Hello, DIY TV Vanilla Ice Project enthusiast here, Casey Rohrer. I’m 15 years old, yep, a sophomore in high school. My parents say I am smart and funny. I would agree. I have a brother, a sister, and a crazy pup, oh and did I mention, CP. For those people that don’t know what that is it’s not “celebrity praise” it is cerebral palsy. It is a condition that doesn’t allow me to talk or walk. But don’t think that has ever stopped me from achieving all my goals and dreams. I use an awesome communication device called a Tobii to communicate. It allows me to communicate by using my eyes. Hey, did you know I love the theater too? I have been in several plays, written scripts, and even been a key note speaker at a conference. My life is not boring. The production I am most proud of is, Once Upon a Road Trip, a play I wrote, directed, and starred in. Theater is my passion in life.
So here is my medical story. I’ll keep this short. I think I have had over 100 visits to UCLA in my lifetime for medical procedures. I have had stomach surgeries, g-tube surgeries, and tons of endoscopies. These are all moments of my life I choose to forget. But there are some moments at UCLA I love to remember. Did you know there is a very special program at UCLA for children who are visiting? It’s called Child Life. My time at UCLA changed the day I met Karleen, a Child Life nurse. She is the sugar to my tea… I need her. A Child Life nurse is somebody who is there to make your time at UCLA fun, and I love how they make your time there feel like you are at home. Karleen is amazing. She loves to watch HGTV with me. She invites me to parties in their department. Once she took me to a tailgate for the UCLA football team. I loved dancing to the pop music. But the best surprise she gave me was when she organized my entire medical team to come sing and perform “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice. She even got the doctors dancing! That gave me hope and made me so happy. Let me brag a little more about Karleen. No matter what time my procedure is she is right by my side. Karleen makes me feel safe and secure. She is loving, caring, and fun. If she wasn’t there I would be so scared. And get this, if your procedure is right at 8:00, they play a special tune to let your team know it is time to go in the surgery room. The Child Life Program always has something there to make you smile and they make your time at UCLA fun. Thank you Karleen, the Child Life Program, and the amazing UCLA medical teams for all that you have done for me. You have captured my family’s hearts and most importantly mine.
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