Children with LD's Can Thrive too!

Cassie Fruck age 9 years old playing in the leaves November 2010

Cassie started Grade 4 at Fessenden Public school and we quickly noticed the work for grade 4 is very hard and even the first homework packages sent home I realized Cassie could not do these pages. Over the last few years Cassie has worked with a modified program and an IEP. The primary grade teachers could take the classroom homework and slash of some of it off the page and Cassie could work some of the same homework but with less questions. If the children had ten spelling words Cassie would be given 5. If the children had a page of Math Cassie could work on some of the math but with a few less questions. I have always been the parent who spends the time with the girls on their homework. Chris, if asked will spend some time and this year I have asked him frequently to step in. Julia's grade seven homework is getting pretty hard. Chris just graduated college and is great for helping out particularily with Math work. This year it was apparent to me that grade 4 work was way too difficult for Cassie. As well I noticed less and less time is given to Cassie to work on her literacy. She had been given alot of time in the last few years working on letters, phonics and words. In primary grades all children are working on literacy and alot of time is spent focusing on it in school. Cassie is still working at learning sight words and increasing the amount of words she knows.
Chris and I had an idea to post a sign at our church looking for a tutor. I was having difficulty figuring out how to assist Cassie with reading. Cassie did not seem to enjoy reading as much with me and was having attitude with her mom. Luckily for us a very very experienced teacher named Janet Weingartner offered to tutor Cassie. Cassie has now spent many weeks working with Janet. Cassie has already improved her reading and recognizes 100 or more site words. Cassie has improved in the speed of reading words she recognizes and her confidence in tackling new words seems to be growing. Cassie puts forth a great effort each week. Janet makes learning words fun and uses a program called pci education. The website for this program is http://www.pcieducation.com/ . Cassie has always worked hard in her rehabillitation, and she is putting forth the same great effort with reading. I enjoy hearing her reading! It warms my heart because I know what a struggle it has been for her. Despite the other children in Cassie's class moving ahead of her, she maintains a positive attitude and trys hard with work in school. The gap has grown fairly large unfortunatley, Chris and I had to spend a few nights greiving again after the talk with the learning resource teacher. I wondered how after all these years raising a special needs girl I could again be greiving. I guess I was exhausted thinking of the difficult journey with literacy and the problems associated with learning difficulties was overwhelming me. I approached the learning resource teacher , classroom teacher and principle. Everyone was quickly trying to get up to speed and provide me with ideas on how Cassies grade four year could be modified and stay productive for our girl. Cassie needs to work on school work that is geared to her level of learning. Sadly the school has cut down substantially her EA time despite Cassie needing it greatly for her learning disability Cassie has done so well physically and emotionally she requires much less assistance by the EA in other areas. Cassie herself is very proud that she does not have an EA in the afternoon. Despite grade 4 being a hard year, I am still excited to get the first report card. It gives us another chance to meet the teacher again to hear where Cassie is at and see what strengths the teacher has found and isolate again areas of weakness. Janet, Cassies tutor tells me I need to tell the school that Cassie needs time on her PCI program and I will do this ASAP. I rely heavily on the teachers and Cassie's new tutor telling me where Cassie is at. I am super busy and need to focus my time and energy on areas that are productive and make good use of our time. Right now I feel the biggest area to keep focusing on is literacy. If Cassie can read she can function so much better in the world. It will help her every day life and allow her to get a better job.
December 2 is a system meeting at the school to discuss Cassies progress and the next steps for her education. The meeting will include the classroom teacher, learning resource teacher, principal, special education consultant and psycho-educational consultant. I will eagerly attend and hope that again we can all get back on the same page regarding Cassie's education. The question of a different placement into a comprehensive class has been raised this year. It appears the school board advocates for integration and their is a total transparency associated with the comprehensive classes. They cant tell me where Cassie would go to school, what type of classes are offered. How these classes would benefit Cassie as opposed to integration.? What the teacher to class ratio is? Would Cassie get a better education geared towards her level of learning? Modifing Cassie's school program and working at her level at her present school is alot of work but appears to be the best option for Cassie right now. Chris very quickly shot the idea down that Cassie would go to a Comprehensive class that would not allow her to work for a high school diploma. He refuses to bus our daughter out of our town to go to school unless it was for a school that was exceptional and could provide Cassie with a better education geared towards her learning disability. The warm friendly small school of Fessenden is a school that Cassie loves. She is accepted, has many friends and understands how things work at Fessenden. She loves attending school and goes off each day with a positive attitude and is thrilled to go to school. What more can any parent ask for. Our daughter with alot of concentrated effort continues to thrive even with a significant learning disability. Thank you God for sending Janet our way. I have already learned some easy ways to help Cassie and the results gained are enourmous. We contine to aim high with our expectations regarding Cassie's education. Chris and I are moving towards acceptance, the challenges will continue each year in public school as she is exceptional and a great deal of work is needed to keep her on track. The difficulties with her learning will plague her for the rest of her academic years but children with learning difficulties can thrive and learn and Cassie surprises us and we love hearing her read!!

