months ago, my friend lisa told me about autism, the musical. i tivo’d it, and it sat on my list for months. a few weeks ago, i was sick in bed and had the time to watch it.
i was moved beyond words. sobbing, relating, connecting to the children and families featured in a way i hadnt in a very long time. the whole time watching, thinking how perfect something like this would be for mckenna, my little stage hog performer…but assuming the organization was based in NYC.
towards the end i saw something in the movie that made me go, “AH! WAIT! THIS IS IN LOS ANGELES!”
and the moment the movie was over i went to my computer immediately and googled the miracle project.
i shot a long and emotional email off to “coach e”, elaine hall, founder of the miracle project, practically begging to get mckenna involved somehow. a few days later, i heard back from someone who told me they were holding a week long day camp at the end of july, would i be able to make it up to santa monica everyday for a week?
no thought necessary. um yes.
and today is the first day! we are so excited, not only because i connected so deeply to the movie, but because i have been hoping and waiting and dreaming for something exactly like this for mckenna for a long time.
if you have a child in your life with special needs, i highly, highly recommend this movie. elaine hall was able to reach inside the children and pull out something beautiful, and typical, and incredibly special. i am tearing up just thinking of it, and i start to cry each time i watch the trailer.
here is one more interview the director did that shows some more clips from the documentary.
and now we are off to LA for the day-i cant wait to see how mckenna reacts and blossoms in this environment!
I got tears from just reading this. I am so happy for her. :-)
So thrilled for McKenna’s adventure ~ I am praying for her all week (and you of course) May MUCH joy, peace, laughter, good tears, love, kindness and patience surround you both.
Thanks for sharing this I will FWD to some moms who may also find hope here.
be Blessed
nancy
Congrats Tara and Mckenna! So happy that you have an opportunity to be part of such a moving and inspirational project!
Good for you and your family. I can’t wait to hear more and how it all went.
Thanks so much for sharing this Tara – need to check it all out! It looks so neat! I’m so glad McKenna get’s to go to the camp! I’m sure it will be an amazing experience! Hugs!
How beautiful! What a gift for Mckenna. :) I hope you take some pictures. :)
thanks so much for sharing. i have watched this myself. you should also watch a beautiful son by Julianne and Don King. a documentary about their beautiful son. I also blog about my son’s progress. This will be such a great experience for you all. Good luck and have a blast!!
Sara Smalley
http://www.austismawarenesshawaii.blogspot.com
holy CRAP – i’ve got goosebumps just reading this and am SO excited for Miss Mac. i can’t even fantom how you feel!
I watched “Autism the Musical” a few months ago and was completely sucked in. It was a beautiful documentary. I don’t have children within the Autism spectrum, but I did very much understand where those parents were coming from. I think all young children have their own unique set of growing pains which other adults as well as children (peers) have a hard time understanding. I wanted to reach through the television and give everyone a hug and tell them “I UNDERSTAND”.
Good luck to McKenna. I hope she has an absolutely wonderful and memorable week. What fun and what an awesome opportunity!
I absolutely loved that documentary. Every child’s story was so powerful. I hope McKenna has the same beautiful experience.
I think that is SO amazing… and I’m really excited for all of you. Will they let you take photos during the week? Because I can’t think of anyone who could capture their moments and emotions better than you.
sara
http://www.gitzengirl.blogspot.com
i am so excited for mckenna. this sounds so cool. i hope she loves it.
smiles
ria
What a wonderful opportunity! I hope she has a fantastic week.
How awesome is that! I watched that movie a few months ago and cried my eyes out all the way through it. The concept is awesome and she handled everything very well. I think it really brought the parenting aspect to a different light for me and that was also very interesting. How very exciting that McKenna will get to be part of such a wonderful experience! Good luck McKenna! (And Mom!)
I’m so happy for McKenna.
Tara:
I hope this week will be everything you want it to be for McKenna. I can’t wait to read how she does!
How exciting for McKenna. What a wonderful experience. Kiele, my oldest, participates in a Deaf/Hard of Hearing Theatre Group every summer and I can speak first hand how amazing theatre can be for a special needs child. I can’t wait to hear more about it!
