Buddy Walk 2011

WARNING:  Loud music is about to play. Scroll down and push pause if your kids are napping or your husband is snoring. 



Saturday was our Buddy Walk.  It's hard to believe it's been a year since our last one, because time has gone by so quickly.  Here's our little baby from last year..........................................



But at the same time, it feels much longer, because we have come such a long way since that day last year.  Last year, we showed up to our first Buddy Walk with butterflies in our stomachs, sweat on our palms, and fear in our hearts.  Still battling if we really wanted to be there or not. 

Reading my Buddy Walk post from last year reminds me of how far I have come.  I wouldn't change anything about it, because facing all of those experiences and feelings are what has brought me to where I am today. 

This year, we dove in head first and took a more active role.  I made 5 baskets to add to the raffle baskets. 

Two coffee baskets that had coffee donated from the Furnace Hills Coffee Company.  Check them out.  You'll love it, I promise.

An Orioles basket, because we have plenty of O's stuff around here.

We also did a date night basket with gift certificates from a local restaurant, movie tickets, and a dessert/coffee shop; and a kid's basket with miniature golf and bounce house certificates.  Everything was donated.  The only things I bought were the baskets from a thrift store for 99 cents each and the white mugs from the dollar store that I wrote on with permanent marker. 

We arrived a little after 7:00 am.

It warmed up to about 80 degrees later that day, but it was COLD at 7 in the morning.  Panera Bread donated pastries and coffee for our volunteers, and there was plenty to go around.

Not only has Kamdyn grown since last year, but our team also grew.

Uncle Mike flew in from North Carolina,

NanNan (Brad's mom),

RaRa (my mom), Brad's Uncle Steve and Aunt Dot, Pop Pop (Brad's Dad), Mom Mom (Brad's step mom), our friend Jodi and her kids, and our friend Jenn, who brought her friend Tamara, who has Down syndrome.

Thanks, Team Kamdyn.

Madison spent most of the time with the petting zoo, because she was IN LOVE with this kitten.  She could not get enough of it.  And, no, we will not be getting any kittens, cats, or any other animals of the feline persuasion around here. 

And the girl we were all there for............................................

..................................... zonked out for the actual walk part, but she caught her second wind, and she was ready to party again.

Back to the petting zoo.  We found out that Kamdyn is not an animal fan.  We have a dog, so she is used big, hairy animals slobbering all over her.  But she wanted nothing to do with the animals at the petting zoo. 

This picture was right after she had pushed the kitten away from her.  She was probably going for a second push here:

She surrendered to the fact that we were putting the kitten in front of her, but she was NOT going to touch it.

I thought we'd give some of the other animals a try, but she made it pretty clear she wanted no part of it. 

We had a great day, and our kids had a blast.  Everyone fought over who would hold Kamdyn, so she got plenty of love and attention. 

A day like this is the kind of day that I would have wanted a crystal ball to see the day that the doctor told us Kamdyn has Down syndrome.  She was surrounded by people who adore her.  This is the kind of day that gets stored in the memory bank. 

It was a day that was not only about Kamdyn, but all of our new friends with Down syndrome.  We celebrated each of them and what they have added to our lives. 

Buddy Walk

On Saturday we had our Buddy Walk.  The park was filled with family, friends, supporters who were ready to walk.  There were far more people who were there to support than people with DS.  I thought about that day and the "walk", which was a rather short walk around the perimeter of the park.  It's not at all about the walk that day, but it's about the walk everyday.  We were there, because 5 months ago, we were tentatively thrust onto this track, and we started walking.  We had no choice but to walk.  And we've been walking it everyday since.  Those that were there with us that day were showing that even though they can't walk it for us, they are going to walk next to us and support us.  And that is amazing.

 Our team

There was no lack for activity with a moon bounce, slide, obstacle course, face painting, pumpkin painting, tattoos, puppet show, petting zoo, and food. There wasn't time to think about how I couldn't believe I was here or the turn of events that occurred in our lives 5 months ago. It was just pure joy and happiness. Everywhere you looked, you saw smiling faces. And every person we met was kind and supportive. We spoke with a husband and wife who have a teenage boy with DS. We talked about heart defects, open heart surgery and other things that have become common conversation with us since Kamdyn was born. She made a statement that I haven't felt much since April 27th. She said, "Everyone here understands. We know how you feel."

This walk on the road of disability, the road of differences, the road of health problems beyond your control can be a lonely one. Even though I know there are so many out there walking on the same road, we don't cross paths with many. I know that's why I need to get more involved in our local group. And I will.

It's been easy over these last two months to kind of push Down syndrome aside and not really think about it.  With all of the progress during therapy, improvements every week, along with not seeing a doctor or specialist, it has been easy to push it aside.  But with the Buddy Walk, Kamdyn's progress slowing down, and our next cardiologist appointment looming over our heads, I can't help but bring it back to the forefront again.  The reality of an impending open heart surgery is weighing heavy these days.  Madison came up to me while I was holding Kamdyn and handed me a perfectly traced heart that she had cut out as carefully as she could.  "This is for Kamdyn, because she has a hole in her heart," she said.  So I took that perfect little heart and taped it to the bathroom mirror to remind me that Kamdyn's little heart is in God's hands.  When he sees fit to make it like that perfect little marker drawn heart, He will. 

I guess I've been coming to another hard realization over these last few days.  Due to my competitive, all or nothing, gotta be the best nature, I had this thought Kamdyn would be the best little Downs kid out there.  She would prove all of the statistics and stereotypes wrong.  That maybe somehow she would have a normal life without many delays or disabilities.  But, the truth is, it's not going to happen.  In the beginning, that was my complete coping tool-- "It's not true, It's not going to happen, It's not right."  Well, I'm not there anymore, but I guess I still hold on to some of that.  And I guess that's somewhat how I'm still coping.  Denying the reality and just taking one day at a time.  Because to be perfectly honest, to think farther is terrifying. 

I'm still learning with each step I take on this walk.  And after this week, I realize that I've still got a long road ahead of me.  A road with much more healing, acceptance, and what I know most of all, love.  There are days when I feel lost, but there is one thing that brings me back.  That's like a bright light on a pitch black path.  And that is love.  I know how to love.  I know where to find love.  And I know that love is what drives us on and keeps us going.