Tune in to Amway Global’s ‘Holiday on Ice’ TV special
by Barbara
Note from blog moderator: We enjoyed last year’s Thanksgiving post by Barbara Gaither so much that we are publishing it again this year with this added bit of good news — this Sunday, November 30th, our friends at Amway Global are featuring Barbara Gaither’s son Scottie (last year’s National Child Representative for Easter Seals) in a segment on the Holiday Celebration on Ice television special.
As the presenting sponsor of this TV special, Amway Global provided Scottie and other Easter Seals clients with the opportunity to meet and skate with some of the biggest names in figure skating, including Nancy Kerrigan and Todd Eldredge. In addition to this opportunity, Easter Seals clients and their families were treated to a VIP reception.
You can get a glimpse of all of the fun and excitement during the nationwide airing of the Holiday Celebration on Ice at 4:00 p.m. EST on November 30th on NBC.
Be sure to tune in on November 30th, and join me in thanking our wonderful partner Amway Global for their continued commitment to Easter Seals.
What I am thankful for
by Barbara Gaither
This time of year, I find myself reflecting on what I am most thankful for. I have so many things in my life that have truly blessed me, but one of the most amazing blessings is having an autistic son.
Now, I can’t say that I’ve always felt that way.
When Scottie was first diagnosed with autism, I was devastated. He was our last child and our first and only son. We pinned so many hopes and dreams on him when he was born, and with that diagnosis — those dreams seemed to be crashing down one by one.
As the years passed since that initial diagnosis in 2002, I’ve grown more and more thankful for him and his diagnosis. Many would think that I’m crazy — and maybe I am a bit, but he is such a tremendous joy to me and our entire family. He has taught me not to take the little things in life for granted — and by watching him grow and learn, I have learned so very much.
It’s simply amazing. Sometimes, I wonder what life without him would be like, or even life without him being autistic and I cannot imagine it. At this point I don’t even want to. I wouldn’t change a thing about him even if I could.
Being selected as the Easter Seals 2008 National Child Representative not only gives a lot more people an opportunity to know and love this wonderful little boy, but it gives us — as a family — a chance to give back. We can give back to Easter Seals as an organization because they have given us more than words could ever express. It also gives us a chance to offer hope to other families facing the darkness of autism.
I hope that somehow, by seeing and hearing our story, there will again be light.
So, as we gather to celebrate this Thanksgiving, I will give thanks for Scottie and his sisters, Sarah and Carly, as well as my husband Shannon and all of our family, including our wonderful Easter Seals family.