One of the mums on the NADS forum just posted this (I got her permission to post here). It is a totally gorgeous story - a totally positive beacon of light
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So last year Logan swan on our swim clubs swim team turns out he is pretty good at swimming. He had such a great time on the team the older kdis are so great with the younger kids and it was a great experience. Well Aidan really wanted to be on the team. He has tried soccer but he just can not attend to the whole game he gets distracted and loses interest. I thought swimming would be great for him because he just has to do his event and then he is done till the next event. Plus he is a little fish. HOWEVER, I was nervous about him getting it..you know swim to the end as fast as you can...plus he never had lessons. My goal would be for him to just make it to the other end of the pool. So we had lessons and he started the team. The first meet was a practice meet and one of the older boys took it upon himself to help Aidan. Hi sname is Zach. He is 18. So he helps Aidan get lined up and gets him up on the block and Aidan will not go...he will nto dive in...he totally freezes...so Zach..god love him..jumps in the pool and gets Aidan to dive to him and they both swim down the pool...Aidan has to hang on the lane lines but he makes it. So now we are at a "real" meet. Again Aidan freezes...Zach jumps in the pool...I hear a judge say he can't do that and anohter judge say yes he can leave it alone..so off they go...I am walking down the side of the pool and I can hear people whispering..down syndrome..theres his mom...etc. So by then both teams know the deal and they are all cheering for Aidan as he swims down the pool with Zach. Very emotional but I am really not noticing much else besides Aidan and Zach. Who I should mention is an awesome swimmer, tall, 6'1" handsome...So by the third meet I start having people come up to me...one woman says she cna not watch Aidan swimming without crying...another woman says how knowing Aidan has so postiively affected her kids...coaches are saying what an inspiration he was to them and their teams. Zach, again on his own, says to Aidan..now you have to swim by yourself this is your goal...so then Zach stands at the side of the pool and walks with Aidan encouraging hime the whole way....people are stepping asisde to let Zach walk with Aidan...Aidan is looking up at him....Aidan is able to swim by himself and not hold onto the lane lines...but he does stop every once in ahwile to look around the pool and wave at everyone who is cheering for him which of cource makes everyone cheer louder..it is such a hoot!!! We have meets every Monday and Thursday ssince June so we have been to alot of meets! Last night was our last meet and a woman came up to me and told me what atreat it was to have Aidan on our team this year and how she is just so amazed to this day how emotional everyone gets..people crying on the side lines, poeple getting up and surrounding the pool as he swims, the other swimmers waiting in the pool at the end all congratulating Aidan, how the team came together to help not just Adian but all the other little kids, what an impression Aidn made on the visiting teams etc...I was really just blown away! And Zach and his family were such a treat and Zach was so wonderful!! Last night was his last meet he ages out and he gets a ceromonial last swim..by himself and everyone cheers...and Aidan was standing on the block and when he finished he jumped onto his arms in the water and said I love you Zach..not a dry eye in the house.. Such a wonderful experience! Just had to share. Especailly since I am so nervous about the "end of cute" time coming up to know that Aidan made such an impression on these kids of all ages and to know that these are kids who will look out for him as the "end of cute" time fast approaches.
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Kim
Logan -nine years old
Aidan - seven years old
Carson- five years old
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Subject: You will love this story 
Tue 28 Jul 2009 - 21:17
