Little Lucia: 12/1/16

Just a little bird on stage. Lucia goes to school across town to a place called DCIS at Fairmont. She is in a special ed class with 9 other special needs kiddos and spends most of her day with her class. There is an amazing teacher, Mrs Kim Tarte, 3 loving paraprofessionals, a nurse, and therapists work with the kids throughout the week. The kids also do their "specials" like Art, Music and Gym class with typical kids their age. Lucia's school has 3 kindergarten classes-it's a big place! Last Wednesday night the kindergartners had a little Winterfest concert. All the kids dressed up and performed a song on stage in front of a jam packed audience full of proud parents. Lucia and two of her classmates, Kendall and Ivory joined too! Rows of bleachers with kids dressed to impress stood looking out onto the audience. Kendall, who has a hard time standing still, walked back and forth in front of the kids. Ivory stood up next to some of the kids too. Then up the wheelchair lift and onto the stage rolled my bird. The kids sang and followed the music teachers instructions with little Christmas sticks that they waved...Our Lucia sat in her wheelchair, holding her hands, looking around at all the bright lights. Her teacher hid behind her and tried to get Lucia to hold the special Christmas sticks too but she doesn't like to hold things. Just a little bird on stage, being a part of the kindergarten Winterfest show. She looked so beautiful in her festive outfit, sequined shirt, red plaid taffeta skirt, gold sparkly shoes and a big red bow in her hair. One day maybe our bird will surprise us and join in with the song. Maybe she will have a part of a play...or maybe she will just be on stage minding her own business radiating her pretty light. The important part is she is up there and included. Tomorrow our family is going into the school to watch Lucia receive "an award for their excellence in academics or showing our core values at DCIS at Fairmont". Any little achievement or inclusion for Lu, big or small is HUGE in our eyes. Inclusion is one of the hardest things to accomplish when you are born different. Our world seems to like people to be similar and when they don't fit the mold they are often not included. We are so happy to have theses moments for Lucia. Our little bird on stage with her friends and peers is one of the prettiest things I have ever seen. Sometimes the smallest parts of a performance are the most treasured and important. I hope there are many more moments to treasure ahead. So Proud of you Kendall, Ivory and Lucia! You guys are SO treasured and important!