Page 4 - CMTeen_Volume1_Issue4

The Sloth is

My Spirit Animal

By Carly Ann Blaukat Sizemore*

I NEVER THOUGHT I’D FIND were people who understood my pain, my
SOMEONE who would understand what weakness and my troubles. We all had a
it’s like to have CMT. Then my mother saw joke when we started talking about CMT.
a little banner on Facebook about Camp Someone would freak out and say, “Wait,
Footprint, the first annual camp for kids you have CMT?? I have CMT! This is crazy!”
with CMT. I was shocked, but without hesi- Then another person would chime in and
tation I said, “Let’s do it.” In no time, I was say, “I do too!” and we would all freak out
booking a flight to Pennsylvania. because almost everyone there had it.
I’ve known I’ve had CMT almost all of my Every day was something new and never
life. It affects my legs and now it’s starting once did I ever feel alone, degraded, or like
to slowly affect my hands. I’ve never let that someone wouldn’t understand if I needed
stop me from being an adventurous person, to take a break or if I fell down on some air.
but I hid my CMT from the world because Nothing was rushed, we could be sloths and
I thought no one would understand. When that was okay because everyone was a sloth.
I tried to explain, people would ask if CMT Many people came into camp wanting to go
stood for Country Music Television or look backhome on the first day, and then cried
at me puzzled, like maybe I stuttered. the last day saying they would pay rent and
I’m a naturally slow person. If I had a “clean the green trolley” if they could stay.
spirit animal, it would be a sloth. When I Jonah Berger, the camp director, told us on
go fast I can hurt myself or look like a fool. the way from the airport to the camp that
But like my mom says, the world “doesn’t we might be spread out on the bus on the
revolve around Carly” so I’ve adapted and first day, but he promised that going back to
overcome. With every ankle sprain and fall, the airport we would be a family. Just like
I’ve learned to get back up and laugh along. he said, the last day we were all huddled
I held back the tears from all the apathetic together, three to a seat.
people and looked down to see where I was Every night at camp we had “foot time,”
going so I wouldn’t fall again. when we all got together in the common
Camp Footprint was different. All area to care for our feet and have foot baths
through the week I felt something I’ve and massages. Every day we had little talks
never felt before—empathy. All around me about CMT. Every single person had
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