Graduating From Ken-Crest

Dan and his grandmother, Nancy Freedman

Dan spent his pre-school years at Ken-Crest, an early intervention program.  When he graduated, his grandparents presented him with this poem:

Daniel...

Your birth was bittersweet.

But, you soon erased the element of regret

leaving only the mark of pleasure.

Daniel...

Your first year is full of memories. 

Unending feedings, monitor wires, false alarms.

Therapy balls, mouth excercises.

And then off to KEN-CREST.

Daniel...

Your second year of crawling and then learning to stand.

Your love of yogurt in a variety of flavors.

Daniel...

Your third year of learning to walk

with a strut like no other.

Your love affair with applesauce.

Your communicating without speaking

and people totally understood.

Daniel...

Your fourth year of private speech therapy with

dramatic improvement of verbal communication.

Potty training, the hits and misses.

Learning the computer.

And last but not least,

your wonderful relationship with your brother, William.

Daniel...

You muster courage and try.

You have accomplished with pride numerous goals.

You have reached one of many milestones

Your graduation from Ken-Crest.

Daniel...

You made us look at the world differently.

You gave us permission to cry in public.

You bring great joy and sometimes it runs down our cheeks.

You are the best thing that ever happened to us!

Daniel...

We love you very much,

Grampy and Grandy

Dan and his grandfather, Arthur Freedman.

Click on the images to enlarge