Justice Rickenbach: Mastering the skills needed to play

Justice Rickenbach is a spunky 11-year-old who refuses to sit on the sidelines, despite Prader Willi Syndrome. This painful disability impacts her strength, balance and coordination. Instead, she shows up every week at Courage Kenny Kids with a big smile on her face. She is ready to work - no matter how hard or challenging the task might be. Determined to take part in school activities to the best of her ability, she asks to work on specific activities in therapy.

Vocal communication has been challenging for her, but when surgeries to correct her voice and speech were not as successful as hoped for, Justice didn't let it get her down. She worked hard in speech therapy until she mastered her goals. Riding a bike like any other kid was also important for Justice. Though it took a couple years to learn, her persistence helped her build her core and work on her coordination skills. At first it was very difficult to stay upright without support, but within a month after joining the bike group through Courage Kenny Kids, she was riding a two-wheeler by herself.

Justice really wanted to roller skate with her classmates, but her therapists thought it might be too challenging. The very next week, she showed her therapists a video of herself roller skating at school with help. Within weeks, she was skating by herself. Other children in therapy are inspired by her determination to master new skills, and her classmates have learned that Justice shouldn't be defined by her disability, but by her accomplishments. "Justice is the most mature, loving, kind, motivated and sweet girl," said Erin Vesey, physical therapist. "She has served as inspiration to Courage Kenny Kids clients and staff alike."