My daughter Kelsey is 10 years old and has been diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) which is on the autism spectrum. I adopted Kelsey, as a special needs child, from a Russian orphanage when she was 14 months old. When I first found her at the orphanage she was sick, starving, weighed less than 14 pounds and was dressed in rags. She has come a long way in 10 years. It has been an amazing life changing journey for both of us.
Kelsey's achievements continue to astound everyone. She is a 4th grade special education student at the local elementary school. She is a member of a regional swim team and a cheerleading show team. She has also taken gymnastics and dance lessons since she was three years old and, in a couple weeks, she will be competing in her first beauty pageant. This summer, she won an achievement award from the National STEM Academy to attend a summer engineering camp. During the past several years, she has raised several thousand dollars to benefit a variety of charities that assist special needs children and their families. Eventually, she wants to start her own charitable foundation that will be able to help children and families who need assistance.
Last week, Kelsey competed in her first swim meet with her team. She swam in the 25 yard freestyle and 25 yard backstroke. She wasn't one of the fastest swimmers but she certainly was one of the most excited. The smile on her face says it all.
Kelsey says one of her goals is to someday swim for Team USA in the Special Olympics World Games. That swim meet was the first step towards that goal. She is a little girl with big dreams! I am proud to be her mother.
Bonaire, GA