Cassie with her tutor Janet W.

Cuts to The Movement Lab would hurt childrens walking abilities

Funding Needed for Gait Analysis (Movement Lab at Mcmaster Children’s Hospital facing funding cuts)

Our nine-year old daughter looks like other young girl her age. Her walking abilities are so good right now a lot of people don’t even realize she was born with cerebral palsy. Cassie can run playfully at recess with the other children, walk to the park or walk her horse around the barn at her therapeutic riding club. Our daughter frequently requires an assessment of her gait or moving abilities. Gait assessments have been done before and after each procedure that Cassie has trailed. Every parents dream for their disabled child is to have them walk, thus promoting independence, accessibility and living a productive life.
The efforts to improve our daughters walking abilities; have been tireless for us as parents and successful thanks to a large team of health care specialists at Mcmaster Children’s hospital. Born with a brain injury our daughter got her first pair of leg braces by six months of age. For the first three years of her young life Cassie scooted around on her bottom, using one hand and a foot to propel herself forward, she never crawled and had extreme difficulty pulling her self up or balancing. So began the exhausting journey to rehabilitate our daughter.
The Mcmaster team consisted of physiotherapists, occupational therapists at Chedoke Developmental Rehabilitation Program, a developmental pediatrician, an orthopedic specialist, a physiatrist, an extremely talented orthotist and lastly two average parents, hard working middle class, with dreams for their daughter that she will walk as best she can. The last nine years of treatments have consisted of extensive physiotherapy, conductive education, gait training on a tread mill, new braces made every 10-12 months for nine years, serial casting procedures, botox treatments and repeated gait analysis done through Mcmasters Movement Lab. Many of the treatments remain uncovered by OHIP, causing financial hardship for parents, extended benefit struggles and fund raising efforts. The gait analysis done in the movement lab is an OHIP covered desperately needed service and this article will outline why it is so valuable.
The Movement lab is an essential service needed to improve children’s walking abilities. Located at Mcmasters Innovation Park this lab examines closely the gait of children and adults with walking problems. A movement assessment allows doctors, therapists and orthotists to look closely at how our daughter’s muscles and joint’s work when she is moving. This information helps her team make decisions about exercises, braces and surgery. It also shows the team how movement changes over time due to her growth or treatments she has undergone. The full assessment includes a collection of EMG and/or Kinematic and Kinetic info and a video. The test takes only about one and a half hours for the patient however the analysis takes many hours and is essential and useful when examining the complex walking patterns of children.
The use of the Gail Analysis guided our daughter’s orthopedic specialist decision to perform a much-needed orthopedic surgery on her left foot. Six months later our daughter walks without the aide of a wheelchair, walker or even a cane. Our nine- year old daughter is begging her dad to sign up for soccer with her best friends in Ancaster. The tireless hours invested and the specialized team approach has yielded wonderful results. The possibilities for our child are enormous. There are still promising improvements in gait analysis technology on the horizon. Our daughter needs this essential Movement lab until she reaches full height. New procedures are still being developed and planned for children with cerebral palsy or other forms of movement disorders. The Proper use of Gait analysis yields better results for patients. We are still using the Gait analysis for indications for various types of orthotics for our child. We are pursuing a new sport orthotic for our daughter and you can bet Cassie will play soccer in the near future thanks to the medical professionals at Mcmaster Children’s hospital and the Much needed Movement Laboratory!!



Cassie Fruck age 9, at the motion lab at Mcmaster Children’s Hospital prior to having orthopedic surgery. I appeal to the LHIN, local government, health care administration do not cut funding for this essential service, continue to fund the Movement lab at Mcmaster Children’s hospital please!!

Reflecting on turning 40!

My family and friends must have guessed I’d write something about turning 40. To me it is a big deal. I was born in 1970 and now its 2010 already! I really can’t believe I am at middle age. It is difficult to think I may be half way through my life already. I don’t feel 40. At the same time I love my life and am happy with where things are at right now.

After graduating from nursing school in 1993 I met Chris, The perfect man for me. Chris is tall, dark and handsome. So calm, I’m so hyper. So quiet, I’m so talkative. He thinks through things carefully, I rush ahead. We compliment each other. He slows me down and always stays calm. I speed him up, motivate him and keep things exciting! Two years ago he had a stroke. We were not paying enough attention to each other, working too hard, fighting too much. Out of bad, comes good. Now we make more time for each other, try to have our meetings like Jamie suggested. We took our first vacation together since our girls were born. Cruised the Caribbean with Bill, Triena and friends. Chris is healthy again. Next to health, Chris is the most important thing in my life. Thanks for having this 40^th birthday party for me Chris. Thanks for cleaning up the house and yard, thanks for my table and chairs a nice meeting place to talk and thanks for cooking 120 cabbage rolls! I love you with all-my heart husband.

