Just Yesterday, They Were Our Babies

Yes, our kids are in wheelchairs.
No, they don't talk.
Yes, they have disabilities so profound, we can't comprehend the hurdles they face.
No, their schooling doesn't involve high-level academics.
Yes, in spite of their physical disabilities, they have the spark of life that dazzles us.

So, just as any high school senior looks forward to certain rituals,
so we want our kids to experience those things as well.
Prom.
Graduation.


Last Sunday they had their senior prom,
and St. Mary's own blog has the story here and here.

Graduation was today, and we even made the local news!


I wrote about graduation last year, and this year was no different.
With one exception.
I immersed myself in picture-taking, so my tears weren't flowing as much.
Ah, the power of distraction.
It was deliberate, because I embarrassed myself enough last year.
This year I was all business.
Kinda. Mostly.

But at least I didn't need too many of these, generously dispersed throughout the room...


Every student deserves the pomp and ceremony, no matter their disabilities.
St. Mary's and the SECEP REACH Program (our school)
went all out to make them feel special today.

We had our Color Guard,


a great speaker (one of our most well-respected local news anchors
and managing editor of the news division of our CBS affiliate, Barbara Ciara),
a lovely and gracious woman with a wonderful sense of humor,


a special friend of each graduate speaking on their behalf,



the mother of one of our graduates to give a very moving tribute,



presentation of their diplomas by the principal,


a giant cake,


and a catered lunch of pulled pork barbecue and all the fixins,
which was just as good as Texas barbecue, thank you very much!


See St. Mary's blog post about the event here.
It's much better than this one.
It has quotes and everything.

It was a very special day, filled with very special people.
I am so lucky to be part of St. Mary's, SECEP, and the lives of those kids.

Today's stars:

Devonta, Greg, Katie, Justin, Demetrias, and Steven:
don't leave us too soon, hear?
We'll miss you too much, and your absence will leave an awfully big hole in our hearts.
We love you guys.

They Grow Up So Fast

The first thing on my to-do list this morning was to find my waterproof mascara. I knew I would need it today.

Today was graduation day at the SECEP REACH Program here at St. Mary's.

(SECEP = Southeastern Cooperative Educational Program and REACH = Raising expectations and abilities for children with complex health needs)

They provide the educational services here, and 12 of our kids graduated today. What this means is that these 12 young people will turn 21 before the end of the next school year, so sometime during this coming year, they will leave us without their smiles to look forward to every day.

On this most special day of the year at the Home, we never know whether to cheer madly or weep copious tears, so we end up doing a lot of both. Cheer because this is a milestone for them, and they are the center of attention - the stars of our best show. Copious tears because we know, deep down to the depths of our souls, that no matter where they go, no one will love them as much as we do or take care of them as well as we did. That's our opinion and we're sticking to it.

The waterproof mascara came in handy, as the water was running down my face. Some of those kids I have known since they were wee bairns from the time I first set foot there in 1992 - 17 years ago. In fact, 6 of the 12 kids are 'old-timers' and 4 of the graduates are currently on my caseload. It is going to be harder than any of us can ever express to have to say goodbye to them.

Put very simply - they are our children and we love them, but it is time for them to leave the nest.

And let me tell you, our ceremony had as much pomp as any graduation you will find anywhere. We had a video presentation with pictures of the kids throughout their lives (that's what started the boo-hooing), a color guard (staff pushing 3 kids in their chairs who present the flags and march in formation), a special friend of each child who spoke on their behalf, a speech by the CEO, a keynote speaker (this year it was a local author), the presentation of diplomas, the works.

And after the ceremony, we had a pig roast with all the fixins. Oh, and 'certain person from Texas who knows who he is' - it was local pulled pork BBQ, the best kind. Best of all, no one caught swine flu.

Sonja - that is a lovely blog post on St. Mary's blog about the festivities.

Finally, a parting thought from the graduation program today:

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and the daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you, but they are not from you,
and though they are with you, they belong not to you.

You can give them your love but not your thoughts.
They have their own thoughts.
You can house their bodies but not their souls,
for their souls dwell in a place of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

-adapted by Ysaye M. Barnwell from a work by Khalil Gibran