Strider at PCMC

This morning we met the Strider team, Ryan (starter and owner), Kent, Kyla at Primary Children's Medical Center. It is no secret that we LOVE Strider. It was so much fun morning to get to show them around the hospital. They donated 2 bikes to the Hematology/Oncology clinic for the other kids to enjoy riding during those long days at clinic. As a mother of a cancer baby you want your children to enjoy everything and to feel as close to a normal kid as possible. We are so thankful for our friendships with the Strider team. They also handed us a stack full of flyer's where you'll see on the front little 2-year old Presley with a head full of curls, ready to race! We hope that we can help Strider get bikes in hospitals for kids just like Presley. I don't think Ryan knew the impact he would make on the world when he started his company but it has definitely made a difference in our little girls life.

Look at that shinny new bike! This is the first time for Presley on her Strider at 22 months old

When Presley was about 21 months old we got her a pink Strider. She was tiny but loved to walk around pushing that pink bike.We got the bike for her in the late fall and let her just play with it inside until the spring. Daddy has a way of making bike learning fun!  Crew was very little and I loved going for walks everyday. Presley is high energy and asking her to stay in the stroller for an hour walk is almost impossible. I thought of the perfect solution. If I can take her bike with me on the stroller, then she can get out and get some exercise and then when she's tired I can just put the bike on the stroller and buckle her in. I asked Paul to make some attachment, but that was not needed. I just put the handlebars over the stroller handle bars as if it was meant to do it. Good thing the bike only weights 7 lbs! It did not take Presley long to learn how to fully balance on her bike. It was Easter Weekend in the Spring after Crew was born that we went for a walk and look out....her feet were up and she was balancing and riding her bike down the hills.

Balancing down the hills on the walk path 28 months old!

Everyone always stopped to look and always wanted to see more. A 2 year old just out of diapers balancing on a bike. What a fun sight to see. That summer we took her to the skate park, she loved learning how to balance at the skate park. That summer we also flew to Black Hills, South Dakota (close to where Striders headquarters are) to be one of the first to get a pair of skis to attach to her bike. Paul needed to build more hours in the airplane and I jumped on the thought of getting to fly over Mount Rushmore and going to a Strider event. It was then in South Dakota that we meet Ryan, Kent and Kyla. We soon became dealers and sold a few bikes before selling our home in Colorado.

People would tell us they thought $100 is too much for a kids bike. I often say..that was the best $100 I have spent on baby/kid items. When you see her in action you might change your mind. I love that at 2-3.5 years old she is able to master something and feel confident in herself. But my love for Strider got even stronger when after Presley was taking those steroids and was unable to walk that as soon as she could stand while holding on to something she was able to get back on that Strider.

I can't walk..but I'm starting to ride my Strider. Who needs physical therapy?

Some of the cancer kids have had to get physical therapy to help them walk again. I told the doctors we didn't need it because we had our Strider. It was during this time that she was also getting to heavy for me to carry around all the time. So when we went to clinic I would give her the choice to ride her bike or be in the stroller. Not once has she choose the stroller. I have been so thankful for that Strider in her cancer journey. She is known at clinic by the nurses and doctors for riding her bike to clinic and now other kids do the same! I am a proud mommy when I see that bald head riding her bike. Everyone stops to look and ask more about it. But what really makes my day is that they are not just staring at that bald head like she's some weird girl, they think she is darling riding that bike and are always amazed that she just got chemo in her port and had an LP (lumbar puncture). We are so proud of you Presley. You are so strong, such an inspiration to so many people. You are only 3.5 years old and you have made an impact for the better, I know you will continue to fight this battle and soon will be a survivor.