It is starting to hit me like a freight train, Carter will be leaving to go to college this time next year! To be honest it really started when Carter and I drove up to KU, University of Kansas, on May 2nd. Carter is looking at several colleges but he really does have a soft spot for KU now that we visited. It truly is beautiful up there and very hilly(which scares me with his CMT) shh don't tell him.:) BUT they have a great Med program, pharmacy program, full of traditions, cycling club (which we got to meet the president of) and they have a program that would help him if his CMT got real bad! Which really put my mind at ease.
Our KU admissions rep Jon did an outstanding job showing us around and really went the extra mile. He too was a pre-med student and actually knew about CMT!!!!! HUGE BONUS! He told us that they have a shuttle for students that break their leg or have a disability, were it will pick them up from their dorm and take them to their classes. Carter would give him/her his schedule and they would be there waiting for him and take him to his next destination! SUPER COOL! Plus they put in pathways all over campus that would allow him to get up the hill without using the stairs. Jon set it up so we did a campus tour, housing tour and he even drove us around campus and showed us downtown Lawrence. Overall, it was an amazing trip and we both fell in love with KU. I think I cried the whole time we were there! LOL I am such a baby when it comes to my baby.:)
Now we have 8 days left of the Junior year and we will be applying and visiting campuses all summer. Next stop is SFA (Stephen F Austin) which is here in Texas, no not in Austin, it is in Nacogdoches. It is about 4-4.5 hrs away so not too far from home. We will be visiting them the week of June 18th! We will let ya know how it goes! They too have a good pre-med program, cycling club and a really good physics and astronomy program. Carter wants to go to become a doctor, a general surgeon to be exact, so he is choosing physics as his major and astronomy as a possible minor. SFA has the second largest Observatory in Texas and the Central Time Zone! Pretty cool! Carter is really looking forward to the tour and he is very excited because his Nana will be taking him! Yep, my mom really wants to experience seeing her oldest grandson visit a college so she is flying in that week. Crazy cause she was just here on the week of May 7th, she came down before her visit to her oncologist in Louisiana. Anyway, we will see what he thinks of SFA.
Then we will be off to see the University of Arkansas. Which believe it or not is only 5-5.5 hours away. Not bad. They too have a great pre-med program, physics program and he knows people that go there and are looking to go there. So that would be nice. Plus they too have a cycling club and full of traditions too!
I know a lot of people think I am crazy for being so emotional and worrying but they don't have a child with a disease that has no cure and progresses. I know he will be fine cause that is just who he is. He doesn't give up, fights hard for what he wants and doesn't let his CMT get in the way. However, as a mom I worry about him being so far away from home and that his disease will progress. It has been pretty good but lately he is complaining more and more about his left leg. It is really tight and we have noticed that he is loosing muscle in his feet. Muscle atrophy in his feet and lower calf is progressing. Really hoping the stretches the physical therapist gave him and his leg braces will help. He is using the braces again and is able to wear them longer and longer as each day goes by. Praying they will help.
Of course do you think this is stopping him from planning his next triathlon? NO!!!! His swim coach is pushing him hard and he says it feels good in the pool, no pain. :) He wants to do one more tri this summer, we haven't found one yet that works into the schedule but I am sure he will find one.
We will keep you all posted on the college journey. Any advice from fellow CMTers?
Until Next Time..................Cherish the moments you have with you kids because time flies by so very fast and the next thing you know your sending them off to college! :(
Momma Hayes
"Stay Strong, Believe"~Carter Hayes
