Katie is now seventeen. The years have gone by so rapidly that you don’t have time to catch your breath. When Katie was young we spent so much time on developmental issues, working with her so that she could move better, speak better and increase cognitive skills.

Today we still do these things but as she has grown the techniques have changed in relationship to fulfilling Katie’s goals. Katie is very goal oriented and motivated or almost driven to succeed in whatever she wants.  She’s persistent almost to the point of being relentless about attaining her goal.

We had the great fortune that Ron Layport (GBL) selected Katie to be in a commercial for her school; The Day School at The Children’s Institute. This experience created a career opportunity for Katie that she thoroughly enjoys. Each year she participates in commercials, videos, articles, radio shows, fund raising events and various other campaigns and media. She has been the ambassador from Pennsylvania for the Children’s Miracle Network, visited the White House and met numerous celebrities. Most recently she has completed a video presentation with the Girl Scouts, a television commercial with the Special Kids Network and a radio spot for Make-A-Wish.

Katie enjoys the outdoors. Here she is in her element, literally. She goes through the woods in her power chair, enjoys swimming, fishing, hiking, looking for wildlife, and traveling. Katie would have been our athlete. Even in her wheelchair she’s the most athletic member of the family.

You won’t find a bigger NASCAR fan. Her bedroom is all about cars. She sleeps in a car bed, her clothes dresser is a red roll around tool box, and she has collectible cars, pictures traffic signal, license plates and automobile memorabilia all over her room. She has a Carrera racing set with 1:24 scale cars to race with. Her favorite jacket is a red and white leather jacket with her favorite drivers number on it; number 8, Little E, Dale Earnheart Jr. When we’re out for a drive it’s time to open the windows and “go fast”. Her goal is to get a golf cart and make it look like a NASCAR.

Katie spends a bit of time watching television. She loves sports. NASCAR is her favorite followed closely by Pittsburgh Steelers football on weekends. She attended the Steeler draft as a VIP this year. Other days she will watch the country music station GAC. And Who Wants To Be a Millionaire.

Katie’s favorite musicians are Nora Jones, Cheryl Crow, Eric Clapton and lots of other music performers. She’s really drawn to music and watches music DVD’s on our home theatre often.

Treasure Lake and the Day School are Katie’s two favorite places. She has freedom here. She can be on her own, do things for herself. She craves independence.

Kate can always be counted on for a good laugh. She’s always up to something; trying to tease someone or play a practical joke. There is never an uneventful day when Katie is there.

As optimistic as Katie is, life is certainly not all roses for her. She’ll never walk let alone run races like she would love to do. She’ll never drive the sports car that she dreams of. She’ll never sing like Nora Jones, though she tries harder than anyone. She may never go onto higher education, date, marry or have children. But she will serve as an inspiration to millions of people by standing up and saying “Look at what I CAN do!