People are often amazed at Regan's activity list especially since we live in a very rural community. Pretty much anytime Regan wants to try something, I have learned to not say no, but instead say, "Let's figure out how we can do that". If there is one thing we have learned, is that Regan, if she is determined will do what she wants in her own non-traditional way. Here is a look at her yearly activity lists.
Cheerleading: A lot of the professional cheer companies run a disability category, or at the very least a "show" category. My younger daughter does competitive cheerleading, and Regan really wanted to also. Our cheer coach taught her a routine that allowed her to hold onto her walker and do some jumps. Then she went down on her knees and did a cheer while "tall kneeling" She surprised everyone by ending it with a forward roll, she had been working on for months. She got a big trophy, and is eager to sign up and do another competition this year.
Dance: Tap and Ballet are also taught at the gym where we spend our evenings, and Regan really wanted to give these a try. During the fall for the winter recital she works on a tap routine. In the spring she does ballet for the spring recital. Last year she did a duet at the spring recital to "Butterfly Kisses" and there was not a dry eye in the house.
Track: This is the only thing she does through Special Olympics and she absolutely loves it. She competes in tennis ball throw and the 50 meter assisted walk. She is quite known for taking 1st place these days, and it is almost embarrassing how competitive she is because the children she competes against are not.
Golf: Twice a year her hospital Scottish Rites Children's Hospital in Dallas offer a golf clinic in Austin, Tx about 2 hrs from us. They gave her golf clubs to use, and have taught her how to swing and putt. She likes the day out, but when we take her golfing, she much prefers to drive the cart.
Other activities: I plan to do another post in the future about summer camp where she swims, climbs rock walls, does the zip line, rides horses so even in the summer she never has off. We are an active family, and i truly believe that Regan should be active with the rest of us. She is not afraid to try new things, and has asked me now about ice skating. I will say there is one sport she has tried and completely hates.....snorkeling. She could not get the hang of breathing, and when we took her in the Bahamas, she just cried and drank buckets full of salt water. Oh well...you can't be talented at everything you try. I told her I would try and teach her snorkeling in a pool first before we attempt it again.
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