"Determine that the thing can and shall be done,
and then we shall find the way."
~Abraham Lincoln~
Thursday night she had her first swim meet. Her amazing coaches support her and her desire to do what the other kids are doing. She wears her ducky, because that is the only way for now that she will be able to do this. In time, she will gain enough upper body strength to leave ducky behind.
She waited patiently for her turn to do the exhibition freestyle.
Coach Jason go her ready for the heat.
And tossed her in!
She swam!
She swam with all her heart!
Her heart made up for what she lacks in physical ability!
She had a fan club too.
The. Entire. Pool.
I could hear them,
and I don't think a single soul at that pool wasn't yelling "GO CLAIRE!"
It was just amazing to watch!
And she's a winner! Not because she finished first, but because she finished!
She doesn't let a little thing like working legs and feet get in her way!
Oh yeah, my other kids swam too! I didn't actually forget that. Of course I didn't!
But.
I didn't actually get many pictures of them. One reason is because as the sun goes down it is harder to get a good shot without flash. The other reason is that I was too busy trying to keep up with Claire!
I did get Isabel's FIRST PLACE freestyle!
I know it's hard to see, but she is the one waaaay out in front in the 2nd lane from the far side.
And, she got to the wall waaaaay ahead of any other swimmers!
6 comments:
Way to go, Claire!!!! Thanks for the morning cry, Chelsea:):) She is amazing!!
Oh my Heaven Chelsea. How anyone can watch this and not cry and have goosebumps. What an amazing, amazing child -and the family who loves her so. It's just the best story ever!
I just love it. Such a strong desire to do things that others do and take for granted.
I like the fact that you hold yourself back from saying you can't, and give her the chances to do things like this.
Sometimes as parents it's hard to not only give them these chances, but make sure the chances are available to them.
This summer, both my kids got bikes and are learning to ride them, despite the fact that they can't see. I had to make sure to get the kids bikes, and teach them even tho' others might ask why should a blind kid ride a bike. They can hear and they can follow and they can ride with their friends in the future if they learn how to now. Just like Clare will be able to go swimming with her friends because she's learning now.
I'm so proud of Claire!! What determination! We might not have been there, but we were yelling, too! I'm sure you heard us, right??
And congratulations to Miss "First Place Made Everyone Eat Her Bubbles Isabel!!" Good job, girl!
And by the way...that's the cutest swimming I have ever seen! I love how she does her arms and legs and then it's like "OH! I'm supposed to stick my face in! Take a big breath! Plunk! Ok...whew...keep going!"
You need to capture a still shot of her hand on the wall at the end of that video and frame it!
And you totally know you made me CRY! Right?!
Ugh! I normally don't leave comments, but I have to say this was amazing! I think that we could all learn a little something from Ms. Claire! What to go sugar! And I second making a big picture from that last shot! WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!
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