Hey Everyone!!!
As most of you know, Valerie has played on the junior varsity & later the
varsity fast and slow pitch softball teams since 7th grade, she started
soccer in the 9th grade and has been on the varsity team since starting.
She runs the laps, miles a day for soccer and one mile a day for softball in
season, sometimes she has to walk part of it because she can't run it. The
coaches, as well as administration, all know about cystic fibrosis. Some of
the teacher don't understand the details, one even is a science teacher but
seems to have no clue. She will be a senior this coming August and since it
is her last year I can't wait for that part to be over. She is my baby, the
last to graduate high school and I will cry, but I am ready for them to all
be in college so we can get on with the rest of life. :)
Luckily we have not had issues with Valerie trying out for the teams, she
has been able to perform at the same level as the other kids in most cases.
She does work hard at making it possible, goes in the hospital every 6-8
weeks and stays for a 10 day tune up, she takes all her meds and does her
treatments. Valerie is one of the lucky ones, we know or have known lots of
other kids her age with CF and she is culturing the same germs as most of
her friends and has the diabetes part of it to deal with, but as an athlete
I think she pushes herself harder than some.
Now, I have heard many of her doctors over the years stress the importance
of keeping her active, in sports, and exercising more than normal. I
honestly believe that because she has been so active that is why she seems
not to have the same problems as some of her friends with CF. Her doctors
have written letters to the schools telling them about the benefits of
exercise for Valerie.
I am a teacher, also. I don't teach in a classroom now because I was taking
care of my mom and Valerie, now just Valerie since my Mom passed away.
However, let me suggest how to handle this situation from a teacher point of
view?
Teachers and coaches are the world's worst when it comes to someone asking
for exceptions to be made, usually. Principals often know how their staff
feels about these requests, and to make it easier on everyone they may say
no exceptions, as in your case. The coach or principal may know that if an
exception were made for your child there would be other parents asking for
the same thing, for reasons just as valid to them as your reason is to you.
Also, could it be possible that if an exception were made for your child
that the other cheerleaders would somehow find out and give your child a
hard time? Or, would their parents? High school kids are the worst when it
comes to labeling someone, either with or without proof, and making life
hard for that student.
As a suggestion I would ask the doctor to write a letter to the school
board, superintendent, principal, cheerleading sponsor, etc. Ask your
doctor to explain the lifelong benefits your child would receive from the
exercise. It may help if you even wrote the letter for the doctor and had
them retype on their stationary and send from their office. Our doctor
would want to write the letter himself, but some may not have time or want
to make the time.
I have three children, the last is fixing to begin her senior year. All
have played sports through their entire life, school sports since 7th
grade. Allen and Valerie were in the band since 6th grade but Valerie
didn't go back after her 9th grade year because they wanted her to be in the
"pit" because she was in the hospital when they had summer practice and
learned some of the formations for the next year. Valerie felt like she was
being put in the "pit" because of CF, and because she had been playing the
flute and was not being asked to play the stationary instruments, she blamed
it on CF. That was a hard time, until she realized she really didn't have
to be in the band, it would give her time with friends and such that she
didn't have because between band, softball, and soccer there was no friend
time. We were lucky, it was sort of easily solved.
Just don't ask directly for an exception to be made, put it to them in a way
that makes it seem like they would be doing something good to give her
another chance to try out. It may not be too late. If I went to a school
person and asked for an exception to be made for Valerie I would be told no,
too. I think you have to make them feel guilty, don't ask for exactly what
you want but give them enough information so that if they don't make an
exception they will feel bad. Have the doctor write a letter, maybe even
have your daughter write a letter. Valerie would probably not want to do
that, but it might be helpful.

Just my opinion, and suggestions of a mom who has been there. My issues
with the coaches and such were more with my son and his sports than my girls
and their school activities. I don't mean to be rude or tell you what to
do, just make suggestions. Reading over what I wrote I realize some may be
taken the wrong way, but I did not intend it that way. However, if I change
things the message will be lost.

Okay, ending this part of the book for now.... :)(

Good luck, and let me know if you want more of my opinions.... ::)
Love and Hugs,
Sue Pettit
Mom to Jennifer 22 wocf, Allen 18 wocf, & Valerie 17 wcf

Want the purple Cure CF bracelet??? ONLY $1.25 each, and that includes
shipping... Contact me...spettit1 at gmail dot com THANK YOU!!!
spettit1@...


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]