She ponders her environment.
She seeks out meaning from what she cannot do.
She watches other kids as they run. As they jump. As they play...free in their bodies to fly through space on monkey bars. Free in their bodies to jump from heights that exhilarate them. Free in their bodies to pull, push, slide, and maneuver themselves up, through, down, and around the equipment.
I felt self-conscious for her.
I felt a bit awkward for her.
I felt alone in a large crowd of parents and their kids.
We found our way over to the baby swings located in the middle of the large playground. Once Ella spied the swings she ramped up her power wheelchair to full speed in the wood chips and found herself there. At last. Her place...
Her place, where she can feel her body as free from gravity for moments at a time. Her place, where she can experience the heights that often elude her; finding exhilaration in the experience. Her place, where she travels through space gathering the sensory input she so desperately needs and seeks.
As I pushed her on the swing and saw her beautiful smile emerge with each "back-and-forth" the self-conscious feelings escaped; the awkwardness disappeared; the loneliness dissipated.
Her power chair sat idly next to the swingset, ready to take her when she needed it. For the time being, though, she was flying free.
I wondered how the Ranchview Community will embrace our Ella when she finds herself attending school there. I wondered what her life will be like in school. From what I gathered at the "start-of-the-year Ice Cream Social" she will be in a place that will take her in with open arms and loving hearts.
