Happy 14th Alive Day, Chloe-girl!!!❤️ We celebrate the gift of your life every day but on this day especially, we glance back and take some time to let the gratefulness flow over us once again as we remember all that God has done in your life. I used to be afraid of the memories, afraid of this day approaching on the calendar every year...the tears would burn, the lump in my throat would build and I would just want the day to quickly pass. BUT when we started celebrating this day as your ALIVE DAY, wow what a difference it made! We started looking for special ways to spend the day and of course, I eagerly try to pick just a FEW (ha, yeah right!) pictures to give a snapshot of the past year of your life. Blogging on this day originally started out as my therapy, a way to process my thoughts and feelings as a mom but I'm hoping that one day you will read this blog as a chronicle of all the amazing and wonderful things that have happened in your life despite the dark days.
July 5, 2019 - Reconstructive surgery on Chloe's leg to remove the old skin graft and unnecessary extra tissue which was causing problems with the fit of her prosthesis. This was a difficult time as Chloe could not walk the entire summer as she healed. The surgery was not as successful as we had hoped, healing took much longer than expected and the area still gives her pain at times.
Happy Sweet Sixteenth birthday, beautiful!!
Chloe got her second ear piercing done, looks so cute!! She went to the mall, wheelchair and all! (which she never would have done before)
This was quite a fun memory!! Before Chloe's surgery, she talked us into doing the Glow Foam Run in August. Now mind you, she was not able to walk and was still healing. But...we all said yes! Her sweet friends pushed her in the wheelchair for the whole run IN THE DARK people, with glow foam being dumped on us! What amazing friends we have, they are willing to do ANYTHING for Chloe! We had a great weekend together, what a pick me up for Chloe last summer. :)
Typical Chloe...BIG SMILES in the middle of the glow in the dark after party dancing like nobody was watching!!
HIGHLIGHT of the year..meeting Coach Harbaugh at the Ravens Training Camp. WOW! Chloe saw stars as she talked with Coach and was able to meet the Ravens players. It was a dream come true thanks to the McGraw family. xo
And YES!!! Lamar Jackson too...she was pretty taken with this guy. Lamar was gracious, funny and so down to earth as he talked with them and posed for photos.
NO LIMITS!!!
Thanks to Chloe's amazing prosthetist, Greg and his team, Chloe was able to get back into her prosthesis right in time for us to head to the beach!! It was amazing and truly such good medicine for all of us. There's no place like the beach and there's nobody like family. We had such a relaxing week, taking it easy and enjoying the time together.
Due to a variety of circumstances, Chloe began her Junior year at new school - Concordia Preparatory School. Talk about a whole pile of emotions! You name it, Chloe felt it. On top of the anxiety of starting a brand new school and only knowing two people, she was on crutches because her leg was not healed yet. She also couldn't play volleyball until weeks into the season. It was a very very HARD few weeks. But God, who is so faithful carried her through. Moment by moment and day by day it got a little easier, a little better and pretty soon it was as if she had always been there. She embraced the new school, new friends, new opportunities and began to thrive!
How is she now just finished her Junior year and heading into her Senior year??!!!!
Camp No Limits, Maryland...one of her favorites! Time to be with the only people who "get it". There's just nothing like it. Her safe place with her best friends. Her and Emma, BK buddies...such a strong bond with these two sweeties.
Homecoming Dance with friends!! What a fun time they had!
Thanks again to her prosthetist, Greg, Chloe was able to wear heels for the first time ever!!! Cue the tears and smiles!!!
Chloe loves playing volleyball!! She was so thankful to be able to play the majority of the season despite her late start. So grateful to have her sweet friend, Sabrina there at CPS with her!!
Her beautiful class ring!!
A day in NYC ~ a horse drawn carriage ride, ice skating and seeing the all the beautiful Christmas lights with the girls!
Chloe's first runway show - The Limb Kind Foundation's Show Your Shine Show! It was INCREDIBLE!!! Chloe had a blast with her friends from camp and also had the opportunity to meet a wonderful family who sponsored her outfit for the evening. It was such and wonderful event! Chloe was radiant!
Sweet friends!!
NEW DRIVER!! So exciting to see Chloe got her drivers license! Look out world!!
Chloe learned to drive my Ford Expedition like a BOSS!!
Her first time driving on her own to meet up with her friend, Sabrina. So cute!!
Our sunshine girl!
Chloe was thrilled to have her best friend, Kaylie, come and visit for a few days! They enjoyed some hiking and unusually warm weather early this spring.
Quarantine Life - wow, talk about challenging days for Chloe and for all of us! It brought many struggles and challenges but it also brought lots of good things too!
Virtual School with Jasper, lol!
Lots of walks, hikes and time to chill.
Lots of drive time just to get out of the house! Chloe missed school and her friends so so much.
It was hard not to be there so we drove past to wave hi!
Chloe was chosen to be the Princeton Alumni Association of Maryland Book Award Nominee with another classmate. She also received her academic letter award for earning straight A's all year!
Lots of DIY projects!! Chloe made a lovely little terrarium to give some life and beauty to her room.
Her sweet friends invited her to join them in a virtual Art Class - it was so fun!! She took Art this year in school and learned so much, she just loved it!
A brand NEW LEG!! It's gorgeous like her...
Chloe chose an African batik fabric and they did such an awesome job fabricating her leg just like she wanted it!!!
Out with the old, in with the new...her gold leg will be her swim leg which is great since Chloe has been training with a kind friend, Tara, to take the Lifeguarding Course in a few weeks. Another dream that Chloe has always had.
Oh sweet girl, how we love you!! I cannot actually believe you are going into your last year of high school. It went by too fast and this mama is not ready to say goodbye...I am so excited for you as you take virtual college tours, make your college list, apply for scholarships, take the SATs, plan and prepare and dream!! I cannot imagine a time when you don't live with us...it's too much for me to think about right now so I promise I will ENJOY EVERY MOMENT of this next year I have with you, my love. The sky is the limit for you! My prayer for you is that you continue to do what you have always done ~ Embrace the Good, there is SO MUCH GOOD!! Always remember that God is good, all the time God is good and has phenomenal things in store for you to enjoy!
Dream Big, Love Big!
All my love, Mama ❤️
Chloe shares some of her thoughts on the anniversary of her Alive Day!❤️
xoxo
