Golf Tournament for disabled ski program!

Ive told you guys about the disabled ski program before and how wonderful it is.  Well today,  everyone who volunteers as  disabled ski instructors, and people who have heard about our program and wants to help, met at Grey wolf Golf course to hold a fundraiser golf tournament to raise money to make our program get bigger and better.   What the money is going towards this time is a little shed or something to put all the special equipment our skiers use, along with the two sit skis.   Right now everything is stored in the basement of the ski lodge, and it would be nice if we had our own space.  So, that's the goal.  Anyway, everyone had a great time.  I met my ski buddies up there, Katrien and her parents, Gee and William.  They were so organized.  They had a table with a big sign advertising our program.  Palister Printing, a small publishing company in town made it for us.  They did an awesome job.  It looks amazing!   They showed my sit ski off, on a table.  My job was to talk about my experience with skiing, and how its really opened up doors for me, and for other disabled kids in the valley.   My mom was with me for a bit.  The other job for us was to point  out   the route for the women to golf.  We were with the men, and the women had to go down a hill a little bit to their starting point.  Everyone was so nice!  They all wanted to know about the ski program .  I got some high fives too!  One guy came with his son.  He did a pretty good shot.  He bragged about it, but then his son got further then him!  That was pretty funny!  I mostly just got to relax and brag about skiing.  The weather was perfect.  One of the most beautiful courses.   It ccouldn't get much better than sitting over looking a beautiful golf course and talking about something you love.  My sister, Natalie, came to.  She was way over on the other side, on another course, being a spotter for the closest ball to the pin.  That was awesome that she helped out.  She did a great job.  Shes always up for anything.   I got a tour of the course.  Its quite something.  Thanks to all the volunteers that came out today,  Especially katrien and her parents.  It feels good ,fundraising for something you feel strongly about.  You know that your being a help. Another great day in paradise.  Thanks to everyone that golfed and donated..  We really appreciate it!  With the money we raised, hopefully we can strecth our ski program further.  See you in the winter Panorama.  Cant wait to hit the slopes!

Fresh Start at Childrens Hospital

I just got home from Calgary yesterday  We went to Children's Hospital to meet a new doctor.  I have been followed by Children's since I was born.  I spent a lot of time there when I was little.  When I was two in a half, or maybe three, I had to have surgery done on my lgs to strech out my ligaments.  I  had to have intense physio, and the doctors at childrens wanted to keep a close eye on me, so I lived in Calgary with my aunt and cousin for a year and a half.  That was a long time ago, but did go back now and then for checkups.  It sort of stopped about three years ago.   The muscles in my legs were  getting really tight, so they wanted to do Botox.  Botox loosens the muscles so they would be more easy to stretch and function.  The botox definitely loosened my muscles, that's for sure.  However, it made them so loose, I could not even stand up properly.  When we told my doctor that this wasn't working, they weren't very happy with us and we didn't hear back from them until a couple days ago.    We got a call from the Children's saying that we sort of got left behind and that there was a new doctor who would like to see me.  My mom and I jumped at the chance to go.  We were happy that they still thought about us.  We stayed with my grandparents in Calgary this time, and got to Children's the day after we got in to the city. We met Dr. Tatiana and Dr. Birkenholder.  They were great.  They wanted to know everything about me, from when Iwas born, and how I got Cerebral Palsy, to how I'm doing now.  I liked them a lot.  They didn't even push on the Botox.  We talked about what it would be like in the future for me.  I want to go to the University of Victoria, so we talked about how that would work.  It was great!  They were very through.  The only thing was, I was a little nervous to see them, so when they streched me, I had diffuculty just relaxing.  This made my muscles tight  They were worried about that.  But, they were right.  I do need to stretch more.  I think our visit was great!  I feel very hopeful about this!  They said they would follow me even after I  turn eighteen.  I would have to transfer to the Foothills, but that's okay.  Everything sounds great!  They want to see me again before my big transition to university, which is awesome.  I love going to the Children's Hospital.  I told mom that it makes me smile.  Driving up and seeing this big colourful building  for a hospital is something special.  It doesn't look like a scary hospital.  It looks like a warm place with people who want to help kids!   I hope to work at one soon.  I would love for the children's to be part of my life for a long time, even when Im all grown up.  A big hand to all the doctors and helpers who are so dedicated to what they do.  You make kids lives very happy.  Sometimes they push a little too hard on things, but that's because they want to try everything to try absolutely every possibility.  Well done children's!  You have done incredible work! 

