“Olivia Landis”
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Eighteen years ago well meaning doctors could not forsee this day. “There are institutions where your daughter can be taken” one doctor said.” They just didn’t know Olivia Landis.
They didn’t know she was going to be one of the strongest young ladies they’d ever seen. They didn’t know that she’d be so resilient and courageous and fight against the odds. They didn’t know she would be someone that would not be satisfied with people telling her “Olivia you can’t do that.” If anything, those words would serve as fuel for her perseverance.
Today I witnessed one of the most inspiring events. Olivia sat there at Stabler Arena amongst 691 Emmaus High School Seniors that she would graduate with. These were peers that though she didn’t know their names, they knew her. They had seen her grow from a 9th grader that needed her aide to take her room to room to a 12th grader that “could do it all on her own”. That in itself is not an easy feat given the size of Emmaus High School.
As Olivia approached the stage we could see she just couldn’t contain herself. Her smile covered her face. The skip in her step was one of elation….. she had done it against the odds. And now, just like any other ‘typical’ student she was going to walk across that stage proud and with her head held high.
What took place in that arena will forever be engrained in my mind. As they said her name….. “OLIVIA VICTORIA LANDIS” she began to lift her hands above her head similar to runners who cross the finish line. With her diploma in hand she continued to lift her hands over her head as if taking her “victory lap”. The place was filled with clapping, shouting and even blow horns (people we didn’t know had the blow horns :) ). As she proceeded down the aisle to her seat, she was giving “high fives” to her peers that stretched out their hands to her.
Cheers were from both family and friends and those who didn’t know her. One thing they did know in that moment was “here is someone that although she was not valedictorian or graduated with honors she was truly a champion."
As the cheers went on people asked “who is she”? They wondered who would get such applause and cheers.
Over the last 18 years I’ve come to know Olivia Victoria Landis, not just as my daughter but as a “special individual”. One thing I know for sure……….. She Has The Heart of a Champion.
It’s a true honor to be called her Mom!!!
Maribel Landis ("Olivia’s Mom”)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Eighteen years ago well meaning doctors could not forsee this day. “There are institutions where your daughter can be taken” one doctor said.” They just didn’t know Olivia Landis.
They didn’t know she was going to be one of the strongest young ladies they’d ever seen. They didn’t know that she’d be so resilient and courageous and fight against the odds. They didn’t know she would be someone that would not be satisfied with people telling her “Olivia you can’t do that.” If anything, those words would serve as fuel for her perseverance.
Today I witnessed one of the most inspiring events. Olivia sat there at Stabler Arena amongst 691 Emmaus High School Seniors that she would graduate with. These were peers that though she didn’t know their names, they knew her. They had seen her grow from a 9th grader that needed her aide to take her room to room to a 12th grader that “could do it all on her own”. That in itself is not an easy feat given the size of Emmaus High School.
As Olivia approached the stage we could see she just couldn’t contain herself. Her smile covered her face. The skip in her step was one of elation….. she had done it against the odds. And now, just like any other ‘typical’ student she was going to walk across that stage proud and with her head held high.
What took place in that arena will forever be engrained in my mind. As they said her name….. “OLIVIA VICTORIA LANDIS” she began to lift her hands above her head similar to runners who cross the finish line. With her diploma in hand she continued to lift her hands over her head as if taking her “victory lap”. The place was filled with clapping, shouting and even blow horns (people we didn’t know had the blow horns :) ). As she proceeded down the aisle to her seat, she was giving “high fives” to her peers that stretched out their hands to her.
Cheers were from both family and friends and those who didn’t know her. One thing they did know in that moment was “here is someone that although she was not valedictorian or graduated with honors she was truly a champion."
As the cheers went on people asked “who is she”? They wondered who would get such applause and cheers.
Over the last 18 years I’ve come to know Olivia Victoria Landis, not just as my daughter but as a “special individual”. One thing I know for sure……….. She Has The Heart of a Champion.
It’s a true honor to be called her Mom!!!
Maribel Landis ("Olivia’s Mom”)
Congrats Livey….you are an EHS 2010 Graduate!!
Life sure does have its rewards, doesn't it Maribel? We become specially blessed as a result of our special children. Thank YOU for paving the way for Olivia to walk the walk. There is nothing like the joy a parent can feel when his/her special child accomplishes a dream...and now the path Olivia took will be a little easier for someone younger than she because she was allowed to do it her way. And along the way, Olivia taught others what it's like to be a special child of God's. Think of all the positive influences she has had on her classmates, helping to reshape their thinking about people with special needs. Three cheers for Olivia!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS OLIVIA!!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Olivia from a perfect stranger in Moss Point,MS.You and I have never met, but I met your mother while working at the City of Faith Hospital in Tulsa Oklahoma in the 1980s. I was also a member of the same local church as your parents, Grace Fellowship, now known as Grace Church. This is a late post but I would still like to say congratulations from the Johnson Family
ReplyDelete