Hello everyone! On June 4th, 2011, my son Kyle and I finally got the opportunity of a lifetime!! :) For those of you that do not know what/who Surfers Healing is - - it is a non-profit organization that, as a form of therapy, teaches autistic children how to surf http://www.surfershealing.org! After 5 YEARS of diligently trying to get Kyle into a Surfer's Healing Surf Camp, my cousin Arnie Costell (a former professional baseball player, with the NY Yankees) who lives out there in Marina Del Rey, CA, was able to pull some strings and took it upon himself to get us in!!
For those of you that may know about this organization, you'd know how difficult it truly is to get a spot in one of these camps! Once the camp dates are announced, on the web, the spots very often, are filled up within minutes!! So, when I got the call from my cousin, on the morning of June 1st, not only was I completely surprised by the news that he had gotten Kyle in, but I was also so amazed, grateful, super-emotional, and so excited for Kyle...all at the same time!! This camp that we got into had been filled up and "closed" for quite some time at this point!!! I then rented a car, and Kyle and I then drove out together to CA! We arrived out there, just 2 days later, on Friday, June 3rd. After a warm reception from my cousin, and after getting settled into his home, we immediately started to get really excited about the events that would take place, the very next day at camp, on June 4th.
The whole experience, at the surf camp, at Malibu Pier...was not only an amazing one, for cousin Arnie, Kyle, and I...but it was truly a life-changing one!! Not only did Kyle actually get up on a surfboard, for the very first time...but I was able to witness it all, in true mother's love and wonderment. Not only were we able to experience the whole surfing experience, but we actually met and spent some quality time with a few celebrities, as well! We met and hung out with, Mr. David Arquette (which I'm quite sure that most of you know exactly who he is - I'm pretty sure that no introduction is needed), as well as Mr. Scott Caan (son of legendary actor - James Caan; Dan-o, from the remake of the "Hawaii 5-0" television series; he has been in many movies, as well - - such as Oceans 11, 12, and 13, Gone in 60 Seconds, Into the Blue, Boiler Room, etc.), who very selflessly and amazingly spent his entire Saturday in the waters of Malibu, surfing with all of the children! Never came out of the water, once, the entire day - until the very end, which is when we were able to meet and hang with him. When I asked him about his time there at the surf camp, he responded, "I do this every single year, for the kids. For one day, I can honestly say...it's not about me...which is why I stay in the water for the whole time, because I know that if I were to have come out of the water any earlier, I would have been bombarded with fans, press, paparazzi, etc. It's truly all about the kids! I do it just for them..." Wow! What a truly wonderful guy!! :) That was so nice to see and hear...
It was all such an awesome, emotional, and wonderful experience for Kyle and I...and I am so grateful to my cousin Arnie, that he very selflessly was able to give Kyle and I such a wonderful gift. I'll be attaching some links to photos from our Surfers Healing experience, as well as some YouTube video clips! I hope you all enjoy, as much as we did!! :)
Link to photo album:
YouTube video clips:
Im with U Mely <3 Joasia
ReplyDelete