I'm not officially an XMO "Trainer" for the athletes but as an athletic supporter I was encouraged to make the Trainer run, great fun and surprisingly fast!
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Last night one of the trainers spoke about hope and everything that means in this world and our next. It was excellent! After that there were two breakout session/round-tables. On hope: there was a young man who had lost his eyesight during a sporting event, completely blind. He was very attentive to a young man who recently lost his eyesight and seemed to be struggling. It was amazingly heartwarming... someone willing to help lead someone down the dark path to their new normal. These kids stories are sad and some quite tragic. I can hear them laughing and giggling as I type this and it's an amazing thing to see the blind mentoring the blind. We went to the mall yesterday. One stubborn chap named Tim holds his seeing eye stick off the ground like a ski pole. Austin asked "hey Tim, you here"? Tim was, then Austin said I don't hear any (stick) tapping dude, tap left, tap right or you're going down the stairs. I looked over and said that's okay, there's an Urgent Care at the bottom... there actually was. Anywho... blind mentoring the blind, I love it!
The other breakout session was about parenting as a blind woman: she lost her sight at age four and now early 20s, the mother of a two year old. Bryan mentioned that infants of blind parents are often cleaned better than with parents with perfect vision. Makes sense, aye?! If you gotta clean what you can't see it''ll be a full body wash with every diaper change, especially when both parents are completely blind. Mom noticed a disturbing lump on her infant boys chest and called out to her blind husband. Uh oh, another lump. They were just about to call for help but just as they were about to take a pic and text it to Bryan they figured out it was his nipples. Both parents had sight, but sadly lost it.
They told Bryan the story and he laughed. Someone with sight can only imagine highly detailed cleaning infants get when both parents are blind. Bryan was talking to Kiira about it: she was born blind and said "wait, what?! Why do men have nipples"?
The other breakout session was about parenting as a blind woman: she lost her sight at age four and now early 20s, the mother of a two year old. Bryan mentioned that infants of blind parents are often cleaned better than with parents with perfect vision. Makes sense, aye?! If you gotta clean what you can't see it''ll be a full body wash with every diaper change, especially when both parents are completely blind. Mom noticed a disturbing lump on her infant boys chest and called out to her blind husband. Uh oh, another lump. They were just about to call for help but just as they were about to take a pic and text it to Bryan they figured out it was his nipples. Both parents had sight, but sadly lost it.
They told Bryan the story and he laughed. Someone with sight can only imagine highly detailed cleaning infants get when both parents are blind. Bryan was talking to Kiira about it: she was born blind and said "wait, what?! Why do men have nipples"?
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The breakout session the night before last was about the benefits, challenges, and sharing experiences about having a guide dog, which I heard was excellent. This was hosted by the blind mother of the infant under lessons learned and info sharing: she wished she knew then what she knows now, and there were other young woman who were considering having kids, and other blind athletes who participated as well.
Hiya Madi- We agreed before you left that you'd find out why you were taken from us so early, and then let moms and I know when we get there. Another question if you please: why do males have nipples?
Love,
Dad
Hiya Madi- We agreed before you left that you'd find out why you were taken from us so early, and then let moms and I know when we get there. Another question if you please: why do males have nipples?
Love,
Dad
