I've learned so much from the people we've profiled this week. Today's story is about Lauren Sheppard, a senior at Buchholz High School who was crowned Miss Bobcat (that's 3rd place on the homecoming court!) by her peers. Lauren has Down Syndrome. She is beautiful, talented, smart and popular.
When I approached Lauren's parents about this story, they explained how they had worked so hard to keep Lauren included in the regular classroom... even suing a South Florida school board for inclusion. They felt inclusion was criticial to her being accepted by her peers and getting the education they wanted her to have. But even they were surprised when Lauren was elected to the homecoming court. Lauren's Father said "sometimes you ask yourself if it's really worth it, and for this to happen in Lauren's senior year, there's no question."
This story hits close to home for me because my 7 year old daughter has Down Syndrome. She's only in 1st grade, but I already know how challenging it is to balance inclusion and education and find the right "fit" for her each school year. Lauren's story inspires me.
Here are some quick facts about Down Syndrome:
* also called Trisomy 21 because people with DS have 3 copies of the 21st chromosome instead of 2 copies
* all of the characteristics of DS are caused by the extra material on the 21st chromosome
* no one knows what causes it, but the mother's age may be a contributing factor
* a 35 year old woman has a 1 in 400 chance of having a baby with DS, a 45 year old woman has a 1 in 35 chance of having a baby with DS
* All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses.
* Researchers are making great strides in identifying the genes on Chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Many feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.
* Source: http://www.ndss.org/
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
When Life Throws a Curve
"When Life Throws a Curve" airs Monday through Thursday this week on GTN News. I'm so excited to present this special report for our viewers. Over the years, the number one question people have asked me is "why is the news so negative?" So often, we do report on the most negative things in life.. accidents, deaths and natural disasters... these make up the daily newscast. But I've also found that much good can come from these terrible situations. What happens after the tragedy? These are those stories.
On Monday, we profile Alachua County Sheriff Spokesperson Art Forgey. You usually see Art from the waist up on television, so you may not realize he has a physical disability. Art was in a car accident and lost the use of one leg. He thought his career in law enforcement was over, so he packed up and moved his family across the country and wound up here in Alachua County. Then, Art got a divorce and became a single Dad. Sheriff Sadie Darnell says she's never seen anyone work harder than Art. Art says he was angry during the recovery, but about a year ago he realized if this was the worst thing that ever happened to him then he's not that bad off. Now, he's an inspiration to everyone. If you see him, ask him to show you his superman tattoo!
I love how John Kaplan sums up life "does anyone really have a picture perfect life?" We see so many people in the media who appear to have everything going for them, but in reality, everyone has some problems. It's how they triumph over those problems that matters. John is a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer who teaches at UF's College of Journalism. Things were going great when he got the diagnosis no one wants to hear...cancer. John turned the camera on himself and the result is an amazing documentary that is giving hope to others. Watch the report Tuesday and Wednesday, and log onto http://www.notasipictured.org/ to learn more.
On Thursday, a story that hits close to home for my family.... but I'll tell you more about that on Thursday!
I hope you are as inspired by these people as I am.
On Monday, we profile Alachua County Sheriff Spokesperson Art Forgey. You usually see Art from the waist up on television, so you may not realize he has a physical disability. Art was in a car accident and lost the use of one leg. He thought his career in law enforcement was over, so he packed up and moved his family across the country and wound up here in Alachua County. Then, Art got a divorce and became a single Dad. Sheriff Sadie Darnell says she's never seen anyone work harder than Art. Art says he was angry during the recovery, but about a year ago he realized if this was the worst thing that ever happened to him then he's not that bad off. Now, he's an inspiration to everyone. If you see him, ask him to show you his superman tattoo!
I love how John Kaplan sums up life "does anyone really have a picture perfect life?" We see so many people in the media who appear to have everything going for them, but in reality, everyone has some problems. It's how they triumph over those problems that matters. John is a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer who teaches at UF's College of Journalism. Things were going great when he got the diagnosis no one wants to hear...cancer. John turned the camera on himself and the result is an amazing documentary that is giving hope to others. Watch the report Tuesday and Wednesday, and log onto http://www.notasipictured.org/ to learn more.
On Thursday, a story that hits close to home for my family.... but I'll tell you more about that on Thursday!
I hope you are as inspired by these people as I am.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Remembering the tragedy in Haiti
Next week is the anniversary of the terrible earthquake that shook Haiti. The tragedy hit close to home for me because I was getting ready for a mission trip to El Salvador in just a few weeks. The purpose of our trip was to build a well in a tiny community called Monte Rico. I couldn't help but think what if something similar happened while I was in Central America. I was hesitant last Christmas when my church's mission director asked me to go and video the experience. I remember telling him it wasn't my "season" in life, because I had young children. But after my husband encouraged me and offered to make sure everything was taken care of at home, I decided to go. I'm so glad I did.
Living Water International drills wells all over the world and was one of the first on the scene in Haiti restoring fresh water after the earthquake. The organization worked with our team in El Salvador, teaching us to drill and helping us lead hygiene lessons in the community. I was so impressed by our Hygiene Instructor, Katie, who left the states to work for LWI and live in El Salvador. She left many luxuries behind and works in the blazing sun travelling to remote areas to bring water and education to people daily.
