Dear Molly

Leaving SCH was hard. I miss the kids, staff and volunteers so much. I don't know yet when I'll next be able to go back. I am reminded of a song that I heard for the first time last time I got back from India and the words are so true. https://m.soundcloud.com/rsytunes/hanach-lraglai-llechet

Dear Molly,

I said goodbye to you for the second time 10 days ago. It has taken me a while to put my thoughts together but now I'm ready. I want to tell you how much I love you and how proud of you I am. You have achieved so much in the few weeks I spent with you. But more importantly than that, I am proud of you for working so hard. I know how difficult it was for you. And you could have given up. But you never did. Every day you worked as hard as you could and never gave up. Your determination inspires me every day.

I miss you every day. I think of you when I see children playing on a playground or clothes I think you'd like. I think of you when I eat food I think you'd like or see a book you'd love. I know you're doing well but it hurts that I can't be with you to see continue to learn and do amazing things.

I have never met anyone as amazing as you and I miss you every day. I feel so lucky to know you and you have taught me so much.

I hope you always no how much you are loved. I want you to know how many people are following your story and are supporting you the whole way. You are so special and I hope you know that.

Love Louise akka 

4o'clock is chai time

Those of you who have been following my blog for a while will remember that last year I helped to make Molly a communication book. She grasped the concept quickly and one of the first things she said spontaneously was asking for chai. Well, she didn't really ask for chai, she said 'i want your drink' because I didn't think to put the word chai in the book. This time when I was preparing the computer I made sure I put the word chai in. This week has seen Mol begin to use the computer independently to make requests and talk about things. What did she ask for? You guessed it, she wanted chai! She now knows where chai is and will ask for chai at all times of day and doesn't care what question you ask her, the response is always 'chai' until she's had her afternoon cup. Can't really blame her to be honest!

Mol is also using her computer to communicate other things. One of her most used phrases (unsuprisingly for anyone who knows her) is 'when will good be ready?' She drives me mad by asking that every couple of minutes towards the end of the day but I'm so glad she has the opportunity to ask questions rather than just responding to other people.

Each day Mol is getting better at using eye gaze and is really understanding it's potential. Today she used it to really have a conversation with me for the first time. She was looking through the different pages and said 'auto' then looked at me and smiled. I then asked her where she wanted to go. She told me she wanted to go shopping. When I asked why she needed to go shopping she responded with 'chocolate'! She was very happy that she managed to tell me that but not so pleased when I said no... She thinks that she will get anything she asks for with the computer!

As my time here is coming to an end I am so glad I have been able to start her on her way to fluent and independent communication.