Rebecca's Story

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In August of 1991, Mr. And Mrs. Plummer of North Carolina celebrated the birth of their daughter, Rebecca. Accompanying the gifts and talents their child brought into the world was a challenge: hemiplegic cerebral palsy. The doctors' prognosis was devastating. Brain damage had affected her motor skills to the point where she would lay sedentary all her life, or at best be wheelchair-bound. Certainly she would never walk.

Not ones to give up following their dream of a rich life for their daughter, Chris and Connie refused to be daunted by the doctors' outlook. For years they worked with therapists to increase Rebecca's abilities. When Rebecca was seven years old her parents were told heel cord surgery to repair Rebecca's shorter right leg might enhance her chances of mobility. However, the surgery was excruciatingly painful and Chris and Connie feared they had made the wrong decision when Rebecca absolutely refused to put any pressure on her legs following the operation. Not sure which way to turn, Connie and Chris daily struggled between the extremes of Rebecca's immobile reality and the hope of an ambulatory future.

For the Christmas of 1998 Santa brought Rebecca a recliner chair and a video. Knowing his petite, blonde daughter enjoyed music, Chris picked up a copy of Michael Flatley's Feet of Flames even though he had never heard of the show or its creator/performer.

No one knows if it was the rhythm, the music, Michael Flatley, or a combination of all three that touched something deep inside the little girl, but Connie feels that Rebecca simply "fell in love." Regardless of which driving force motivated her, Rebecca attempted to stand within days of ceaselessly watching the video. Connie shared the daily miracles with Chris when he came home from work -- showing him how Rebecca responded to the video: leaning up against the wall to help herself stand; hanging on to the furniture for support and eventually standing unaided; attempting to walk and move and shift her weight and even trying to dance - all while watching Feet of Flames with rapt attention. A month of continuously viewing Michael and the troupe brought about such miraculous results for Rebecca that even the Easter Seals therapist who had pronounced the girl would never walk was amazed at her astounding success.

"Michael got Rebecca up out of that chair and walking," said a grateful Connie Plummer in a recent telephone interview. "He has no idea of the influence he has had in Rebecca's life. He has done such miracles without even knowing. It's the greatest thing that could have happened."

In an e-mail sent in March of 2001 to Judy Garvey, administrator of the Visitor's Book on the Lord of the Dance website, Connie expressed the desire to let Michael know what he had done for her daughter. "...What you and your shows have done for her have been such a blessing. Doctors said she would never walk...Thank you for dancing. God gave you a special talent and you have touched a very special little girl."

Ms. Garvey forwarded that e-mail to Michael's management and made arrangements for Rebecca and her parents to attend Feet of Flames in Washington, D.C., on June 27. Following the show, they were invited to meet Michael, and Rebecca spent some quality time with the man who has had such a profound impact on her life. Bypassing a group of guests waiting to speak with him, Michael walked directly over to Rebecca, got down on one knee to be eye-level with her, and hugged and greeted her warmly. Ecstatic at being with the man she had so often watched on television, Rebecca broke out into enthusiastic grins with never a pause in their communication. For those special minutes Rebecca was Michael's only priority. Witnessing Rebecca with Michael was my "greatest joy," said Connie. The "overwhelming feelings can't be expressed. We are so grateful to Michael."

When asked if there were anything she would like fans to know, Connie was quick to respond that Michael has "a heart of gold." "He is a wonderful, most caring person to take the time he did with Rebecca. This was the best year for Rebecca," explained Connie. Reflecting on the evening their daughter's dreams came true, Connie and Chris said of the fans, "The whole evening - all the little things -- everyone cared. The fans have such big hearts."

Following the show and Rebecca's once-in-a-lifetime experience, Connie said, "Michael is still influencing my child." During the last three months speech therapists have been working with Rebecca on the "K" sound. Once they associated the "K" sound in Michael to that of other words, Rebecca latched on to the lesson and can now enunciate "bake" and "cake." She continues to work on developing coordination and is learning to climb stairs.

Rebecca refers to Michael as "her friend," explains Connie. "Michael said to her that night 'I'll always be your friend' and she truly believes it in her heart." Perhaps 'following your dream' can also mean making someone else's dream come true. For one special little girl and her family that is exactly what happened.