Anyone in the gymnastics industry can attest to the fact that being on the gymnastics team is like being in
an extended family. Children practice several times a week together for years, and their parents spend
countless hours together in the waiting room and competition viewing areas together. The kids grow up
together, play together, and in some cases become the strongest bond ever when a special needs child is in
the mix.
When we opened East Pasco Gymnastics, it was after 14 long years of unanswered questions from doctors
and hospitals about why our son was born different. The team kids here accepted Donnie immediately. He
was different but that did not stop Stephanie from playing tag with him and hanging on him in the pool at
the hotels, we stayed at, and it did not stop Taylor and Nina from dancing with him at awards banquets.
Of course, it all starts with parents; one team parent routinely encouraged me to fill out forms that were
necessary to help him get much needed assistance throughout his young adulthood. Two dads worked for
an hour trying to help him get online to play his games, and another lent him her phone when he was
distracting kids, only to face a $60 bill for all the things he purchased in that short 30 minutes.
One state meet in Daytona my team kids were doing karaoke, and my son wanted to do it too. The words
on the teleprompt went too fast for him. He began to get frustrated and then a soft voice in the
background began to sing the words with him. Next, a few team kids joined in, and before you knew it, the
entire team was singing with him. I was late for a dinner appointment as I sat there with tears running
down my face.
When my son played Special Olympics, I asked my cheer squad if I could get volunteers to cheer at his
game. Six girls jumped up immediately. Later I found out that two of them gave up going to their first
middle school dance to cheer at his game. We later found out that no one had ever come to cheer at
basketball for those boys. What a special day it was.
I have spent 40 years coaching gymnastics. For us, these children, parents, and siblings are our family. They
have surrounded my son with love and encouragement. They have supported us in our son’s growth into
adulthood. These amazing parents, who have taught their children that every child matters and every child
has abilities. I am blessed to see how kids helping kids can make a difference in this world.
Lisa Pitts
East Pasco Gymnastics – Florida