Alex Walsh is 13 years old and has been coming to Bay Cliff for nine summers. Alex, who lives in Houghton County, is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which affects the strength and control of his legs. He needs crutches to walk on his own. "People think something is wrong with me, because I can't walk good," Alex said. "I wish they new I"m a person just like them".
Alex works very hard in therapy and hopes tht he will be able to walk without his crutches someday. In the summer of 2007, for the first time, he took steps without any assistance! With the intensive therapy Bay Cliff provides, Alex's hopes and dreams have a great chance of becoming reality. Alex is working hard to complete his dreams.
Bay Cliff is a very special place for me. I've been coming to Bay Cliff every summer since I was 3 years old. I am now 17, I have cerbral palsy and therapy at Bay Cliff helped me go from a wheelchair to a walker and over the years graduate from a walker into crutches. Now I use a cane and work on walking without my cane and improving my balance. I'm so happy to be reaching my goal and walking without anything.
My favorite part of Bay Cliff is meeting new people and making new friends. My best friend Andrea and I met here when we were both 3 and we've been friends ever since. At Bay Cliff, I look forward to teen swim every Friday night and hanging out at the Teen Center every weekday. A really cool part of Bay Cliff is the kayaking program. You have to do a wet exit in the pool before you can go out on Lake Independence. Bay Cliff has inspired me to try new things.
One of the most important parts of Bay Cliff to me, now that I'm a teen, is that I can be a role model to younger kids with cerebal palsy. Bay Cliff has taught me responsibility, how to be a friend, independence, leadership skills and self-confidence. Bay Cliff has helped me so much to become the person I am today.
Alex & Caitlin's stories are shared with the permission of Bay Cliff Health Camp