Before the trip, I was feeling a little bored driving the same streets and seeing the same sights I've seen for years. In Central America, the beautiful landscape with tropical trees and rugged coastline is contrasted with widespread poverty. My eyes were opened by a first-hand look at the hardships people endure in other countries. I had reported about those conditions in my career as a news anchor, but here, the pictures became real to me. Life's most precious resource, water, is not readily available in most places. We saw women washing their clothes in the river, children swimming, cows walking and people drinking from the same water. Chronic diarrhea and death are all too common there, and yet the people are so resilient, even joyful and always thankful.
It's amazing how clean water can change a life. I left El Salvador with a new resolve to never take water for granted again. This week, when we relive the images from Haiti, I will have a new perspective on human suffering and on those who leave the comfort of their homes to help others.
Living Water International drills wells all over the world and was one of the first on the scene in Haiti restoring fresh water after the earthquake. The organization worked with our team in El Salvador, teaching us to drill and helping us lead hygiene lessons in the community. I was so impressed by our Hygiene Instructor, Katie, who left the states to work for LWI and live in El Salvador. She left many luxuries behind and works in the blazing sun travelling to remote areas to bring water and education to people daily.
Before the trip, I was feeling a little bored driving the same streets and seeing the same sights I've seen for years. In Central America, the beautiful landscape with tropical trees and rugged coastline is contrasted with widespread poverty. My eyes were opened by a first-hand look at the hardships people endure in other countries. I had reported about those conditions in my career as a news anchor, but here, the pictures became real to me. Life's most precious resource, water, is not readily available in most places. We saw women washing their clothes in the river, children swimming, cows walking and people drinking from the same water. Chronic diarrhea and death are all too common there, and yet the people are so resilient, even joyful and always thankful.
It's amazing how clean water can change a life. I left El Salvador with a new resolve to never take water for granted again. This week, when we relive the images from Haiti, I will have a new perspective on human suffering and on those who leave the comfort of their homes to help others.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
UF Hires Will Muschamp as new head coach
"This is a dream come true to be the head coach of the Florida Gators," said Muschamp, who spent 10 years of his childhood living on 27th Street in this city. "I grew up watching the Gators and whatever
other SEC team was on television. I have great memories watching SEC football with my father on Saturdays and playing football in the backyard with my two brothers right here in Gainesville." Will Muschamp
There is something very special about returning to your hometown, especially for your dream job. When I was in college at UF, I remember many fellow students who dreamed of working at their hometown television stations. Several of them grew up in Miami or West Palm, which are major market television stations. That meant they would have to go to a couple of smaller markets first, then work their way up to the big time. My goal was to work at my hometown t.v. station too, but for me that was small market Gainesville. You might think that would be easy to achieve, but at that time there was only one t.v. station here and the news director didn't hire recent college grads. Even if you had the experience, there were only a handful of positions and of those positions only a couple would be for a female anchor or reporter so the odds were never in my favor. It would be six years and several applications before I finally got a job there as the morning anchor.
I'm amazed when I think of all the things that have to come together for a person to land a highly coveted job. It's even more amazing when that person comes full-circle. Often, the seeds of a dream are planted at home and sometimes they are fulfilled there too.
other SEC team was on television. I have great memories watching SEC football with my father on Saturdays and playing football in the backyard with my two brothers right here in Gainesville." Will Muschamp
There is something very special about returning to your hometown, especially for your dream job. When I was in college at UF, I remember many fellow students who dreamed of working at their hometown television stations. Several of them grew up in Miami or West Palm, which are major market television stations. That meant they would have to go to a couple of smaller markets first, then work their way up to the big time. My goal was to work at my hometown t.v. station too, but for me that was small market Gainesville. You might think that would be easy to achieve, but at that time there was only one t.v. station here and the news director didn't hire recent college grads. Even if you had the experience, there were only a handful of positions and of those positions only a couple would be for a female anchor or reporter so the odds were never in my favor. It would be six years and several applications before I finally got a job there as the morning anchor.
I'm amazed when I think of all the things that have to come together for a person to land a highly coveted job. It's even more amazing when that person comes full-circle. Often, the seeds of a dream are planted at home and sometimes they are fulfilled there too.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Urban Meyer Resignation
"At the end of the day, I'm very convinced that you should be judged on how you are as a husband and a father, not the bowl games you've won. .. I've not seen my two girls play high school sports. They're both very talented Division-1A volleyball players. I missed those four years." Urban Meyer
I get it. I think most parents who work a demanding job also get it. It really doesn’t matter how much success you have if you feel you’ve missed watching your children grow up. As a Mom, my heart is always tugged in two directions. Over the years I’ve come and gone from television news in this community, always taking a break to focus on family. Somehow, the business keeps calling me back in… sometimes full-time, sometimes part-time. This time to launch a local news program--certainly nothing like coaching a national football team, but very time consuming for the past few months. Usually I can adjust my schedule to be there for the important events in my children’s lives, but as most parents know, it’s those unplanned moments that really count with your child. At the end of the day, do we ever feel we’ve done enough for our children?
A time may come when you know you need to step away. But, there may also be a time when you need to jump in the game. If your priorities are in line, you will know which action to take.
There's no telling how many young men have benefitted from Coach Meyer's wisdom and direction during his six years at UF. Not to mention all the charities he and his wife Shelley have supported over the years. I appreciate all they have done for our community and I hope they enjoy this time to focus on their family. They have left a great legacy for the Gator Nation that extends far beyond championship titles.
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