GET TO KNOW ROSIE:
Most of us are lucky enough to go through life and meet some pretty cool people...people that inspire us to do something or to think differently. Some of us are even luckier to know these people on a more personal level. And even fewer of us, a blessed group of people, get the chance to live their lives along side someone who gives our lives a whole new meaning.
All my life I knew that I wanted to teach children, but I had no idea that my life path would lead me to teach special education. I definitely did not know the significance of my decision to teach these special children would have on me. For five years, I have had the enormous privilege of teaching a fantastic bunch of children; and the last three years my life has been impacted by a little girl by the name of Rosie.
Rosie is one of the sweetest, most caring children one will ever meet in their lifetime. She is strong, smart, and funny. She is the first one to lend a helping hand and to offer a tight hug. She will keep you on your toes, every single day, with her witty personality and she will not let you forget it! Rosie learns very quickly and has a memory that would astonish most. She can read so beautifully that it makes your heart sing. Her warm and cuddly disposition could melt the coldest of hearts. She may be tiny but her heart is gigantic. She absolutely loves life and all this world has to offer, especially ice cream and chocolate. She can sing every single word to songs by The Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga, and of course, she can wiggle and dance to the beat with the best of them. She prefers to color her school work with her red or orange crayon and absolutely adores Hannah Montana. Her family is her biggest cheerleader, especially her twin sister, Randi and her older brother, Noah. She is tremendously lucky to have the parents she has. They, Mary and Randy, will do anything possible for their little girl - and it shows. Because of all her support, Rosie is blossoming into a sensational young lady.
Rosie is on one of those special people that few of us are lucky to know and live our lives with. Each day, she wakes up and defies the odds. She doesn’t let her challenges get in her way, she simply finds a better route to accomplish her goals. In three years, this child has achieved so much - to the point of causing one to gasp in amazement while trying to mutter a “WOW.” I have been given the profound honor of being her teacher and getting the chance to watch her develop her wings and fly. Rosemary has definitely, without a doubt, left her mark on my heart.
GET TO KNOW SAVANNA:
Age 5
As you may remember, when she was 4 years old, Savanna ran the One Mile Kids Run at the Ft. Benjamin Harrison Race with her Grandma. She walked and ran a good portion of the race, but wanted to be carried for a little bit. This past year, she ran the race again, this time with her Dad. Carried? No way! This year she ran, and when she got tired, she walked, nice and steady. She covered every bit of the one mile on her own two feet and raced through the finish line at lightning fast speed. Afterwards, she danced her heart out to the post-race music.
And speaking of hearts, in February of this year, Savanna had a routine echochardiogram to monitor the small hole that she has had in her heart since birth. Amazingly enough, that little hole is missing. We’ve never been so happy to have lost anything in all of our lives.
She has been attending a local cooperative preschool in town where she is the only student with special needs. She is keeping up just fine, with a lot of support from her teachers and classmates.
Savanna wanted to let you know that her favorite color is definitely red, but she likes to wear her hot pink underpants the best. Striped shirts are her favorite sort to wear. She really likes picking out her own clothes and getting dressed all by herself.
She is able to put on her ankle braces and Velcro strap them up by herself now too. And she takes great care with her glasses.
She enjoys singing, drawing on her doodle, and chasing chickens around the yard. Her favorite chicken to hold is the orange chicken with one black tail feather.
Her favorite books these days are Curious George, Clifford, and Richard Scarry Books.
Her favorite toy is her baby doll whose name is “baby doll”.
Her best buddy is her younger brother Forest.
Savanna is a vegetarian and on a sugar-free diet. Her favorite food is, you guessed it!, pizza and she loves fruit smoothies.
GET TO KNOW SHANNON:
Birthday: June 2, 1979
Mom & Dad: Larry and Susan
Sisters: Lianne and Alison
Residence: Chesterton
Pet: A Westie named Angel
Graduated: Chesterton High School
Attends: Center for Possibilities
Favorite food: Italian
Favorite TV shows: CSI, NCIS, Forensic Files
Favorite Sport: Golf
Favorite Musical: Mama Mia
Favorite Movie: Twister
Favorite Pastime: Internet surfing, watching movies, reading mysteries and any books about the weather
GET TO KNOW BREANNE:
Birthday: June 19, 1986
Mom and Dad: Karen and Frank
Brothers and Sisters: Steve (28)
Lives in: Highland, IN
Pet: A Westie named Max
Attended: Munster High School (2007)
Works at: Humane Society, Munster, IN
Best Friend: Lindsey
Favorite Food: Chicken Nuggets
Favorite Singer: Elvis and Shawn Klush, (Elvis Presley Enterprises' Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist winner)
Favorite Groups: The Beach Boys and Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
Cubs or Sox?: Cubs (Much to Dad's dismay)
Favorite Movie: Grease
Favorite Television Shows: Dancing With The Stars and ER
Favorite Pastime: Word Searches and Internet Surfing
GET TO KNOW COLE:
I know it’s cliché, but it is true—our children grow up quickly and time goes by too fast! Now granted my oldest is only six years old, but the other day as I watched him playing in the backyard, catapulting down the waterslide with the sun on his back and a smile on his face, he was just Cole…my little boy, big brother to three. He was thrilled to have gotten control of the hose and was spraying his brother and neighborhood friend, chasing them around the yard, laughing and enjoying the innocence of youth on a hot summer’s day.
I love the times when I can “forget” about Down syndrome. Deep down I knew that in an hour and a half we were off to therapy, lugging a car-full of kids to a 45 minute session of speech. But for now he was just one of the boys and it kept me smiling the rest of the day.
As the summer draws to a close, I have mixed feelings about the return to routine. Cole will be off to first grade, spending an entire school day in the care of others! He thrives on pleasing people though and he enjoys the academic world. Although his speech is quite delayed, he is reading the same assignments and passed the same curriculum as his kindergarten peers. He will be fully included in first grade with an aide by his side and pulled out of the classroom only when needed. I couldn’t be more proud of what he has accomplished already. He has mastered my IPhone, every electronic device and computer in the house and loves to hike, swim and listen to music. (Cole has been to 21 National Parks already!) He tortures his brothers and baby sister on a daily basis, but what six year old doesn’t?! He is obsessed with Star Wars, loves to watch movies and had a blast playing Challenger baseball this summer.
I realized quickly that the future is unknown for all of our children when they are born. Down syndrome or no down syndrome, we steer them, guide them, set examples along the way, pick them up if they need it, and love and support them, providing them with a successful mold to build upon. Cole amazes me every day—sometimes for the better and sometimes not! Six years ago, would I have thought all this to be possible? Probably not! But Cole has made it happen and I am sure he will continue to walk (and run!) down his chosen path, with a grin on his face!
Down Syndrome Association of Northwest Indiana
2927 Jewett Street, Highland, IN 46322
219.838.3656 phone
219.838.6959 fax
dsa@dsaofnwi.org
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