HUGE favour to ask any going in May in GTA, Hamilton/Guelph or Niagara Area....

[tigger2on]

Hi all
Don't know if anyone can or is willing to help me out but I need a HUGE favour.
My first dd, Ryleigh, is severely disabled. (Long story/short... was normal (walked & talked) til 15 months, had a 90 minute grand mal seizure from a fever that was uncontrolable (107) in the hospital waiting room; was left 100% dependent for life.... diapers, hand fed, transfers, etc...
It has been over 12 yrs so I am used to the change but it still makes me long for an obstinant, rebellious teen every day.
Anyhoo.... she is graduating gr. 8 this June and I soooo want to get her some 2010 graduating Mickey ears.
So I was wondering if someone is going down, if they could bring a pair back for her. I have a crisp $20 US bill and can pick up soooooo.....

I would be forever in your debt
Thanks
Suzanne

 

[cdnmickeylover]

I will look for you - not a problem.

Hope everyone is well.

 

[momtolots]

We are going in a couple of weeks-driving. I can look for you and ship them once we get back on the 22nd. Let me know or PM me.

 

[skd333]

We're going in Aug (late) and can look if you still need them, I live in Oakville, you can PM me.
S

 

[Reese]

Sound like you have it covered but if not let me know. I'll be back the end of May.

 

[JumpinJ]

Don't forget you can call WDW mail order and they'll locate just about anything you can purchase in the parks and ship it to you. I had a mug shipped last year that was only available at Animal Kingdom and I think it was about $7 for shipping to Canada. They're super helpful there. I emailed a vague description of the mug and where I thought I saw it and they emailed me back the next day with the item number, price and how details on how to complete the order.

You'll pay a bit more for shipping, but for a control freak like me (yep, I can admit it) I'd rather pay a bit more and know for sure I'm getting it then have to rely on a stranger. **Not that I don't think those who volunteered wouldn't come through, but life happens sometimes right?.....

WDW mail order phone: 407-363-6200
or email: wdw.mail.order@disneyworld.com

J

 

[tigger2on]

Thanks everyone for you wonderful generosity. So VERY much appreciated.
I think mouse ears will make it easier for me to accept that she isn't going in the path of all the ale bodied kids. This will be the 1st time in over 12 years that I will have to face the fact that my perfect baby was tragically changed forever. She has always been in a special needs school until we moved to Hamilton so I never thought about grad before. Now she is the only child with severe disabilities in an all able school.... I think it is going to be very emotional for me... sometimes I hate reality. I think that's why I live in a mickey magical world.....
Again,
sincere thanks to all...
Suzanne

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hi Suzanne,

First off, congrats to your DD on her upcoming graduation. My son (who is the same age as your DD, graduating this June from grade 8) had a similar seizure two days before his first birthday, and thankfully, he came out of everything unscathed. We should all appreciate our good health more than we do. Easy to take things for granted until you hear a story like your daughter's.

After reading your post above, I couldn't help but think of one of my favourite little stories that holds a special place in my heart. It seemed appropriate to share it with you, so here it is (maybe you've already heard it before):

The story of the cracked pot:

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots , each hung on the ends of a pole , which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water , at the end of the long walk from the stream to the house , the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily , with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course , the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection , and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure , it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself , because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled , "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path , but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw , so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path , and every day while we walk back , you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are , there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

Enjoy your day . And LOVE the idea on the Graduation Mickey Ears!!!

 

[tigger2on]

Thank you.... the story is quite beautiful
My problem is that I have never really seen any flaws in Ryleigh because we have never been in a situation where she has been surrounded by her able-bodied peers before. Having always been in a fully segregated school for children with disabilities, we have learned to perceive her as "normal" for her.
She has her gentle and easy going-disposition. Always smiling and LOVES to interact with everyone but since we moved to Hamilton and moved into the reg. school in a special class, I haven't really appreciated the difference before.
I am proud of her for who she is and yet I sometimes wish for so much more .... for her, not me. To see her dance, hear her sing, laugh with her friends, talk on the phone all night, date, get her heart broken, get married, have kids, have a career she loves, become a parent, hold her baby for the 1st time....
I mean I want to be able to ground her for doing something wrong.
All these things will never happen due to the severity of her condition, but she will age and miss out on so much and for that my heart feels as if it is breaking... this will be the 1st step into that reality for us.
I have 3 abled bodied children who are 8+ yrs younger than she is so we don't compare.... but this is a child who has NEVER been invited to a birthday party outside of the family and she's 13 yrs old.
maybe I am being silly... I am grateful for all she is but is it wrong to want more??
Thank you for listening and your sentiments are very much appreciated as are all the kind offers to get her some Mickey Ears... it will not only make her day, it will hopefully make the whole situation easier to handle.