A Slam Dunk

We stood in the middle of the court in the Hillsboro High School gym tonight, and I couldn't help but tear up a little as the entire crowd stood up in support of our little family.  It was our first-ever standing ovation.

In my high school days, I was never an athlete in that gymnasium. I never took the court for the volleyball or basketball teams.  I did play tennis all four years, although it's safe to say I was not much of a star athlete. However, Kyle once dug out my MVP trophy from my senior year and put it out on our piano as our family's greatest sporting achievement. I think he's pretty proud of it.

Grace and I cheering for the Hiltoppers in tonight's game!

But tonight was different. Before the start of the game where the Hillsboro Hiltoppers took on the Southwestern Birds, the announcer invited us to midcourt for a special presentation. The five Topper seniors brought Grace a basketball, signed by all the players and coaches, and Coach Vanzo presented us with three team t-shirts from this season. Fittingly enough, their motto this year was "Finish the Journey," and they wanted us to have them.

Then, it was Grace's turn to shine. Senior Dylan Miller took her to the rim, as the other seniors held the ball up for her.  She wasn't quite tall enough to get the ball into the rim, but the crowd erupted in cheers just the same.

The senior Hiltoppers (from the left, Cody Caulk, Dylan Miler, Dylan Gray and Brenden Meier - not pictured is Koby Lemon) gave Grace her chance to slam dunk before the start of the basketball game.

Although we hope and pray for a miracle with each and every breath we take, we know there's a good chance Grace may never have the chance to attend Hillsboro High School, let alone play sports. It's so humbling the way that our communities have embraced us and surrounded us with love.

As we walked off the court, two young boys were talking to each other. One looked up at the other and said, "isn't she lucky?" referring to the fact that Grace got a chance to "play" ball with the seniors. It's kind of ironic that he thought she was the lucky one, considering she may never be able to walk or talk.

Held up by the Toppers, Grace gets a chance to make a "slam dunk!"

However, as we stood in the middle of the gym tonight, looking up at an entire gymnasium full of people standing up for our Grace, we know that's true. She's truly the lucky one. Lucky to be surrounded by family, friends and communities that love and support us. Lucky to have the chance to go to preschool with her friends. Lucky to have therapists taking such good care of her (and of her mom and dad too). And lucky that God chose her to carry such an important message about learning to enjoy life one day at a time. 

And that's what you call a real slam dunk.

MLH

Happy Girl

Oh watch me go, I'm a happy girl

Everybody knows

That the sweetest thing that you'll ever see

In the whole wide world is a happy girl

The Martina McBride song, "Happy Girl" came on the radio while I was cutting up celery and green peppers in the kitchen tonight for dinner.  It's always been one of my favorites, perhaps because of its great message. And definitely one I needed to hear tonight.

I haven't exactly been a "happy girl" this week.  Not that it's been a bad week, but I caught myself being sad about Grace's diagnosis and struggles.

I caught myself wishing that my problems were figuring out how to get crayons or markers off the walls, trying to teach her to share with others or even hearing her say that she's mad at me when she doesn't get her way.  Because somehow, someway, I think I could solve those problems.

Instead, this week, I find myself trying to juggle how to get Grace to two sessions of speech therapy, two sessions of physical therapy (one is an hour from our house), and three days of preschool.  I had to figure  out how to try and get her to sit up straighter in her chair and in the bathtub.  I have to call equipment dealers to set up appointments for MORE equipment in my home, and then find a place to put it.  

And somehow, someway, I'll figure out the answer to those problems, even if I don't want to.  But what tugs at my heart is a problem I can't solve: Grace's diagnosis has no treatment.  

Most days I can make peace with things and have faith in God's plan for our lives, even if it looks nothing like the plans I made.  I trust God has His reasons, even if I don't understand them.

So, I'd been having a pity party for myself this week and our situation.  The song "Happy Girl" came on the radio tonight, and reminded me that "the sweetest thing that you'll ever see in the whole wide world is a happy girl."  And I get to be the mom to the happiest little girl in the whole wide world, every day.  Her smile and laugh challenges me to be that very same "happy girl" just for her. And find ways to be happy in ALL the little things.

Today after physical therapy, Grace and I went shopping with my mom, and just happened to find some cute little Minnie Mouse shoes. When we first found out that Grace would need AFOs (ankle foot orthosis) braces, I was sort of crushed.  It broke my heart to walk down the kids' aisles in the shoe store and see all the cute little sandals and dress shoes that her braces just wouldn't fit in.  We ended up with a pair of "skater" tennis shoes that were wide enough for the braces, and she wore them with everything, even dresses.

For awhile, I figured that someday she wouldn't need the braces, and she and I could shop for fun shoes again.  While that may not be the case, today, we found another little reason to smile.  I just happened to see these darling Minnie Mouse shoes in the clearance aisle with a long strap that goes across the top, just long enough to go over her braces.  I think she and I both smiled when we put the pink Minnie shoes in the cart.  

Grace's cute new Minnie Mouse shoes

I can't wait for her to wear them for the first time, and I hope they will serve as a reminder to me to smile and laugh and be the "happy girl" that Grace is each and every day.

MLH

Serving For Grace

I love my job. Mainly because I get to tell stories that are important to me. But now I have another reason for my love affair with Montgomery County athletics. Since we shared our story about Grace’s battle with INAD, I have had dozens of people come up to me at games and tell me that they are praying for me or that our journey touched them.

The even crazier thing for me is that it’s not just individuals that have lent their support to our little girl, it’s teams. From Coach Matt Millburg and Lincolnwood boys basketball team giving Grace a signed ball from the alumni tournament to Coach Jason Burke and the Hillsboro boys soccer team making a donation for the research project at Washington University to Coach Bret Tuetken, Coach Bob Allen and the Hillsboro girls basketball team making Grace an honorary Lady Hiltopper, it’s been overwhelming the support that we have received.

The latest instance of this was tonight at the Lincolnwood Junior High volleyball game against Christ The King. I have a soft spot for the Lady Knights because my cousins, Kayley and Kensey Armour, play for the eighth grade team and have always loved Grace like she was a sister. The twins were some of the first ones to get the “Grace Filled Journey” bracelets and not long after they got their bracelets, they came back to get “Gracelets” for the rest of the team.

Mary, Grace and I with the Lady Knights of Lincolnwood Junior High. Just an awesome group.

All of those Gracelets were on display tonight as the team honored Grace with some new Lincolnwood gear, a Cinderella Barbie, some orange glow bracelets and an Disney read-along CD. As awesome as that was, Coach Kimberly Denney, like myself a Lincolnwood alum, and the Lady Knights one upped themselves with their support of the INAD research project.

All smiles with the Lady Knights

The team’s “Serving for Pizza” game is now called “Serving for Grace” and the money will go to help support the research project, which Mary says could start within the next few months. Tonight alone, the game raised $150 through donations from the Lincolnwood and Christ The King fans. Even if it doesn’t raise another dime, that is an awesome amount and will be put to good use at Washington University.

 

Grandma & Grandpa Herschelman, Grandma & Grandpa Galer, Aunt Mikaela, Great-Grandma Armour, Uncle Pat, Aunt Angie and Cousin Katelyn were all in attendance to watch Kayley and Kensey (and Grace) at tonight's game.

Like I said, I love my job and I have found out over the last few weeks that even though they may be wearing Lincolnwood, Hillsboro, Nokomis or Litchfield jerseys, just about everybody seems to be on Team Grace. 

KRH

After the game with the Armour girls and Herschelman girls.