ChloeWatts.com

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Usually the blog has been held off until after the Tuesday therapy sessions but yesterday deserves its own page. With absolutely no push from us, Chloe contacted her good friend, Claire, a couple weeks ago, to see if she wanted to play a duet on the piano for the 5th grade talent show. Claire jumped at the chance, so she and Chloe practiced when they could.

Yesterday was the big day. Chloe asked Dana and me to be at the school by 12:30, assuring nothing would be delayed. The show wasn’t to go on until 12:45 but we were soon to find out that she was way too excited to have anything go wrong. She also wanted to make sure her walker was there for her.

Dana and I waited outside of her classroom and when the door opened Chloe was the first one out. Her nurse, Carrie, was with her but Chloe was fixated on Dana. Now I know Carrie cares for Chloe but I did notice what she does that drives Chloe nuts. “Sweetie” is used WAY too much and she needs to learn that nine million questions and suggestions don’t fly with our very well thinking Chloe. Only one more week of class so I guess everyone will make it okay.

Carrie was trying to get Chloe to walk from the classroom to the cafeteria, and, and…. Chloe finally just smirked, shook her head, and threw her hands up, turned her wheelchair around and motioned for us to follow her.

She flew down the hallway, went past the two open doors and stopped at the stage door. She was scheduled to be third in the performance lineup… but there was a glitch…. She didn’t think Claire was in school. That meant it was going to be Mama and her playing. Dana wanted some practice time before the kids showed up so she helped Chloe climb the stairs to the stage. Chloe doesn’t need anywhere near as much help as in the past. It was great to see.

Once on stage Carrie tried to talk Chloe into using the piano that was on the floor rather than the one on stage. Chloe knows what Chloe wants and it wasn’t to be seen as a kid who couldn’t do things for herself. It was a performance, and performers belong on stage! In fact, she intended to stay behind the curtain for the entire show.

After I moved the piano out a ways, she and Dana went over the piece she was to play. It was funny, but Dana was more nervous than Chloe about all this. One other time she and Chloe were on stage together to sing for one of these. Dana does get more stage fright than either Chloe or Colin.

As the kids poured into the cafeteria, there was Claire! Yea! Dana was very happy to see her and to confirm that she would be performing with Chloe. That also meant that we would be able to film the performance easier. It looked like I’d be using two cameras at the same time.

Show time! Chloe and Claire were announced and they walked the width of the stage to the piano. This was the first time anyone at school had seen Chloe walk. It was great. They did “Heart and Soul” very well and the kids gave them a tremendous applause. Then they took the walk back across stage. Chloe was beaming. Dana was weepy. I was very happy for both of them and very proud of Chloe for putting herself out there, saying, I’m back!

When we were saying goodbye to Chloe after the performance, Dana got very close to her and said, “Do you realize just six months ago you could barely open your eyes.” It’s true. Chloe has come a long way. It’s not to where we want her yet but it sure is a miracle what she has accomplished. Understanding the excitement she is stirring up is easy for Dana and me. For Chloe, it’s not. ‘What’s all the fuss’ comes from her much more easily.

Be well,
Ron
I’m having trouble getting the video to download so please be patient. I may have to put it on FB in “friends only” until I can figure out how to reduce it enough for this file. If you have any ideas I’m all ears.