone always asks me if I'm ok. They help me with the choreography and remind me I can do it. They are like family to me. I want so much to have the little girls look up to me and I hope some day they do. I know I'm not the best dancer but I'm better than ever before because of Miss Jenny's Dreams"
I had to make him stop the recorder. I was in tears. Took me a good few minutes before I could hear her finish talking about her teammates and what she loves and what makes her happy and where she knows she struggles. The doctor goes on to say "all that choreography can help her brain retrain itself some and clearly it's working..not to mention she probably destresses a little there and overall it's NOTHING but good for her"
People often complain about the cost of their kid's hobbies. The expense of something that to them doesn't seem a worthwhile cause.
Dance isn't about competitions or winning medals. Don't get me wrong-- you want to see the kids rewarded for their hard work but for Casey it essentially is part of her therapy. It is the biggest part of where she draws her confidence from and even when I can see her "sitting" out aside from her team -- the lonely one it's because she's watching, taking it in and sometimes it's because she is LITERALLY doing her dance in her head before it's time to take the stage.
Today I left Lurie's Children's Hospital with a good cry, a new perspective and nothing but gratitude for Dreams and every single person that is involved in it.
Our "normal" is so different from everyone else's but for the first time in a long time..."borderline" normal felt amazing.
I honestly can't express my gratitude.