In 1998 Julia was born the second biggest day in my life. She was so perfect, a Gerber baby. Julia won the Caledonia Fair baby contest. Colleen and Jamie thought of her name. It was the first name Chris did not say no too so I jumped at it! Julia is a perfect daughter smart, beautiful and so well liked. I really enjoy you Julia, I love being your mother. You are growing up fast.

In 2001 our second angel girl Cassandra was born. Named by Chris this time. Cassie met some complications and this was a difficult time for Chris and I. We could not bring you home for many months. The doctors told us about your brain injury and we were worried. Chris and I relied on our faith. Difficult times in life enable you to clearly see who your good friends are. Colleen and Jamie, Steve and Sue Case, Colleen and John, Aunt Helen and Dave. My family and Tex’s family all stepped up to the plate. Phone calls, visits to the hospital, food, babysitting Julia, words of encouragement it all helped. Chris and I accepted what God had in store. Cassie is so chatty like me. She makes friends with everyone. She pushes herself. She tries hard. She hardly even looks “like a girl with a disability”. She makes us so proud. She teaches us all not to feel sorry for ourselves. Cassie has the world at her doorstep. I am blessed to have my two beautiful girls. Chris and I work as a team and parenting is our favorite job.

I can’t let turning 40 go by without thanking my mom, my best friend. Mom and Joe will do anything for us. Nothing is ever too much to ask. They are the best parents in the world. They raised me well, they are the best grandparents and we will always be grateful for what they do for us. Thanks mom, your baby girl is turning 40.

I am a very blessed person. I am lucky enough to have the same girlfriends since public school. Laura, Chrissy, Colleen, Susan and Tracy. Over 30 years of true friendship with these gals. Girl friends are important to me. They remind me I can still look hot and that 40 is really the new 30! I will always make time for my girlfriends. It never matters how long it has been since we last visited. I am glad to see them when I can. I love them and am blessed to have them.

New friends have been added since living in Ancaster. Graema, Susi, Giselle, Deb, Janet, Andrea. They make Ancaster home. They are involved in my everyday life. Thanks for being a part of my birthday party friends.

Lastly, I am so blessed to have a very big supportive family. I have brothers and sisters, the Fruck family, the Wazny family, gramps, aunts, uncles and cousins. We try to get together often. We teach our children how important family is. I wanted to be sure to include you all in this milestone of me turning 40. I am always loved and supported in my family. I am one lucky girl.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes, Have fun at my party. Laugh, Eat and Love I am really going to enjoy this day. I hope I have another good 40 years!!

Love Kate

A Trip Back to Ability Camp

We heard some of the boys from Cassies class were back at Ability camp so we took off back to Picton Ontario to see some friends. Left is Chris working with Dre on the wall in the classroom. Cassie loved going back to camp. The bond remains strong with her friends she worked hard with at camp.

Cassie, Dre, Julia and Jessie in the halls or Ability camp

Cassie and her good friend Dre from Michigan. They stayed with us on their way to camp and on their last night before heading home.

Dre, Samuel, Jessie and Cassie all alittle bit older. I hope these friends can stay in touch. It is special for Cassie to have other friends with cerebral palsy. So great to see you boys again!!

AncasterNews.com: Opinions & Letters: Article: Battle of strong personalities hurt two organizations with good overall missions

AncasterNews.com: Opinions & Letters: Article: Battle of strong personalities hurt two organizations with good overall missions

A Trip to the Fracture clinic and a new Purple Cast

We went to Mcmaster Fracture clinic and they removed Cassie's Cast. The foot has two pins and three incisions. They washed the foot and looked at the surgical incisions. The foot seems to be healing well. There is not alot of swelling and the incisions look intact. Cassie got to pick the color of the next cast. Dr. Burrows recasted her in with this bright purple!! We go again May 3, 2010.

Recovery and Visits from Friends

Cassie is so glad to be home. Julia is so glad to have Cassie home. Julia and Laura could hardly wait to see Cassie. Laura brought Cassie Get Well Balloons which we tied to the wheelchair. Laura says " Don't float away Cassie!".

Aunt Helen was first to arrive. She came with her sharp sewing scissors and we cut us some old pants to fit over the cast. Thanks Aunt Helen.

Cassie's friend Shelby and her older sister Kelsey arrived with two cool magazines about Justin Beiber and Miley Cyrus. Shelby kept Cassie amused for almost two hours. Thanks Shelby!! You are a terrific friend.























Cassie with her Dad and Dog after a warm shower which felt so good! Cassie is doing well hoping around with a walker and some supervision. I think the walker may strengthen up the weak left hand. Yes I am always thinking of ways to do more therapy.

We are welcoming some more company this weekend to keep Cassie entertained!