Page 113 - The Exceptional Harley Fetterman

THE EXCEPTIONAL HARLEY FETTERMAN

Figure 59: Harley's swim team.

Harley swam with a Special Olympics swim team coached by
Laura Stock which practiced two days a week during the school year.
Although he was too young to participate in Special Olympics, he did
take part in one of their swim meets since he was such a strong
swimmer. This training taught Harley how to effectively swim in a
race situation. He also learned tolerance for his many swim friends
that might not be as capable as he.
In February of 2005, Harley attended an “Agape Camp” for kids
put on by his church, Abiding Love Lutheran Church in Austin. The
activities included arts and crafts followed by singing which was
accompanied in one session with some instruction in sign language.
Harley was also asked to explain Braille to his fellow campers who
had been told about Harley's blindness and his cancer treatments.
They were amazed that he had been using Braille ever since his
kindergarten year at school.

Harley showed his Braille skills by reading a bible passage from
Revelations which described heaven as a world with “no death, no
pain or grief.” The kids were spellbound with amazement as Harley
read from the Braille Bible. Harley offered to respond to questions
which included, “did it hurt when you had your surgery?”
“No...” Harley responded with laughter. He then offered some
important, additional information that, of course, he had been asleep
and had been given pain medication.

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