Today Larkin graduated from Champaign Early Childhood Center.
She started school here when she turned 3 and aged out of Early Intervention. We left behind beloved therapists who had come into our home since she was born and a playgroup where we felt safe and welcome.
We entered the world of our school district Unit 4 and Larkin began going to school every day for 2.5 hours. This is quite a feat for a little girl who couldn’t walk, communicate, make eye contact, rarely smiled, taking a lot of medications, on a diet treatment for seizures, and had never left our controlled environment. Her health was precarious but this was the very best course for our little girl so we took a deep breath and jumped off the edge.
Today we watched as she accepted her diploma and well wishes from her team as she moves from here to there.
There being Kindergarten, new team, new friends, and jumping off another edge.
I was in tears this morning thinking of how far this little one has come. How much she has taught me, her family, friends, and the community. The best way to see the journey from my mind’s eye is to show the pictures along the way.
From Here: Daddy carrying her into school ~ to using her walker ~ to walking with help and riding the bus which caused us great angst ~ to making fast friends with our bus driver and aide ~ to walking up the bus stairs all by herself ~ to making friends at school ~ to a great team ~ to a beautiful stable health little girl.
To There: Oh The Places You’ll Go ~ Dr. Seuss:
It’s opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And then things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.
Slow and steady wins the race.