Best wishes and enjoy,
Deb
Please update us on the experience! I’d love to hear more about it (I teach children with autism.) Wish there was something like this in NC-
Oh my stars, Tara…I am so excited for you and for the Girl!
What a beautiful gift…a blessing from God for your daughter and your family. Thank you for sharing this miracle with us…I love to take note that God is always listening to our hearts desire! I am so excited for you guys!!! I hope to hear more about this…
tara, i am a silent stalker and i am speaking up to say how i love your photography, your outlook on life, your love for your kids. saw this link on dst and wanted to share with you because so often i read your posts about your family life and think, wow, i wish i had a mom who blogged like that. (she doesnt – i am 14 and she is comp illiterate so i am the techy one in the fam.) i can just so imagine all your posts about mckenna, your posts about your new kitchen and your fam outings, in one of these: http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook.
all the best and hugs from an admirer. keep on going tara, you inspire me!!
tara that is so awesome! i hope she loves it…cannot wait to hear about it!
I hope it goes really well and McKenna has the best time! Can’t wait to hear all about it.
How awesome, hoping for a rewarding and memorable experience for you both! Can’t wait to hear about the week! Thanks for sharing about this, what a truly wonderful organization.
Oh Tara…I need to see this documentary! How exciting for McKenna, can’t wait to hear how the week goes.
How wonderful! I am so very excited for her! I hope she has an amazing time and that it is everything you hope for and more! :-)
How awesome Tara!!!! My mom is a special ed teacher and last year she started teaching the 4 year old autistic class…what an eye opener! I had always heard of autism but I didn’t really know how vast it is!
I am so glad that McKenna got involved in this program….I hope she loved it today…can’t wait to hear! I think I need to go find this movie (?) on the web, in the store, somewhere so I can watch it….and forward it on to my mom as well!
Love your blog…you are such an inspiring mother, wife, photographer, and person! You warm my heart with your sincerity and honesty.
Now post already…surely you’re back from LA by now! : )
~Kim
keep me posted – i cannnnnnott wait to hear :)
Such fantastic news. Cannot wait to hear how it went.
Can’t wait to hear how it went!
Oh Tara, I think that is wonderful! I hope McKenna has a blast! I saw the movie awhile back and was awestruck.
Oh Tara.. My heart and good wishes are going with you guys today… ENJOY the journey.. live the adventure and I hope you all find something worthwhile. I understand how hard this must be and I am always so inspired by your approach. Best wishes!! and congratulations on being THAT parent who does more, who tries harder and who goes the extra mile.
I work with autistic children and when I watched the show I was also moved. What an opportunity for McKenna! I hope you and her have a fabulous week!
hi tara…
i have been secretly stalking your blog for quite some time. :) i do not have a special needs child, but i happened to catch Autism: The Musical a month or two ago and was absolutely so moved by the whole thing. i cried for an hour or two after it had ended. Congrats on having this amazing opportunity to get your daughter involved! I hope it is everything you’re hoping for and more!
Tara,
This is such a blessing for your family. I know McKenna will really thrive in a creative, theatrical environment. I can’t wait for the first show!
Love,
Deb
i am so thrilled for mckenna and your family! can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Congrats!! I hope she enjoys the camp. She is such a delight to see in your pics. Please update us on the experience soon.
this made me well up with tears.
how awesome that elaine created such a cool opportunity.
and so touched that mckenna can participate.
wow…i am in awe and can’t wait to hear more.
xoxo
Glad it is all turning out for the best and you found out about the program and that it is CLOSE…WAHOO!!!
WOW. That sounds amazing–I’m tearing up just reading about it! I really wish we had something like that around here. Sometimes I feel like I’m not doing enough for Avery because we don’t live in a big city like LA or NYC. I guess there are pros and cons to both living styles, but there’s definitely a sea of opportunities and activities in bigger cities, so it’s great you’re taking advantage of them! I think it’s so important to remind our kids that they are normal and that they can do anything they put their minds to. And I certainly appreciate the people who have the amazing ability to work with our kids–it’s a true gift. :)