Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Learning/Teaching Experience

This Friday Kaela and I have been invited by our very special friend, Haylee Seefeld, to visit her fifth grade class at Ann Arbor Christian School. They have been learning about different disabilities and would like us to come in to talk about Kaela and her form of dwarfism. Haylee is the daughter of my wonderful friend, Alisha, who also happens to live two doors down. They have been wonderful friends to us through a lot of our ups and downs with Kaela's health and we are so thankful to have such amazing people in our lives, so we are really excited to do this for Haylee and her class. Haylee and her class (including some of her friends we were lucky enough to meet this past summer) have prayed a lot for Kaela and we are so thankful for them. We know their prayers and well wishes have helped so much in her recovery from surgery and we are so excited to say thank you to all of them in person. I tell Alisha that I think our kids (hers and mine) are so lucky to be able to grow up around someone like Kaela who will teach us that the difference is only on the outside and I've seen it already. Haylee, being the awesome kid that she is, has sat and sketched out a plan for Kaela's future home where cupboards are lowered, microwaves pull out from a low spot, smaller vacuums, and so much more. She's ten and already has compassion and understanding for my three year old daughter that many adults do not have and for her, I'm forever grateful. Thanks Haylee for always including Kaela, for walking slowly so she can keep up with you and for helping her when she ask. We can't wait to show the rest of your class that although Kaela has some different needs both physically and medically and will be smaller than the rest of your classmates, she's just like any other kid. She has feelings, she has needs and she has dreams just like the rest of us. She's a person and deserves to be treated with respect and love just like any other person.

5 comments:

Alisha Seefeld said...

WE LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! Thank you for your kinds words! We feel blessed to know you and continue to learn from you all! You are a blessing to so many and God uses you a lot!!! We are grateful! :0)

Kim said...

What a wonderful child Haylee is! How amazing to live near such wonderful people nad how amazing that a 10 year old is so asute! I'm impressed. I also saw your end of 2010 post. Kaela and Will are so grown up! I can't believe our boys are five. What a year for you guys. Kaela has proved what a spit fire she is-she is truly an inspiration.
Here's to a wonderful 2011!

Greene Family said...

What a great opportunity to teach others, and Haylee sounds like an awesome girl - very inspiring! You have wonderful friends/neighbors!
We're so happy that Kaela is doing so well, and we pray for a happy and healthy 2011 for her (and you all)!

Melissa Swartley said...

What a wonderful friend Haylee is!!! Love this post! Just checked out your end of the year post too! Great pics of the kids! What a year! Here's to a fantastic 2011!

Jenna said...

Hi Kaela!
My name is Jenna and I came across your site. U are loved so much and you are so young yet you have touched so many lives at your young age and will continue to. U are a special and precious gift. U are a Courageous, Strong and Determined Fighter. U are a Brave Warrior, Smilen Champ, Inspirational Hero. U are so lucky to Haylee as a great friend, she is wonderful, precious and special.
I was born with a rare life threatening bone disease, and dwarfism. I am a little person too.
www.miraclechamp.webs.com