Snow Daze - Week of Jan. 3rd

 "Snow flurries began to fall and they swirled around people's legs like house cats.  It was magical, this snow globe world." ~Sarah Addison Allen 

Cam was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has always lived there. As a Michigander, the winter weather will inevitably find its groove and settle in.  This week was the turning point and Wednesday and Thursday turned out to be snow days, meaning no school for Cam for two consecutive days.

A new semester started at school and our 8th grader electives are choir and GLI.  GLI- Global Learners Initiative is a program the Forest Hills Public School district is piloting for middle school students. Its aim: ALL Learners Achieving Individual Potential, Building Meaningful and Productive Lives in a Global Society.  It includes a literacy component focused on inclusion, equity and global society.  Cam is looking forward to being involved in GLI this semester.  His mom completed the training to be a GLI Champion when he was in grade school.

Even though Thursday was a snow day, Cam had an appointment at Mary Free Bed to be fitted for new AFOs (ankle foot orthotics).  The AFOs help Cam's feet remain in a stable location and assist with standing in his chair.

Jane and her son headed out in the snowy weather in the late afternoon.  They took it slow and even arrived five minutes early.  The process is very interesting to see.  Fiberglass is placed in a tub of warm water and then unwrapped around Cam's leg and foot to create a makeshift cast. It hardens very quickly and then is cut out.  Cam chooses a pattern for the special plastic that the AFO's are made out of.  It takes 6-8 weeks for the orthotics to be custom-made and sent to Mary Free Bed.

On Friday, Cam headed back to school relieved to have his normal routine back in place.  As he shared with his parents, "I am not a fan of snow days!"

Camology Quotes:

As part of a GLI assignment, Cam had to choose a quote that was inspiring to him and why.  He had to research and decide independently. 

The quote he chose was by Dr. Suess: "The more that you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you will go." When asked why he chose that quote, his response:

"It makes me want to read!"