Thank you to all the Amazing people who contributed and made it possible for Spencer to ride his new bike!
Shirley Hawk (Grammy), Kris Powell (Grandma Kris), Jerre & Amy Feagin (Papa & Amy), Herb and Margaret Becklund, Harry and Gerry, Aunt Jean, Aunt Frances, James Diorio, Kevin Simms, Tiffany Clontz,, Scott Williams, Susan E Trabue, Teresa L Borden (Aunt Sassie), Andrea Stefens, Marci Moran, Pamela Yelland, Albert Polito, Athena Demos, Janine Elkin, Jeff Kossack, Deborah Wallace, Theresa Harrison, Christopher Penny, Lorie Kmetz, Russell Ali, Christy Wilhelmi, Julie Jacobson, Andrew Michalik, Bonnie Powers, Jeffrey Levin, Carrie Ransom, Charlene Langland, Chris Paine, Braden Kuhlman, Jerry Botham, Mark Murat Urun, Shannon E McMahon-Lichte, Stephen Sanguinetti, Katherine Johnson, Robert O'Sullivan, Lenore Perry, Jill Smith, Douglas Sandburg II, Kelly Kreuzberger, Lory Lagro, and any that are not listed here who helped make this possible,
To all of you, Spencer and his family say... Thank You and Namaste: "the divinity in me bows to the divinity in you."
Spencer is swimming competitively!
Spencer has been swimming on the Village Green Gators swim team all summer. His final swim meet is this July 23rd at the City Meet in Fort Collins.
He has learned all of the main competitive strokes. His best stroke is the breast stroke. He has improved his time in the Breast Stroke by one minute since the beginning of the season.
Spencer plans on visiting the Paraolympic training center in Colorado Springs soon. He hopes to get ranked before the end of 2011.
We will post more great swim shots asap!
Yes, Spencer Also Waterskis...
An amazing experience to take Spencer down to Long Beach to participate is a summer water camp for people with disabilities.
There were Jetskis that trailed the boat as spotters and folks in the water to keep him pointed the right way until he said "HIT IT!" and was up and skiing!
The rigs are great and have a "saddle" he could sit in. There is a large center ski and two small outrigger skis for stability.
They taught him all the hand signals to give to the boat but told me that he only used two: "Go faster" and "Do it again"
Swimming is the Best
You just can't say enough about swimming. It is great for Spencer and he loves it. But it wasn't always that way.
We all remember the fears we had of the water as kids. Now imagine going through it twice. Once as a kid with short arms and legs that don't straighten out all the way, then a second time after over a year of operations that resulted in amputation of both your legs at the knee.
Spencer was hesitant to get back in the water at first, but we found some amazing instructors at the local YMCA that took him on. Spencer's main coach was his buddy Mr Mario who would not let Spencer quit or be stopped by fear.
Spencer loves his skateboard. It is a great way for him to get around with his stumpsocks on.
He can really move on it and it gives him a huge amount of freedom on the playground or really anywhere there is a lot of asphalt.
His friend Ethan Bailey, who also has TAR syndrome, loved his skateboard and eventually moved up to a electric powered version that he used to ride to high school.
Of course, Ethan now has a fancy converted van that he drives with pride. All parents with children that are amputees should consider the simplicity of a skateboard to increase mobility.
Spencer has been swimming on the Village Green Gators swim team all summer. His final swim meet is this July 23rd at the City Meet in Fort Collins. 
