Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

I just thought I'd pop back on here with a quick update, and maybe to brag just a wee bit as well...

When we shut down Rosie's Facebook story in September she'd just started with the whole Sledge Hockey thing. Three months into the season, she was moved up from the development group into the junior team, and has played a handful of competitive games since the end of January. Last weekend she scored her first goal, and has a number of assists to her name as well. Today (what an excuse to play hooky from school!) her team was invited by the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program, as part of the Maple Leafs centenary celebrations, to attend the Leafs' open practice session and then school some Leafs alumni (Darcy Tucker, Shayne Corson and Mike Foligno, for those to whom those names mean anything) in a sledge hockey clinic. In exchange for which they were presented with some Leafs swag. We think this is a little bit awesome ;)

As the hockey season begins to wind down, she's decided that wheelchair racing is the thing to do in the summer. She had a go in a racing chair a few weeks ago at an indoor track: a couple of people who know what they're talking about suggested that, due to the nature and location of her spinal cord injury, she might be in a position to become quite good at it with a lot of hard work and dedication. We'll see where that one goes...

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

Fantastic news.

Here's hoping she enjoys the wheelchair racing too.

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Go Rosie! It's sounds like she's doing really well with the hockey. I hope that she enjoys the wheelchair racing in summer just as much.

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Occasionally a post just makes you smile and smile. Thanks so much for letting us know how Rosie's getting on, Oakvillian. Ain't nothing going to stop that girl having a great life.

Like most of us that have posted on this thread probably do, I sometimes find myself thinking of Rosie and all your family. I think of all the kids with a disability that I've met and spent time with, mostly through my own daughter who uses a wheelchair. I think about their parents, the resilience, bloody hard work and guts it can take to get through each day. I think about the shock and overwhelming grief on the day you get the diagnosis.

And then I see how far the kids have come, I see them smiling and doing stuff they enjoy, just being kids. And I see their parents, still a bit battered and bruised from the sheer slog of adapting their lives, both mentally and physically, from one normal to another normal - but they've got through the worst of it, they can smile and enjoy life again, they can plan ahead instead of having to wait and see how things turn out, and they are justifiably so very proud of their kids and their achievements.

I think you're wonderful - you, your wife, Rosie, your entire family :starsmile:

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You have an amazing daughter...but you already know that. Rosie has an amazing family too.

Way to go Rosie...way to go!!!!

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Well done Rosie. She's got some bottle!

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What a fabulous update :) I would think that Rosie has already shown that's she's not afraid of hard work and dedication, I look forward to hearing of her achievements at the Paralympics in the future. Incidentally I have a neice who plays sledge hockey for Canada, it's quite some game, they're all amazing women.

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Thank you so much for thinking to give a little update. I have wondered how life was toddling along for you all.

I feel your Rosie will excel at anything she puts her mind to. There again I rather suspect you all do, each in your own way. Indomitable spirit is a part of who you are as a family.

I hope she really enjoys and has great fun with her new sports. Fab news.

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Love this. What a girl! :starsmile:

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How fabulous is that! What an experience and a lovely memory to have..

I think Rosie is pretty darn amazing... as are you all.

Go Rosie!!

:)

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I think it's fantastic that out of something so awful, she and you are achieving great and fun things that might otherwise have never been considered. Nice work Rosie and congrats to her family for giving her the strength of character to fight.

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What an amazing update. I think of you guys often and my family regularly asks after you! It's great to see she's finding activities she loves... I'll admit I'm so amused that you are now hockey parents!!!

Definitely watch out world, Rosie is coming!!! :wub:

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Brilliant news

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Amazing. You must be so very proud of Rosie to show this level of resilience.

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Brilliant news thanks for sharing.

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This definitely put a smile on my face :thumbup:

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I am still chuckling about the socks! What a fantastic day for Rosie, sounds like she has your summer booked as well.

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She really is an inspiration. You must be so proud, I also think it shows what kind of parent you are - brilliant ones, you have given her the confidence to try these things and said yes you can and have supported her. Just brilliant.

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This is just awesome!! Thank you for the update, I often think about Rosie and how you are all getting on.

I know, from my daughter, what a huge and important part of life being in a sport you love can bring. I'm sure Rosie will have some amazing times with her teammates, and it's always great to have a passion to be involved in.

Good for you Rosie, enjoy every minute.

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

Another season drawing to a close, time to pop back for another quick update. Rosie's been blowing a bit hot & cold over the whole track racing thing, largely because it seemed no sooner had her coach sorted her out in a properly fitting chair, she grew another couple of inches and had to start again! The club has a storage room full of different sized frames, seats, wheels and accessories that have been acquired or donated over the years, which is really awesome as they can (within reason) customize a chair for people of a huge range of sizes and with many and various disabilities. They also benefited from the Para-Pan-Am and Invictus games' legacy; a couple of the leading manufacturers brought a whole load of chairs to the Games both as spares and for public try-out sessions, which were either donated or sold for a nominal cost to local disability sports organizations.

Once we found a chair to fit, however, there was no stopping her. This photo shows the expression on her face as she realized she was ahead of the field in one of her first competitive 100m races...
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...365dc7dd24.jpg

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What a girl!!!!

Her expression is priceless. :thumbsup:

Thank you so much for the update and posting that very special pic.

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Brilliant photo! How wonderful to see a determined youngster doing the very best she CAN do, not being defined or limited by what she can't do.

Best wishes to all your family.

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Fan-flipping-tastic!

Now the next decision: to compete for Britain or Canada?

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If Rosie’s strength of character and resolve is anything to go by...she will represent both and probably at the same time!! nod:

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Well check her out!!! Way to go Rosie!! She looks so determined and so pleased with herself. We are going to see her in the big leagues in no time at all.

(I have had a super crap day, and this was the perfect uplift. Thanks Oak!)

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Incredible photo, incredible girl.

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Great to hear that things are sorted on the track. You have an amazing daughter Oakvillian,

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Absolutely fantastic. Thank you so much Oakvillian for letting us share in Rosie's story. She's done you proud - and you and your wife have done her proud :heart:

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My post got lost in cyberspace.......... but I just want to say .... Go Rosie!!

She has been an inspiration to me...... truly. I'm so dang impressed by her... she's amazing.

Thank you for sharing and letting us have a glimpse of that moment of joy.

<3

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Fantastic photo. That smile says so much.

Thanks for sharing - great to see such progress and achievement.

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That's just brilliant Oak. She's doing so well, you must be incredibly proud of her determination and spirit. Look forward to seeing her in the Olympics in years to come and telling anyone and everyone that I kind of know her! :D

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That got me all weepy - wonderful fantastic photo - thank you.

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I will confess to also developing a defective tear duct. That photo has made my day. It is beyond A-word!

Things looked bleak at the beginning. Now look at at. I cannot even begin to imagine how much effort Oak and his family have put into this.

I am awestruck (bugger, I used the word!).

One could easily make a movie out of this story.

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Another one who must have developed an allergy to the dust in her room!
Seriously though my arms are knackered after pushing my dad around in his wheelchair for a few days, I can't even begin to imagine the physical effort that takes (not aside from the mental effort it must have taken to get to that point)

Go Rosie

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Heart warming

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I'm late to this update, but Rosie is amazing, as is her family. I know her father is, but have to assume that the rest of the family is equally exceptional.