When Karina Dyches skated at "Winter Wonderland on Ice," her mother, coach and many in the audience cried. Then the crowds gave her a standing ovation.
The 7-year-old with cerebral palsy had wanted to learn to ice skate since attending the Christmas show at the George S. Eccles Ice Center three years ago. But since she uses a walker, her mother felt she couldn't join the Learn-to-Skate classes offered to other kids.
Kenna Dyches looked online for information about a Special Olympics program for her daughter, but the program no longer existed.
After watching the Christmas show last year, Karina again expressed a desire to skate. This time, her mom e-mailed the skating school director and learned a coach would provide private lessons. Kenna has faithfully driven her daughter to lesson after lesson.
At her first lessonw ith coach Becca Anderson, Karina stood on the ice with her walker, her skates slipped and she failed to propel herself forward.
"Becca had to push me that day," Karina remembers.
Then at the end of the class, Anderson picked her up, left the walker behind and carried her quickly around the rink.
"She just let her head back and her mouth was just open and it was like it was the best day of her life," Anderson said. "It was so sweet."
At that first elsson just two months ago, Karina learned she could perform at the Christmas program she'd attended every year. Kenna said her daughter looked ecstatic.
Anderson said her biggest concern was whether she could understand Karina because the girl's speech is affected by her disorder. So, Anderson called her own mom, a special education teacher, who suggested Anderson focus on using a few words over and over. Anderson also had Karina wear a helmet to protect against falls, another concern.
The first several weeks Karina couldn't even move on the ice.
Then her dad came to one of her practices.
"She just took off," Anderson said.
Ever since then, Karina has been pushing her walker while skating around ont he ice.
"She has a lot of fun and works very hard and when she's done she's very tired," Keene said.
Anderson said she eventually learned to understand most things Larina said. Just a few weeks ago, the 7-year-old seemed ready to begin skating without a helmet. In addition, Anderson noticed Karina had learned to stand more upright with her walker and has a little better fine motor control.
Before long, it was time for the Christmas performance where 32 adults and children performed. karina said she was excited but nervous. When it was her turn, her coach came out ont he edge of the ice so her student could see her.
It was to be a duet - not because Karina had difficulty learning the part, Anderson said, but because her disability limited how high she could lift her legs, and a partner mirrored and accented her performance.
At the performance, her mom, dad, three brothers and baby sister sat in the audience to support her, along with grandparents and two aunts and their families.
Then the 7-year-old skated with her walker and award-winning skater Sydney Longhurst, eliciting tears and a standing ovation.
"That was the loudest anyone cheered," said her 5-year-old brother, Trevor. "They were like, 'That was the best one ever' because it was really loud. It hurt my ears."
Dianne Liebes, an employee at the Eccles Ice Center, said she was touched - partly because she has a niece who was born years ago with cerebral palsy, when fewer services were available.
"I've never seen such a happy little girl (as Karina) and her coach is wonderful with her," Liebes said. "Friday night she was in her glory."
Kenna credits her daughter's can-do attitude.
"She knows she has challenges and things are harder for her than for other people," said Karina's mom, "but she just believes in herself and does things. She didn't see the other skaters, and say, 'I wish I could do that.' She just believes she can."
3 comments:
Touching.....The word of the day!
such a touching story
WONDERFUL!
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