This is my oldest daughter Kylie last Thursday.
Some background - when Kylie was 2 we noticed she had coordination difficulties. We took her in for her check-up and the Dr. said it was probably just normal developmental delays and to give her a year. Well a year later she was not doing much better. Test were run. We were told she could have anything from muscular dystrophy to cerebral palsy. It turned out that she has a pretty severe case of hydrocephalus (water on the brain). We were told she was more than likely retarded to some degree, but she was too young to know how severely. She would never be able to go to a regular school or function in society as an adult. She would have to live in a group home when she was an adult.
Needless to say it was devastating. She has undergone 2 brain surgeries - first a shunt then a shunt revision with a ventricularostomy (basically poking a hole in her brain and inserting a tube to create a new way for the fluid to drain if the shunt blocked again). She has been through physcial and occupational therapy. My husband and I NEVER EVER EVER once gave up on her or believed that she would not be a normal happy successful person.
She has faced challenges in school - teachers who would not treat her fairly due to the few physical challenges she has (balance, and muscle weakness primarily). She has had to work twice as hard as most of her peers.
Kylie will graduate on May 27th as an honor graduate from our local high school. She is not only an honor grad but an early grad. She actually finished her classes in February.
This photo was taken like I said this past Thursday. For the past two years she has been a part of a pretty elite group of students who have undergone intensive interviews, had to write essays and been held to much higher standards than their peers. These students are Elementary Teaching Interns.
Our school district hand picks junior and senior high school students to be a part of this program. Then upon graduation - if they have successfully completed the program, they are handed a legal and binding teaching contract with the school district. Once they complete their bachelors degree and become certified teachers they are automatically given a job with the school district. If by chance a job is not available - they will be put on the substitute teacher list BUT still get full teacher salary and benefits.
This photo is of Kylie getting her contract.
There were times we thought we would lose her. Times when medical professionals didn't give us much hope for her future. There she is - in that photo - an honor grad being handed a teaching contract.
She is without any doubts - my hero. I couldn't be any more proud of her.
your red sox picture
Jann - thanks. I am going to remember this. Not sure it will work for me - but I will give it a try.
I will pass that on to Kylie.
