Anyone who watches the news, for the most part would come away with the thought that America is a terrible place. However stories like these (of which there are not enough of) show what this country is about. Not the silly, decisive, rhetoric blather that the majority of the news, or should I say opinion channels continue to air over and over again. This story is what the American spirit is about, a society coming together to use its advanced technology to better a child’s life.
Being Duped: Ugly Americans
A 7-year-old girl who had her feet reattached following a serious accident was recently able to dance alongside her twin sister in “The Nutcracker.”
Aubrey Scaletta overcame a 35-day hospital stay, six surgeries and months of physical therapy to dance as one of Mother Ginger’s Bon Bon children in a performance of the classic Christmas ballet this month in Roanoke, Virginia.
Aubrey, a second grader, practiced for the ballet in a wheelchair, but on the night of the performance, she was able to use a walker to float across the stage with her fellow ballerinas, according to her mom, Lauren Scaletta.
Aubrey’s father, Daniel Scaletta, said he was in awe as he watched Aubrey perform with her sister, Grayson.
“I think it was a big confidence boost to her,” he said. “She loves it, and we’re just very thankful she could get back to the point to be up there and to be dancing and doing what she loves.”
It was just eight months ago, in May, that Daniel was driving Aubrey home from gymnastics when a ratchet strap that Aubrey was playing with flew out the window.
One end of the ratchet strap – which is generally used to tie down cargo – wrapped around the truck’s axle while the other end was wrapped around Aubrey’s feet, nearly pulling her from the truck and severing Aubrey’s feet in the process, according to Daniel Scaletta, who also shares a 5-year-old son with his wife.
“There was a loud bang and the whole truck shuddered and Aubrey yelled, ‘I’m bleeding,'” he recalled. “I turned around and looked and saw her injuries.”
