Your Daughter Is My Hero

After the summer we had last year, with Madeleine in a body cast, Michael and I are taking every advantage of our freed daughter that we can. This means that we are going to the Zoo, almost weekly, the park, almost nightly, and the pool! Yep, we are taking the kids swimming at this awesome kid pool in Mountlake Terrace.

On Saturday evening after Madeleine's hair appointment and a light dinner we took the babes to recreational swim. We got there early and had to wait in line until the pool opened for open swim. While in line we met this woman (I never caught her name) who wore two prosthetic legs. They were pipe legs and had brightly covered 'skins' over them.

At first I didn't notice them and then once I did I couldn't help but comment. I tentatively approached this woman and said, "excuse me, I hope you don't mind me commenting but my daughter wears a prosthesis and we don't know many people who wear one would you mind if I showed her your legs?" Naturally the woman was very gracious and we had a wonderful conversation about prosthetics, Madeleine, comments, the pool and everything else. The woman was there with her daughter who was about seven and was clearly very attached and proud of her mum.

Madeleine noticed the womans legs and showed her hers and then went about her business on how well she jumps (yes, she can actually catch a little air!).

In the pool the woman and I chatted a bit more and I played with her lovely daughter too. Upon leaving the woman told me that she liked going to the pool with her daughter as there are not many activities that they can share. I asked if she had a hard time getting around on her artificial legs and she said no, but she did have cancer and was very very sick.

Oh, my heart broke.

Before she left she said, "thank you for sharing Madeleine's story with me. Your daughter is my hero. She is so full of life and energy. I have been watching her and she is a gift to this world."

***Insert tears here***