Well, my fellow Peter Bear lovers, this was supposed to come out just a few days ago as a May update, but life has been crazy! I decided to go back to work full time – subject for another post, but got pneumonia within a couple of days. Talk about timing! Of course this all lined up with Peter’s last days at school so a lot of memories made over the last few weeks.
So what happened in May? Well, Peter turned 12 years old! Can you believe that? How can he be 12?! As with every birthday for many years, this brings out a lot of emotions, and a lot of gratitude, and a lot of celebrating. Every time Peter celebrates a birthday I am reminded how he has lived longer than so many thought. And he has so much life still in him!
This year Peter really understood that his birthday was worth celebrating. For days (or weeks!) leading up to the special day, he kept asking if it was his birthday yet. He tried singing to himself and convincing us it was the day when we told him how many more he needed to wait. Jack and I both have birthdays just ahead of Peter, so that definitely fed into his excitement.
The greatest gift that Peter received this year was actually at school. His classmates decided to throw Peter a surprise birthday celebration. While he was pulled out for services, they decorated the classroom. Banners, posters, and white board decoration all celebrating him! They also made makeshift astronaut hats from paper plates. They made a path of lights leading Peter up to his “rocket” – also known as the teacher’s chair.
There truly are no words to explain just how happy Peter was that day. He brought home the posters and cards and signs and goodies he received – including a lot of toys a group of girls had brought in for him. Peter was so darn excited!
I wrote a thank you to his classmates, letting them know what a gift they are to Peter.
Dear 5th Graders!
Twelve and a half years ago our family found out that we were having a baby join our family. We knew he was a boy. We also found out that he would have Down syndrome, and some health issues with his heart. Some doctors told us that his life would be sad, told us about all the things he would never be able to do, and even suggested that we just keep him at home and try to keep him comfortable.
Peter had different ideas for his life. And I know you know that he has had times that he has been very sick, but even on those days he wakes up happy to be alive, happy to be with people, and he has high-fived and fist-bumped more nurses than we can count. Peter wakes up excited at the promise of a new day and all the fun and love that can be enjoyed.
But, it is YOU, his classmates and friends that have made this world a better place for Peter than any of the doctors could have imagined possible. You have showed them that not only is Peter capable of more than they thought, but that YOU are capable of more than they thought – that you are and can make the world a great place for people of all shapes and sizes, extra chromosome or not. You have showed the world what it is to be a friend, a peer mentor, a classmate, and project buddy. It is each of YOU that give Peter a reason to wake up excited to go to school, filled with the promise of another great day worth celebrating.
I hope that one day one of you might be a doctor or a nurse telling a family that their baby will have Down syndrome. Maybe you’ll even be a mom or dad to a baby with Down syndrome. And that in that time, no matter what anyone else says, you know that this baby will have an amazing life – full of joy and laughter and learning and friends and adventures and fun, because you went to school with a boy named Peter and you saw how happy he was to be a part of your world.
THANK YOU for making school Peter’s happy place, and THANK YOU for making his 12th birthday his favorite day ever! I think he will keep those posters and memories with him for a really long time!!
With much love, Peter’s family
The teacher read this to them in class and shared with me later that the significance of it was recognized by all. Especially as they reflected on their future and what next school year brings for them.
The month wrapped up with GRADUATION! Yes, Peter graduated from 5th grade and will be starting Middle School in the Fall. As we watched the ceremony it was hard to fight back the tears. At one point they played a slide show with all the kiddos pictures – most including a picture from start of Kindergarten and a picture from 5th grade. As Peter’s came up there was a collective “Ohhhhh” from students and parents alike.
The students were then invited to walk across the stage. The would stop halfway across the stage and say their name into the microphone. We saw Peter stand hesitant on the side of the stage. A boy, not from Peter’s class, but who has really stepped in to guide Peter when necessary walked next to him and walked with him towards the microphone. We heard a tiny whisper, “Peter Krause”. The student pointed at the microphone and Peter stepped forward. Full of excitement he shouted out, “PETER KRAUSE”! There was a lot of whooping in the gym. Most students and many parents know how hard Peter has worked, for years, to be able to say his name clearly. Peter finished walking across the stage and was nervous to take the steps down with no handrail. With no prompting a girl stood up, walked across the gym, held his hand, and helped him down the steps.
Those moment, it is those moments, that remind me that Peter really does have a team, of adults and students, who want him to succeed. None of them did the job for Peter, they simply supported him where he needed it. Peter is so blessed to have peers that want to be a part of his life, and want to encourage and celebrate him. There really are no words to truly capture the magnitude of the gratitude I feel that these young students have shown such respect, compassion, and leadership.
At the end of the ceremony, the 86 graduating 5th graders were invited up to the stage. Peter stood in their midst and we had to look around to spot him. In that moment, the words of his former teacher that we lost to cancer, resonated in my heart. She had shared with me her goal for Peter which included walking into his General Education classroom and not seeing him. Not because he was elsewhere, or because he was in a corner. Rather that she had to look really hard to find him because he was in the class, actively learning and participating with his peers. A place where he was just another boy in the class. When I went back and looked at this picture from graduation I had to look to heaven and smile up at her. Mrs. Wyeno – mission accomplished!
So here we sit in the first days of June – recovering, relaxing, and looking forward to the challenges, adventures, and successes of Middle School!
xoxo
Catherine