It happened...

I got my moment. 

Everyone knows that we each get our own 15 minutes, mine lasted 3 minutes…180 seconds, 1/20 of an hour….so technically I’m still due 12.  I’m hoping to stretch the 12 minutes “due” to me to a lifetime of purpose. 

With my manager’s blessing, I was able to LITERALLY ambush the man in charge of getting a new clinic set up for sb patients here in town.  That 3 minutes is how I know I’m where I’m supposed to be.

He THOUGHT he was just being escorted to a teleconference phone room, but when I casually turned and asked the busiest man in healthcare if “he had ‘a second’ to answer a quick question” I watched his face change from polite business courtesy to annoyed teenage angst in the minutest of moments.  And my first thought was “well, there goes that”.  But. He reluctantly agreed to answer my “quick question” when he was off his conference call.

Although I had envisioned this moment for ages, I all of a sudden had all the classic signs of stage fright and hero worship…sweaty palms, heat palpitations and flatulence (just kidding, wanted to see if you were still paying attention).  So, I waited to be called into the conference room where he had exactly three minutes before his next AFTER HOURS meeting and started my less than well-rehearsed spiel.  What does it take to get through to a person of this stature?  Insurance premiums.   And without more detail to protect the innocent (and my job), this is all I can say.  The seed, my friends, has been planted.  I hope to nurture it and grow it into a well-kept, self-sustaining little clinic that provides for the needs of our very, very special population.  Maybe I’ll hear something in a few weeks, or, more likely, months and hopefully the roots will grow strong and the personnel will be attentive and caring.  All I know is that after my three minutes were up and I had watched as this man of power and stature listened to my logic, taken notes, and expressed his ideas for where to begin and whom to include on the project, I almost needed to be tethered to the ground to keep from floating away.  That feeling is indescribable and I feel inadequate as I lumber for words to match the elation.  Finally a good use of the word “tethering” in an sb story, huh?

As far as Little Miss goes…check out her gait plates…old AFOs on the left, NEW gait plates on right

The orthotist felt she was becoming too reliant on her AFOs and that she need to work a little harder to not become complacent.  To give you an idea, if you’ve ever worn ski boots, the AFOs almost give you a feeling like that where you can lean forward and let the boots take the work and weight off of you.  She has quite a learning curve with these new gadgets as all they do is disperse the weight a little more evenly inside her shoe and keep her ankles from rolling.  Remember, she used to walk like a super model stamping her way to the end of the runway…now she can bend her ankles and (almost) run!  She still has a skiers’ stance though as her quads and ankles get accustomed to their new found freedom.

What’s next?  Sooooooo glad you asked.  Guess who’s in charge of securing Corporate Sponsorships for the Walk ‘N Roll for Spina Bifida?  ME!  So let’s get rolling (pun intended) and start anteing up!  If you have a business,  this is a great way to get your name out there to this community with your tax deductible donation…it starts at just $250!  And if you have a few more bucks to pass along, we are still looking for a Presenting Sponsor for a donation of $5,000.  At any rate, donation or not, October 5^th is walk day and we’d love to have you support us by joining our walk team!

Here’s the link for you to get more details and just so happens to be Team CeCe’s personal team page too….imagine that, a little self-promotion-on this page…crazy!

 Walk N Roll for sb-Team CeCe

One last thing for now.  So many of you have been with us since we started this crazy journey on June 29, 2010.  We covet the prayers of each and every one of you.  That said, I’d love to give a special shout out to two members of our Jr. Cheering section, LUCY & GRACE!

These girls have NEVER wavered in their faith or prayer for CeCe.  Each and every night they pray for her health and well-being and that she is safe in God’s hands.  We know that without prayer warriors like these two, we would never be where we are today.  So to these two young role models, we say a GIANT thank you!  We are blessed for having you care for her as you do, every day and every night...praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). 

Hope to see you October 5^th!!!!!!!!