.Cabin Fever.

 

At the time of this writing, (just after Christmas and prior to Y2K).  I had just recently fallen down the stairs at home and broke my right leg just above the ankle.  Being housebound and not in the immediate vicinity of my computer, I decided to take a few notes in preparation for a new story.

 

My eldest son Mitchell was home for the holidays and has really been a great help to his mother in helping care for my many requests.  Our home is a two story, and all bedrooms are on the second floor.  This made it difficult for me to get close to the kitchen, food,and mostly my conduit to the outside world, my HP computer. During the holiday season, ABC ran a Disney special presentation based on the true story of Loretta Claiborne the 1996 ESPY Award winner -- a physically and mentally challenged track star. Escaping the grim fate of an institution and encouraged early in life, Loretta exhibited great strength of character and physical talent. In order to avoid being tormented by other kids, she learned to outrun them. Battling incredible obstacles and even the jealousy of her own family, this inspiring African-American woman became a top athlete, learned four languages, and became a spokesperson for the Special Olympics.

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Prior to the showing, Oprah Winfrey had a show dedicated to the mentally handicapped and highlighting the life of Loretta.  During the show, many accomplished handicapped individuals were introduced.  A brief history of most was presented, and usually, their parents were describing how they arrived at the place in life they now attain.  This almost always starts with (From their birth, I was advised to not bring them home.  They would more likely than not die before the age of one.  If they lived, they would be nothing more than a vegetable not able to recognize or respond to their families with love or affection).  I thought, good lord, are they still telling that old wives tale.

 

Our son Mitchell, was born Downs Syndrome over 42 years ago, and this is the same garbage we were told.  Most parents, like ourselves relied on the information given by their doctors.  What a mistake this was because we found out through trial and error, most doctors were, and it seems still are very limited on their knowledge of mentally handicapped and what they can do, and more important, what they can give.  I shudder to think what our life would have been like without Mitchell’s presence. 

 

So, I started reflecting on my circumstances and the choices that I had to amuse myself.  Quite limited, regarding my normal ability to go and do without many restrictions.  So, I decided to start another story about our holiday’s, gifts and festivities.  And as I started jotting down some notes, words from my good friend Ronald Reagan jumped into my head.  His words and Mitchell’s being home made me travel down the direction I am about to go.

 

Mitchell’s Experiences.

 

Well as my good friend Ronald Reagan would say,“ Well there they go again.”  And then my wife Janey would say“you’re not a friend of Ronald Reagan.”  I then would retort, “Oh yes I am, don’t you recall all those personal letters he wrote to me?”  “No, I don’t remember” she would then reply.  Well it is just like you to forget, so let me explain it one more time.

 

All the years I have been married to this woman, she has either been going through the change or depending on what she calls “Senior Moments.”  I have shown her on at least four different occasions letters that Ronald Reagan has written to me titled, Mr. Kenneth Kinder, “my friend” I would like to call on you to help out in my political campaign.  This happened twice during his gubernatorial campaign for governor of California, and twice for his presidential campaigns.  He would always end these letters with the notation, my fellow American your friend, Ronald Reagan-either governor or president.  Now, I would think this makes us pretty tight wouldn’t you?

 

Not only has he written to me, he has invited me over to his house for an afternoon lawn party.  Well, not exactly me, but my son Mitchell.  And, it was not exactly Ronnie but his wife Nancy that sent the invitation.  “So,” everyone knows she runs his office and an invitation from her is like a command from Ronnie.  It was during his second tour as governor of California that Nancy was instrumental in helping start the foster-grandparents program when Mitchell received this invitation.  He was in one of the first groups that were chosen to participate in this program.  It was started as a conduit to bring together, retired seniors with time on their hands and a desire to help handicapped individuals.   

 

His foster-grandmother, “Winifred Hoeser”was a great influence in developing appropriate social and dining skills with Mitchell.  So it came as no great surprise when she informed us that the two of them had received an invitation from the governor’s mansion to an afternoon lawn luncheon.

 

The purpose of this event was to create publicity for this new program and it served this end well.  The event was held in Sacramento at the governor’s exclusive East Sacramento estate, covered by the entire local and some distant television stations.  The foster-grandparent program grew by leaps and bounds after this exposure.  I believe this project worked out much better than the “Just say no” project of Nancy’s years later at the white house.

 

Mitchell had just turned seventeen and has always been a social butterfly, so he was really in his world when it came to public exposure.  Give him an audience and he is a lot like Milton Berle, king of the performers.  He would smooze with all the reporters and even got to use the public announcement system to introduce his foster-grandmother to the Reagan’s.

 

Nancy and Ronald Reagan both gave a short message to the anxious audience that sat mesmerized before them.  What a gracious couple they were to participate in this endeavor.  After their individual statements, they then mixed into the crowd and engaged their guests.  Mitchell crowded right in and rushed up to Nancy with his foster-grandmother.  He made himself right at home and was welcomed by the politicians and media.

 

The Games!

 

This was the start of many social and athletic events for Mitch.  He had been active in the Boy Scouts and Special Olympics but never to the degree that was to follow.  His lifelong desire was to participate in the California state competitions.  This was fulfilled in 1989 at a UC campus in southern Ca.  Before this happened, there were many local and regional competitions.  It was so humorous to watch these individuals play basketball (not knowing or caring which basket was theirs to shoot).  Or, as we would watch Mitchell compete in swimming relays, (Mitch was a very strong swimmer) stop in the middle of the pool and cheer his competition forward.

 

The usual competition was in track, softball throw, Frisbee throw and a myriad of other events, but there came a time in his life that he started training in weight lifting.  His coach worked hard with him and got him to a point that caused him to win all his local and regional events.  This made state competition available.  So in 1989 Mitchell, his coach and one other athlete from his region flew to Los Angeles to compete in the summer Olympics.  This was a three-day event with all the trimmings.

 

Janey and I took our motor home south and parked it behind the Federal buildings off veteran’s blvd.  The Olympics committee had arranged the parking, bus shuttles to and from the campus, rest areas on campus containing refreshments for the out of town visitors.

 

The opening ceremonies were spectacular with introductions of all the participating groups.  The traditional lighting of the Olympic flame, speech by former Olympic star Rafer Johnson, entertainment by a myriad of Hollywood stars, culminating with a host of skydivers dropping from the sky into the UC stadium and pinpoint landing on their targets.  The final parachutist came down holding Old Glory in his hands.  What made this even more memorable was the fact that it was done after dark while searchlights illuminated the jumpers high in the sky.  After the final jumper had landed and positioned the flag, the lights were once again lowered while thousands of colored balloons were released into the night skies once again illuminated by many sweeping searchlights.  Then came a wide variety of fireworks that lit the warm California night.  After this beautiful display, the dancing and entertainment filled the rest of the evening.

 

The next two days were devoted to the competitive games that are the reason for the event.  During his events, Mitchell won two gold medals in his age and weight class for the dead lift and bench press.  Some of the medal presenters were Michael Landon from television and Todd Christensen from the Oakland Raiders, two of Mitchell’s favorites.

 

During the time the athletes were not competing, they were free to watch the others compete.  They also got to wander about the enormous campus collecting photographs, autographs, and souvenirs from their favorite heroes.  I made a VHS tape of this three day event along with our side trip that followed.  We view this tape on special occasions and revel in the experience that has thrilled Mitchell over and over again.

 

In closing, to anyone that might read this story and might have a mentally handicapped person in your family.  Don’t believe the hype that many will toss your way about their limitations.  Instead, look for the possibilities not the problems, because your lives will be enriched by your association with the handicapped!

 

Written by: Kenneth Kinder