Where do we start...Katie was
honored at a graduation ceremony/party thrown by a local radio station in town,
Z100, 100.3 FM on Tuesday June 24th. They sent a limo for us, took her to the
hair salon where Kelly (who previously donated a color weave and cut) styled
her hair and did her make-up then off to the ceremony. We were met with news
camera's and a crowd of well wishers. Katie and I were interviewed for channel
2 news, the link to the video is below:
http://katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=58675
The
ceremony was incredible, the commencement speaker was Jerome Kersey, a former
Portland Trailblazer basketball star and Freddie Jones, who plays for the
Indiana Pacers Basketball team. The room was amazing, 15 foot banners with her
school colors, congratulating her, Hollywood lighting, stage and podium built
just for her. Programs donated. Every news crew for all the TV stations were in
attendance, including all the radio stations from Seattle, WA to Klamath Falls,
Oregon. Chet Buchanan and Ryan and Nicholl are the Radio Dj's who all spoke to
wonderfully about Katie and her struggles so beautifully. They talked about
Cystinosis and the hardships that we all face, including an emergency triple
root canal that Katie had done the day before. Katie was presented Jerome's
jersey, the reporter from Los Angles came up to present her with his article
called ' The Heart of a Champion' and spoke to the response from readers from
California Katie had touched. He urged her to run for the school board
position, now open on the Evergreen School Board.
She was presented a
CD with the lyrics printed out in a shadow box from a local talent who wrote s
song for Katie, called 'Fly away', Katie's sisters wrote a letter to her that
made the room break down in tears. After the ceremony we had a reception for
all, then a private ceremony. She was given so many gifts, including 2
roundtrip tickets anywhere in the US. She is going to Hawaii soon. Catered
dinner/cake, balloons, you name it it was all donated.
Words can't
describe the pride we felt for Katie, then for our country. Everyone involved,
showed Katie what inclusion and love and compassion is all about, she walked on
air with renewed pride for her accomplishments. She received a honorary diploma
from the radio station honoring her courage, bravery, tenacity which from what
Katie has expressed, meant more to her to be acknowledged than her diploma. She
gave a short but poignant speech, which any hard hearted person listening would
have openly bawled!
My heart if full...
Katie's Mom...