Thursday, March 22, 2012

A Garden of Love!

 Help us create a sanctuary for Karly: 
 Spirit Dances Garden

Many of you know or have heard about Karly Wahlin. She is an amazing young woman who writes poetry, paints, composes music, writes her own blog, does public speaking and just by her very nature inspires a sense of community. Karly accomplishes all this despite the fact that she lives with Rett Syndrome.

For those of you who don’t know, Rett Syndrome is the combination of five disorders. Epilepsy, acute anxiety, cerebral palsey, parkinson's disease and autism all rolled into one body. While girls with Rett Syndrome suffer through these physical ailments, their minds are working just fine. Imagine how difficult to know what you want or need, but not be able to voice it. Rett Syndrome has a profound impact on the girls who develeop this disorder between the ages of a few months and 2 years. Karly is non-verbal and communicates using a computer keyboard. She is unable to walk independently and has limited use of her hands. The breathing center of her brain has been impacted by her disorder, so that she oftens struggles to breathe, spending her days hyperventilating, then breath holding. When she is really struggling, she turns blue hundreds of times daily. In addition to all this, she is legally blind.

With a true belief in her daughter’s ability to think and reason, Karly’s mom Lois, worked with Karly to help her figure out how to communicate. It finally happened when Karly was 10 years old! Prior to that time, she had no way to communicate even her most basic needs. They found that if Lois could steady Karly’s arm, Karly could type words…..and a whole new world opened up for both of them! She is now 26 years old and has accomplished more than anyone thought possible when she was young.

For more information on the amazing life of Karly, see her blog at
 www.spiritdances.wordpress.com

Lately Karly has not been feeling very well.  Her seizures have been especially difficult.  She had been to hundreds of Drs, therapists and experts in her life, spending much of her time in the past few years at appointments, but there is little to be done to change the effects of Rett Syndrome on her body.  She has faced every difficult day in her life with strength.  Her faith is strong and she longs for peaceful days, surrounded by flowers, music, water and family. 

Facing an overwhelming outpouring of concern from family and friends all wanting to help, Karly and her family have come up with a way people can help make her world a better place.

Here is an excerpt from an e-mail from Lois:
“Last week, Karly was unable to communicate much. We were slowly walking in the house one day and she stopped and indicated she wanted to type something. She said: "I have a favor to ask. Will you help surround me with flowers?" (She has always loved flowers. One of the first requests she had when she started typing at 10 years old was to have a pot of sunflowers planted on our deck to honor a friend who had died.) Friends have been sending flowers and stopping by with flowering plants and our home is very colorful! Many of our friends and family have offered to help, offering whatever we need. We can only have so many wonderful meals and flowers!! We love everything people have done, but something that lives on, would be so appreciated by us now, and in the future. 
So, as I was pacing the floor last week, a thought occurred to me. The plantings around our patio! How perfect it would be to have that area finished, so Karly can enjoy the color and beauty for as long as she is able. It will continue to live on and be a beautiful gathering spot. It would be so much more meaningful if it was supported by everyone, near or far, who wants to help our family. I shared this idea with one of our neighbors last week, and Missy was on board! She embraced the idea and with another mutual friend and her connections, is turning this vision into something amazing.”

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The Vision: Spirit Dances Garden

A peaceful place at her home where Karly will love to spend time.
 A place for quiet contemplation.
 A place for community to gather.

Lil Linder of Linder’s Greenhouse www.linders.com has a team of Washington county 4-H horse youth who will be doing the prep and plantings under her guidance. Linder's will be providing the plantings at wholesale and there are many other ideas to make the patio a haven of beauty and peace.

We are hoping to raise enough money to build a pergola for the family. It would be a beautiful haven on hot days, a place for filtered sunshine and backdrop to hang amazing baskets of flowers.

To accomplish this we need to raise money. Even though Linder’s will be doing the plants at wholesale, we will still need money for soil, garden pots, a birdbath, a pergola, some beautiful wrought iron fencing, some finish grade work for the driveway next to the garden area and so on.
 
What you can do to help:
If you are able and want to help fund Spirit Dances Garden you can donate either thru paypal (the "donate" button on right side of the blog) or by sending a check:
 
Please make checks payable to:
SpiritDances Garden

mailed to:
SpiritDances Garden
c/o Sandy Ward
13109 Manning Trail N
Stillwater  MN  55082

Friday, March 16, 2012

To Change the World


To Change the World

It doesn’t take much talent to bring joy

It doesn’t take much joy to change hearts

It doesn’t take much effort to change someones day

It doesn’t take, but gives

to offer a smile

a hand

a kind word

to notice someone who needs a hug

It doesn’t take much to hear the birds song

the flower blooming

the children laughing.

It doesn’t take much to pet a dog

to offer a cup of tea

to listen to someone’s story
 
It doesn’t take much to change someone’s day

It only takes our willing hearts and awareness to respond

Look, see, hear, feel

It’s all we have to do in this moment,

and the next

and the next…..

Written by Karly

When Time Stood Still


When Time Stood Still
Karly Wahlin

I saw my life stretching before me,
longing for connection with others
reaching for a hand so elusive
asking questions not heard
I saw the awkward glances in my direction
hoping they wouldn’t expect
more than I could give
I begged God for someone who
knew with their heart
someone who saw with their kind eye
who gave generously of their friendship
seeing my contributions as enough
Hope restored is a powerful thing
giving strength where there was isolation
bringing friends into a circle warmed by
the fire of unity
I found you!
I have been blessed.