What a difference a year makes

Dear Life,

Last year Kumaka's life looked like this:

That was the first one.  There was TWO of those giant green casts.  In one year.  Not to mention a variety of other casts.  First a bilateral hip surgery, then a femur break, then a ankle realignment and a femur repair, then a repair of one of the hip plates, then a tibia break.  Kumaka couldn't catch a break last year.  Well actually...that was about the only thing he could catch!! 

Last year, right after his original hip surgery, a very special young man came to visit.

We couldn't believe it when Aaron rolled up in his tricked out truck.  What an amazing day that was...Kumaka has been watching Aaron's videos for  years.

A friendship was formed....and from that friendship another friendship started.

Christiaan is great friends with Aaron, and he contacted me on facebook.  He's an amazing athlete and such an advocate for kiddos.  Thanks to him...Kumaka has this awesome, rad WCMX chair handed down from Christiaan's godson Timmy.  Kumaka loves this chair....and today he was able to rock it at the skatepark.  It was so fun to watch him....and kind of miraculous to me.  Last year we were watching Aaron rock it...and this  year Kumaka's rocking it.  The kids at the skate park all ran over and told him how cool his wheels were.  Can you imagine that?  Able bodied kids telling him how cool his chair is!  They were amazed that he was going to use it at the park.  One of the teenagers even came up to me and asked me if he could take a picture of him...because his sister has special needs and his mom would love to see Kumaka.

What a difference a year makes!  So blessed to have the role models that he has....to keep him busy and active and know that he can do anything he wants to do.  Have wheels....will skate!

Learning to "Carve the 'Dis' out of Disability"

Dear Life,

I've been sitting here contemplating the amount of blessing our family has received.  I've been contemplating how very lucky Kumaka is...to live in the United States....to have a family who loves him, supports him, provides opportunities that are not typical....and BELIEVES that HE CAN DO ANYTHING.  Not only that, but wonderful people have come forward and provide amazing and life changing  experiences.  

Last year at this time, Kumaka was in a cast.  A HUGE cast.

A very special young man came to visit Kumaka. 
I'm not really sure what compelled Aaron "Wheelz" to drive over, but that was the beginning of life changing events for Kumaka.

We've been fans of "Wheelz" since Kumaka was a baby.
He has always been an example of doing what you love...and not allowing anything to stand in your way.
I mean...really...check this out:

How could that not be inspiring?
And then yet another inspiring person contacted us.
Christiaan Bailey has become a family friend...and another huge example to Kumaka.
Christiaan lives life his way....has fun doing it...and even more important believes in the "groms" as he calls Kumaka.

This week he brought Kumaka a BoxDesigns WCMX team chair and patiently taught him how to balance. (He has to learn this because this chair has no brakes and no anti tippers....so when he does wheelies he has to balance or he will tip over...and yes it's already happened LOL...hence the helmet!)

Christiaan was on his way to New Zealand,  but he spent almost an hour with our little man.

Providing Kumaka with a new way to look at his chair.

In his words: "I hope this is a turning point for him...looking at his chair as a fun toy instead of a restrictive tank he has to use".

That is more valuable a lesson than anything Kumaka could learn in school.

LIVING LIFE.

Showing Kumaka that HE defines who he is...not his disability...not a surgery...not a broken bone. 

He has healed from last year....the year of casts and surgeries.

And now his spirit is healing.

I can't wait to see what he will do.

And I feel so blessed to have these opportunities for him.

This summer Kumaka has been invited by OceanHealing Group to go to Costa Rica.

This will be an amazing week....of learning to surf, zip lining, fishing, quad riding, snorkeling, horseback riding, among others.

It will show him that he does not have limits.

He will leave his chair behind him....and see the world in a new way.

HUGE.

Blessing.

HUGE.