Dakotah's Halloween

Finished Product

The beginning

Who says being in a wheelchair means you can't have a great costume? All you need is a creative mom whose willing to take the time to come up with something.  I'm going to be Batgirl for my sister's birthday/Halloween party so I wanted Dakotah be themed along with me.  I found an inexpensive Robin costume for her (trying to pinch pennies but still wanted her to have Halloween).  I wanted her to have a Batmobile around her wheelchair.  Luckily I had a couple of big boxes in the garage so I went to work.  It was a big success and I am very happy with it!  She's not too thrilled with the mask so we'll have to figure something out with that, but she looks adorable in it! 

Surgery is one month away now!

Well, Dakotah's surgery is officially a month away now (11/16).  I think I am prepared for the actual surgery itself, its just the recovery process that I'm really worried about.  Since Dakotah can't talk, I am worried about her pain management and me knowing her cries/moans so she isn't in pain more than needed.  It also just breaks my heart to think of that huge incision going down her beautiful back and the scar that will be left behind.  She is like a beautiful porcelain doll and I hate to think of her little body being scarred but I know it has to be done. 

I had a great friend donate 1 blood yesterday for of the units of blood and my son (her brother) donated a unit yesterday in hopes that he will be a match for the other unit that she will need for surgery.  We will find out Wednesday if he is.  If he isn't, there are teachers that I work with that are willing to donate for her.  I am so grateful that God has sent these people into my life!!!!

Donations for Dollar4Dakotah have pretty much stopped.  I think I need to do more on Twitter about posting the cause.  But I am NOT giving up hope yet!!!! We made it through a really tough time last fall as well and even made it through being homeless for about a month so I know that God will see us through this as well!

XO

Disability History & Awareness Weeks

On 6/13/08, Governor Crist signed a bill that made the first two weeks of October "Disability History & Awareness Weeks".  So, this week & next week (as I did in 2008 & 2009), I am doing a presentation to the entire middle school where I teach.  I divide up the students by grade and do the presentation in small groups to allow for more time for questions and more individual attention to the students.  I have gotten a great response from the 6th graders so far!  It's encouraging.  I share a video of Dakotah and then talk about the history of people with disabilities and how we need to see their ABILITIES not their DISABILITIES!!!

I wish I could attach the Power Point that I made and am using! I do this not only to make the students aware of how to treat people with disabilities but to jump start our school's bully proofing program.  In light of the recent bullying stories, we educators HAVE to do MORE!!!!!