KENNEDY MEETS REAL BALLERINAS

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16:31

I WISH TO MEET

KENNEDY , 6
- neurological condition
- I wish to meet real ballerinas
ballerinas , ballet , Landau Kleffner ,neurological disorder , video , 2012

Kennedy's life changed dramatically after her diagnosis of a rare form of epilepsy called Landau-Kleffner Syndrome. Suddenly, her days were filled with hospital stays, doctor's appointments and treatments that kept her away from school, playing with her friends and being a child. She even lost the ability to speak and hear. Especially hard was missing her very first dance recital. Despite her struggles, Kennedy finds great joy in all things related to ballet. Kennedy's heartfelt wish to meet real ballerinas recently came true.

It’s the night before Kennedy’s third brain surgery. Her parents, Jaci and Tait, are tense. “What if?” questions fill their minds.

That night, Make-A-Wish® volunteers arrive. They’re going to find out Kennedy’s one true wish – the one thing in the wo Kennedy wished to meet real ballerinas rld that can help her through all that lies ahead. Soon, Kennedy is so wrapped up in the possibilities that she no longer thinks about her surgery. Her parents join her in daring to look past tomorrow, and instead look further to the future.

Kennedy’s answer: I wish to meet real ballerinas “because I like to dance.”

Times of Challenge and Doubt

The seizures started when Kennedy was 3 years old. Being diagnosed with a life-threatening neurological condition changed everything about her life. It affected her hearing. Her weight nearly doubled because of her medication. She felt isolated from other kids, Jaci says. She would see children at a playground, but couldn’t play along with them because of the pain from her treatments.

Jaci can’t forget the angst and doubt before the first surgery. The procedure required part of Kennedy’s skull to be removed. What would the surgery do to her personality?

The Return of the Real Kennedy

Today, the real Kennedy is back. She can hear. She can dance. And her smile? Back and bigger than ever. The memories of seeing a live ballet and meeting the ballerinas live on for her family. The experience is their reminder that there is always hope during a dark time, and that they’re never alone.