DD is 9, school year 5.
She has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Dyspraxia.
She wasn’t able to do the 2-night Year 4 residential as school felt she wouldn’t cope. She’s been told she can’t do the 3-night Year 5 one and will most likely not do the week-long Year 6 one. It’s so sad for her. In year 4 she literally watched the other 89 Year 4s and the teachers get on a bus for 3 days. She doesn’t have the memories of midnight feats or when Mrs X burnt the toast because she wasn’t there.
She joined Rainbows aged 6 and has never looked back.
She’s done 1- and 2-night sleepovers and is doing her first holiday in half term for 3 nights. She is so excited.
When the letters came out, I was expecting it to be a no like school. I’d prepared her that she may not be able to go, but promised I’d ask. But it never was no. Sometimes it was “Can I learn more about her conditions first?” or “Tell me what would help her to be able to attend” but it was never no, or maybe, it was always “We’d like her to come”.
The leaders have done so much to help her. They let her get there early to choose her bed, they let her take her weighted blanket to help with pain, they give her Calpol when needed. They cook food that won’t hurt her mouth as when she’s really bad she can blister her mouth easily. They never force her to do activities if she’s in pain/tired/doesn’t feel comfortable. They let her take her sticks so she can walk. They have even for the next one found a room on the ground floor for her and her six to share so she doesn’t have to climb stairs.
They have pushed her out of her comfort zone. And I cannot thank them enough. Since joining Rainbows not only has her confidence built, but she’s learnt so much about her conditions and that reflects so well in her personality.
I was so scared the first 1-night sleepover, worried she’d not cope or the leaders would say no to the next time, but she came back buzzing and the leaders gave her an award on the last meeting for being brave. She kept asking when she can go again. She has not stopped talking about her holiday since it was announced in June.
She has those memories now, of sneaking into the leader’s room to take their slippers, of running up and down the corridor giggling, of a camp fire and singing and all those lovely childhood memories that I just cannot recreate.
Brownies is her favourite time of the week and that’s down to her amazing leaders. I just love them. And I buy them Christmas presents and end of year presents like her teachers because I love these women. They voluntarily take the girls away, they leave their own children and grandchildren at home to take my child away and that’s amazing.
Sorry I think I’m going on. I just will not hear a bad thing about them! Probably UR to put it here though