Friends With FOP

Posted by Karen

As I’ve said many times before, we want our Miranda to have opportunities to do activities other kids her age do.  Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva shouldn’t mean she can’t do all the fun stuff that makes childhood great…  Fortunately, we’ve had some pretty good success with involvement in the Girl Guides of Canada.

This was Miranda’s second year as a Spark, which is the level for girls in kindergarten and grade 1.  Sparks has been really great - the girls meet with their leaders once a week and sing, do crafts, do some outdoor activities and go on one sleepover and one camping trip per year.  Miranda has enjoyed Sparks a lot, and we’ve never had any complaints from her about going each week.

Yesterday there was a special Girl Guides ceremony wherein the second year Sparks, like Miranda, advanced to the next level up, the Brownies.  Miranda thought this was pretty cool…  It was at a community hall, and was quite a good size gathering, with girls in Sparks advancing to Brownies, Brownies advancing to Guides, Guides to Pathfinders and Pathfingers to Rangers.  The girls all sat on the floor, and each girl then got up and walked to the front as her name was called.  Each girl was presented with a certificate and a bunch of badges which she had earned that year (at the Sparks level, they earn badges in groups).  Then, after the ceremony, there was cake, fruit and beverages.

Miranda with some of the other Sparks

Miranda grinned very hard when it was her turn to go up to the front.  It was wonderful to see her look so delighted.

Miranda and her Sparks leader - look how happy she was!

A surprise to me was that I was also awarded with a special pin naming me a “Friend of Guiding”.  In order to make sure Miranda could participate safely and effectively, I’ve attended every meeting with her (mostly sitting quietly in the hallway) and every field trip, and I’ve often helped other girls along the way.  It was cool – and unexpected – that they recognized me this way.

Looking forward to the end of the year camp, and Brownies next year…

PS – Please donate to our “Ride to Cure FOP”.  We’ll be riding in Calgary, Alberta on August 4.  You can donate at www.canadahelps.org by clicking on “GivingPages” and entering “Friz/Munro family.  Thanks!