Kevin's Healing Journey

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Friday, August 10, 2012

My son and I shop at your Montrose market every week, often on the same day and at the same time. My son, Kevin is seven years old and is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. After a stressful and discouraging first two years of his life on the traditional path, we found a better way to help him on his healing journey which of course includes a natural and nutritious diet.

We live in Cuyahoga Falls, and have a few markets available to us to purchase our natural and nutritious food but a few years ago we discovered that Kevin LOVES your store! We are willing to go “the extra mile” because we enjoy and look forward to our visit to your market every week. In fact, there are times when we leave the house and if we are not going to your market and I drive another way, Kevin protests always wanting to visit your market.

The people that you have working in your market are caring and friendly. From the moment we walk into your market, the employee stocking produce will greet Kevin with a smile, as we walk throughout the market we are greeted by more smiles and friendly faces. And at the checkout, cashiers and baggers will greet Kevin and some even call him by name and give him a “high five” or handshake, especially Dave.

I have been telling this story all summer and I still get happy tears in my eyes when I think of the kindness that we receive in your store from a particular employee in your market, Christina. If Christina is working when we do our shopping and not busy at the time we check out, she will take time to greet Kevin. Kevin does not speak yet, but I am teaching him some basic sign language. Christina knows and uses sign language with Kevin. She will often ask Kevin if he would like a piece of fruit and will use the sign for the fruit she offers him. Well it was a very proud day when Kevin was able to sign back to her that he wanted the apple. And I laughed the day when we came up the last shopping aisle towards the check out and Kevin saw Christina and immediately signed apple to her before she even had a chance to greet him! I love that Kevin feels special and even receives an occasional treat that he can actually have. Christina is a true gem and I appreciate and am so grateful for the time and attention that she gives to Kevin. She will be forever known to us as the “Apple Lady”.

The organic produce and products you stock in your store are top quality but the real reason that we shop in your store is for the top quality employee’s that bring a smile to my son’s face every time we shop in your market. It means more to us to shop where my son is seen as a person, receiving dignity and respect, rather than going to a chain store that is closer in location to us, where we are just another face in the crowd.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Left Foot Update

After taking the in-rigger off and adding the 1/2 inch wedge to the outside sole of Kevin's left shoe and receiving new orthotics, Kevin's left foot does not turn in as much. He seems to be status quo, which is okay for now. He's doing some walking but still not a lot because he does still turn it in especially when tired.

But Kevin got a wart on the bottom of his left heel that we had have treated and at the same time a very black toe nail...I believe a book fell on it and damaged it while he was playing his Ceiling Fan Game. Both problems seem to be on the mend and healing nicely and not bothering his walking right now.

One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Fish, Orange Fish - A Fish Story

So earlier in the summer, we decided to try keeping a fish as a pet. We started with a beautiful blue Betta fish, who we named Ole Blue. We waited a few weeks and that seemed to be going well so we wanted to make a real commitment and buy a small aquarium and give Ole Blue some friends. But we found out that Ole Blue doesn't like friends. So he stays in the fish bowl by himself. And we have an aquarium with a couple tropical fish named Orange Fish & Yellow Fish. Then our area parks held their annual Goldfish Catch. Which is not very easy to catch one of 400 goldfish in a small wading pool. But we got one and we named it New Fish. We put New Fish in the aquarium with Orange Fish and Yellow Fish because they like friends. But sadly, New Fish only lived a week. Our most recent addition is an Algae Fish, who we call Sucker or more dramatically Suckahhhh. The End (until the next fish).

Shakey Bridge

At the beginning of the summer, I took Kevin to this playground and it had his favorite, a Roller Slide but in order to get to it he had to cross the Shakey Bridge. The first time we went, I had to help him across with every step and he was really really unsure of his footing. But now he can do it himself and I even put more shake in the bridge by jumping on it. Which is so much fun!