UPDATES
May 2005 Update
Marla has had a busy and exciting springtime, and she is ready to dive into summertime! She has had several opportunities to go riding on her new adaptive-recumbent bicycle. She loves the sense of freedom and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors that the bicycle offers. Stop by the photo gallery for pictures of Marla out and about, touring on her bicycle! Marla and her family are very grateful for the many friends who came together to donate the bicycle for her. It is a marvelous therapeutic and recreational tool for her! Marla has always enjoyed the outdoors, and she is looking forward to new adventures on the bicycle!
Speaking of adventures, there are big changes in store for the family, as Mary and Leo prepare to move from the home in Glenwood Springs in which they have lived for over thirty years. They plan to move to a new duplex home near New Castle, Colorado, which is about 15 miles west of Glenwood Springs. The duplex is in a new development there called Lakota Ridge. The new house will offer several advantages: there will be much less yard to take care of, and less maintenance to worry about. Important considerations during retirement! However, there are a lot of memories at the Williams home in Glenwood Springs, where Marla grew up, and it will be a big adjustment for all. In the meantime, Mary and Leo are hard at work getting their house ready to sell, with painting, carpet, packing, downsizing… the list goes on! They are both exhausted, but are looking forward to getting established in their new home.
Marla has started swimming with a women’s triathlon group in Glenwood Springs, and has found it to be a very supportive environment in which to participate. She really enjoys having partners to work out with. Her abilities with her right arm continue to improve, and she swims up to a half a mile, working all four strokes! Other recent adventures have included attending a Sarah McLachlan concert in Loveland. After the concert, Marla spent the weekend at the Denver home of friend Leigh Phipps, where she had a fantastic time visiting, playing with Leigh’s dog Bandit, and doing some fun activities around Denver with Leigh.
In June, Marla will again participate in a two week summer research workshop at the University of Colorado Speech Sciences department in Boulder. The program includes group activities, art therapy, discussion, group interaction, and theater/drama. Only this time, she will be on her own the whole two weeks, staying with a friend in Boulder! This will be a big leap in independence| for her, as it will be her first extended trip with no family members along!
Thanks for stopping by to check in on Marla–she says hi, hi, hi! to all her supporters! Feel free to leave a message, or visit the updated photos while you are here!