Two years ago when we moved from NC to NH, Chris and I brought Kaitlyn to meet several doctors before finding the team that works best for her. During one of those meetings, we met a doctor (who shall remain nameless) who I can most kindly describe as a complete imbecile. Within the first 10 minutes of meeting us, and after giving Kaitlyn's medical records a very cursory glance, he told us his thoughts on her. Here are some quotes that have stuck in my mind...
*WHEN ASKED ABOUT SUGGESTIONS FOR HER PHYSICAL THERAPY SCHEDULE: "You should stop all of the physical therapy. It's not going to make any difference for her. Her condition is what it is, and physical therapy isn't going to change that."
*WHEN ASKED HOW HE SAW HER WALKING PROGRESSING IN THE FUTURE: "She will most likely always need a walker, and I don't see her graduating to crutches, never mind independent walking."
*I FORGET WHERE THIS SENTENCE ENDED BECAUSE I WENT INTO SHOCK AFTER THE FIRST SEVEN WORDS: "When she's older and requires a wheelchair..."
*WHEN ASKED ABOUT SUGGESTIONS FOR ACTIVITIES FOR HER TO JOIN SUCH AS SWIMMING, DANCING, SKIING, ETC.: "As for sports or activities, you should probably lower your expectations."
I think you get the drift of this guy's Debbie-Downer attitude. The good news is that Chris and I left there not feeling devastated by his comments, but instead feeling that the guy clearly got his medical license out of a cereal box. For the record, we have since found a great team of doctors who have a very positive outlook for Kaitlyn's future, and who share our philosophy that Kaitlyn can and will do anything she puts her mind to. So, to the doctor who shall remain nameless...
1. Kaitlyn can now walk in several environments WITHOUT HER WALKER.
2. We have happily continued a busy physical therapy schedule over the past two years, to which we directly attribute many of the huge successes Kaitlyn has achieved.
3. All other doctors who have ever met Kaitlyn (including her new super fabulous team on which you will not have a spot) have assured us that the possibility of her needing a wheelchair in the future is very, very slim.
4. As for activities/sports...Chris recently described Kaitlyn as "A dancer, a skier, a swimmer and a scholar." So take that! As further proof of her indomitable spirit, her will to succeed, her zest for life, and her ability to overcome her challenges to achieve any goal she sets for herself, I present to you KAITLYN'S VERY FIRST DANCE RECITAL!!!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Graduate
Well, Kaitlyn's all grown up - she graduated Kindergarten! I have such mixed emotions about this milestone! On one hand, I'm so proud of her and can't help but reflect on all that she's overcome to get to this day. On the other hand, I'm really not ready for her to go off to the big world of first grade in a couple of months!
If you had told me a couple of years ago that by the time she graduated Kindergarten she would be walking independently in all kinds of environments, that she would be in a dance class with typically developing children, or that she would be a super star skier I may have thought you were crazy, yet here she is doing all of the things and more! The best news that came out of Kindergarten was the reassurance that Kaitlyn's cognitive skills are perfectly intact. In some children CP impacts both physical and cognitive abilities. Although we had Kaitlyn tested before she started Kindergarten and she always scored very well, we always knew that the true test would come when she was in a class with her peers. During my first parent-teacher conference I was told that Kaitlyn had been placed in the top math group and the top reading group. I nearly burst into tears as her teacher explained to me how well she was doing in all academic areas. Go Kaitlyn! Go Kaitlyn! Go Kaitlyn!
So, as we look forward to a summer filled with swim lessons, music camp, teddy bear camp and a beach vacation, I couldn't be more proud of Kaitlyn's accomplishments, or more hopeful for what I'm sure will be a very rewarding year in first grade.
Kaitlyn and her super fabulous teacher Mrs. Childs
Kaitlyn and Daddy at her year-end celebration
Reciting the pledge of allegiance
If you had told me a couple of years ago that by the time she graduated Kindergarten she would be walking independently in all kinds of environments, that she would be in a dance class with typically developing children, or that she would be a super star skier I may have thought you were crazy, yet here she is doing all of the things and more! The best news that came out of Kindergarten was the reassurance that Kaitlyn's cognitive skills are perfectly intact. In some children CP impacts both physical and cognitive abilities. Although we had Kaitlyn tested before she started Kindergarten and she always scored very well, we always knew that the true test would come when she was in a class with her peers. During my first parent-teacher conference I was told that Kaitlyn had been placed in the top math group and the top reading group. I nearly burst into tears as her teacher explained to me how well she was doing in all academic areas. Go Kaitlyn! Go Kaitlyn! Go Kaitlyn!
So, as we look forward to a summer filled with swim lessons, music camp, teddy bear camp and a beach vacation, I couldn't be more proud of Kaitlyn's accomplishments, or more hopeful for what I'm sure will be a very rewarding year in first grade.
Kaitlyn and her super fabulous teacher Mrs. Childs
Kaitlyn and Daddy at her year-end celebration
Reciting the pledge of allegiance
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