So last night, Cora danced for her last time. Well, that might be overly dramatic. The last time before her surgery and quite a while after, at least. It was a beautiful performace that she had choreographed herself with a friend, complete with periwinkle colored dresses and lots of movement and emotion. Very powerful. After the perfomance I waited in the lobby for my dancer who comes to me with tears in her eyes and pain on her face. We held each other tight in the midst of all that chaos and cried. She sobbed from her heart and deep from her soul. I could feel her pain- her knees hurt, her back hurt, but more than anything-her heart hurt. Who knows if she will want to dance again? Dr. Smith tells us she can resume normal activities 6 months after surgery. And he tells me stories of patients that have done back handsprings down his hall after their recovery. But I also know Cora won't bend the same after her surgery. I know she will certainly be moving differently. Who knows what her future holds? This is where our faith comes in to play... I do know she has danced for 12 years. She loves it. And one of the first thoughts we had when we were told about her scoliosis was that she was going to have to quit the dance team. As a Sophomore, Cora had made the high school dance team this year. Complete with competitions, traveling, matching uniforms and 4 hours a day of practice. Kinda a big deal. So I called her dance teacher, Julie, and told her what was happening. I asked if she needed to let Cora's spot on the team go so someone else could fill it. And Julie told me something that taught me a beautiful lesson, "Cora tried out and made the dance team. Fair and square. She is still on the team, even if she can't dance for the school year. We will find a purpose for her." Pretty cool, huh? I've met with all of Coras teachers. We are planning on a week's stay at Primary Childrens Hospital and 30 days of missed school. Thats ALOT of missed school. Cora is a 4.0 student and takes pride in keeping it that way. Having to not be in school will be very hard for her. Every teacher has been so helpful. Her Seminary teacher prayed with us when we told him, her ASL teacher cried with us, and her math teacher tells us with a wink, "I know how to work these things out." Cora and I both left the school knowing she had full permission to use the elevator, leave class early, have someone else carry her backpack, and even lay down on the classroom floor if she can't stand sitting just One.More.Minute. Every step of the way, I see the hand of the Lord clearing things for my girl. He is making her pathway smoother. The stumbling blocks are not removed, nor is this heavy burden being taken from her, but her steps are more sure so she won't trip, her path is being illuminated so she can see ahead, and she has her family to hold her hand so she can have strength and balance through this trial. Cora has taught her self sign language, and how to play the ukelele. She is an extremely talented actress, dancer and singer, she plays the piano beautifully and is a joy to anyone she comes in contact with. I have no doubt that whatever the future hold for her, she will accomplish it with grace, passion, and perfect posture :)
3 Comments
Dawn Wright
10/28/2016 11:20:50 am
Oh how I love this girl! Wish I could have seen her dance last night.
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Bobbi Timms
10/31/2016 03:17:05 pm
Thanks for sharing. So hard to go through but it will all turn out great.
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Gene Wright
10/28/2016 03:00:30 pm
What a wonderful telling of a really inspiring story. We wish you the very best and hope this is a small hiccup on your road to a wonderful life. Lance, our younger son, had scoliosis nearly this bad. He has rods in his back, as do I. We may have to start a club!
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AuthorMy name is Kirsty. I am the mom of an amazingly courageous daugher with scoliosis. This is our story. Archives
June 2019
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