Faith's Adaptive Skiing Adventure

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I am usually all for Faith trying something new. Years ago, though, I drew the line at adaptive skiing. I knew that Dreams in Motion does an annual event at Huff Hills (North Dakota's largest ski area), but I was too afraid to let Faith try it. I just didn't know how she would do being strapped down so tightly, especially with her high tone and issues with her left hip.  At her day program, some of her friends had been going for years and Faith thought it sounded like so much fun. So, this year, I decided we should give it a try. Since there are only 20 spots available for this event, I got her registered the morning it opened up.  Lots of fresh powder at Huff Hills  As the event drew near, I knew I needed to get snow pants for her (since she had none) and make sure I had all the right winter apparel to keep her warm. That was also one of my biggest concerns is her getting too cold, which can cause her tone to increase even more.  As the day approached, she was...
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A Special Reception for Faith

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Today at school there was a very special reception held for Faith. All of the first graders came along with their teachers, and even the kindergarten teachers were there to join the festivities. There were also other staff at the school who came to eat ice cream and Oreo cookies - a few of Faith's favorites. It was a celebration of sorts to honor Faith the GABR Star.

We all got to watch the newscasts in which Faith was interviewed. The highlight of the afternoon was when they announced how much money the school had raised that day for GABR. To raise funds, Centennial Elementary had "Hat Day." If you donated money, you got to wear a hat to school.

Some kids dug out their "tooth money" while others grabbed some coins from their piggy banks. And in the end, the students, staff and parents raised a grand total of $1,300 - the most ever raised by Centennial Elementary for GABR. The money was evenly distributed to the four students at Centennial who have teams for the Great American Bike Race - Faith, Jacob, Ashley and Paige.

It was a very special reception. Faith was a little overwhelmed by all of the attention, but she still smiled big for the camera! After tomorrow Faith will be done with her star status and maybe her schedule will slow down a bit!

By the way if you live in the area, KFYR will be having a live broadcast from the Bike Race between noon and 1:00 p.m. Faith will be on around 12:10. And if you would like to see the interview with Faith at school, you can view it here.

All the first graders were invited to Faith's special reception


Faith and her teacher, Mrs. Reim

Faith visits with her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Steckler who is riding on our team!

Faith with some of her friends

Even Troy from MedEquip who comes to the school to work on Faith's chair dropped by along with Faith's physical therapist, Judy.

Ms. Hall is not only a special education teacher, she is a very special person who does so much for Faith and does a lot to promote GABR at Centennial.

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Faith's Adaptive Skiing Adventure

-
Image
I am usually all for Faith trying something new. Years ago, though, I drew the line at adaptive skiing. I knew that Dreams in Motion does an annual event at Huff Hills (North Dakota's largest ski area), but I was too afraid to let Faith try it. I just didn't know how she would do being strapped down so tightly, especially with her high tone and issues with her left hip.  At her day program, some of her friends had been going for years and Faith thought it sounded like so much fun. So, this year, I decided we should give it a try. Since there are only 20 spots available for this event, I got her registered the morning it opened up.  Lots of fresh powder at Huff Hills  As the event drew near, I knew I needed to get snow pants for her (since she had none) and make sure I had all the right winter apparel to keep her warm. That was also one of my biggest concerns is her getting too cold, which can cause her tone to increase even more.  As the day approached, she was...
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