There was an awful lot of crying at Dr. Montrose's office yesterday afternoon:  my daughter, Tori Annike, who has special needs, took her first steps yesterday.  It was a day of tears and celebration.

Tori, who is four, was told by most doctors that she would not walk because she was born with spina bifida and is partially paralyzed.  Yet yesterday, after much therapy and working hard, she took her first steps (aided by her wheeled walker, of course, and her leg braces to support her).  The look on her small face and the laughter that bubbled out of her said volumes.

Tori didn't cry once, but Dr. Montrose, myself, and her daddy sure did!  I then picked her up into my arms and held her close.  Her braces made her heavier than usual, but I didn't care.

Tori has had so much going on since her birth: surgeries at a few days old to repair the spine.  Surgeries on her bladder and legs.  Surgery to have a shunt placed.  Seizures from time to time (or horrible headaches) whenever her shunt happened to malfunction.  Endless doctor or therapy visits.  Being fitted for leg braces, wheelchair, and walker (and eventually, one day, crutches).  So much pain and suffering, yet through it all, Tori has retained that sweet smile; she hardly ever stops laughing: Tori is such a happy, vibrant child!

I don't know how she does it.  Lord knows, Daniel (husband) and I sure have cried buckets of tears on her behalf, especially when getitng bad news or when she has been in the hospital!  

I am sure that once Tori gets used to walking, she will take off and then we will never be able to catch up with her.  Right now she is a tortoise when it coems to speed, but I am sure that one day she will turn into a graceful, sleek little cheetah.

Then we might as well hang it up because once Tori does something there is NO slowing her down for a SECOND!!

~To be continued.~