The Wacky and Wonderful Camp Winfield

I just got back from Camp Winfield about  two weeks ago!  I had a wonderful time, like I always do.  This is my tenth year, and still, I cant get enough of that special place.  This week was great!  I had two really nice councillors, Kaitlyn, Europa, and Michelle.  My best friend Grace went with me.  This year, her and I were quite close.  There is a theme every year.  This theme was zombies vs. under the sea.  The themes seem to get stranger and stranger as the years go by!  This year, our group had a lot of older girls in it, so most of the time we hung out, talked and got to know each other.  We did do some pranks though.    We were back and forth with this boy group, pranking each other.  We toilet papered the boys dorm, and then we made fake underwear for one of their counsellors, tied it to a flagpole and wrote I  love my Mommy on it!  It was hilarious.  When your at camp, your really let your mind run wild.  Your so free at camp!    Every camper has a disability and yet they can do anything they want to.  The counsellors try so hard to make sure everyone is able to do any activity.  They make it seem as normal as possible.  They don't act like kids there have a disability.  Its all about having fun, just like any other camp.   The people that work there are something special.  They are so full of energy and sweet.   its like the world is  made for you over there!   For a week you have no worries.   You get so caught up in the struggles of everyday life and then you come  to camp and all your troubles disappear.  Even the most disabled kids are happy.  Theyère  smiling all the time.  Another good thing about going a camp for kids with disabilities is realizing how lucky you are.  Some kids struggle quite a bit, and for me, who is very fortunate to be able to walk, and function as well as I do, its always a bittersweet reminder that I have it really good!  Camp Winfield will always be very important to me.  Its gotten to be such a big part of my life, as well as many childrens.  Theres a grad night every week for kids who are eighteen and have grown out  of being a camper.  Some of the campers make speeches.  They get quite emotional about it!  Camp is special to everyone!  A place where kids can have fun, grow, and most importantly, be themselves.  Long live possibilities, long live camp Winfield.                                                                                                                                                                               

climb every mountain

Hey everybody
I know I haven't written forever.  I wanted to focus on getting school finished.  Right after school was over, I got to go on a big adventure.  Myself,  along with five other students from D.T.S.S high school,  got chosen to go spend five days up in the bugaboo mountains.    I only went for three days, but I think my trip could not have gotten any better than it was.  I got to go with my helper at school, and my good friend, Paige Ukass.  It was so nice to spend time with her.  It's quite spectacular up at the lodge.  We drove up with my mom.  She didn't stay, but thought just the drive up was an adventure enough.  The lodge was wonderful!  Everyone in there was like family and when they met you, you felt like a part of it. We started climbing right away.  I went up the mountains in what called a trail rider.  Its a seat with one wheel at the front and one at the back. It took three strong guys to get me up there!  I got to walk some too.  That was huge for me.  Ive never got to walk on terrain like that before.  It felt like I really concerd something.  The scenery up there in the mountains is breathtaking, and you just feel so peaceful.  All the guide said the best part of their job was coming up to the peacefulness of the  mountains after the  busyness of every day life!  I got to fly in a helicopter up there, and on the last day, I got to sit in the co pilot seat!  This trip was like nothing Ive ever experienced before.  I made friends with the nicest people and experienced once in a lifetime things.    Paige once said to me  " Kate, one day you and I are going to climb mountains together!"  And soon after, our dream came true.  After getting settled back into reality after all the excitement, the two of us made a book about our fabulous trip, on the computer.  Paige has a program that can take all your pictures and turn them into a book.  The book is amazing.    I will treasure it always  Thank you to all who made this amazing trip possible, especially to Rocco, the Heli skiing guy who made all this happen.  Of course, I cant forget my partner in crime, Paige.  Its amazing what we have done together.   If I can do this, I can do anything!  All I have to do is believe and I can move any mountain to make my dreams come true!