Levi
One Year Later
Thesoundsofexcitedchildren filled the air, and despite having tapped on the microphone several times, I couldn’t get the crowd to quiet enough so that I could speak.
Today was a big day, one where I got to play the proud papa as my daughter changed the lives of others.
Maisie quickly fell in love with sled hockey after I first introduced her to it. She especially loved that it allowed her to connect with other kids who had lower-limb impairments—not all who played had limb differences; others were impacted by paralysis or leg weakness.
That sense of community sparked inspiration for my selfless girl.
She asked if I would introduce her to the head of the San Diego Surf Foundation, because she wanted to pitch an idea.
Intrigued, I set up the meeting and got to watch as Maisie presented her idea for an adaptive sports camp for kids with physical disabilities, one that was free to participants.
The idea was met with great enthusiasm, and the wheels were set in motion for the inaugural Thorne Tough Camp.
Maisie had a hand in the planning from start to finish, working alongside those at the Foundation and chronicling the entire process on social media. Her posts went viral—because why wouldn’t they? She was fucking awesome—and already, several other teams across the league were talking about following suit and implementing similar programs.
“Excuse me.” I tried again to get the attention of those gathered.
My wife grabbed the microphone from my hand and spoke into it. “If you can hear me, clap once.”
A handful of people clapped once, while most ignored the request.
“If you can hear me, clap twice.”
This time, more than half of the crowd clapped two times, and those around them paused their conversations to find out what was going on.
There was a smile in her voice when Arizona said, “If you can hear me, clap three times.”
Clap, clap, clap.
Every person followed the instruction, and silence ensued.
“They’re all yours, hotshot.” Arizona winked, handing me the mic.
I smoothed down the length of my polo shirt with my free hand. “Welcome, everyone, to the first-ever Thorne Tough Camp hosted by the San Diego Surf.” There was a round of applause, and I waited for it to die down before continuing, “My name isLevi, and I have the absolute honor of being Maisie Thorne’s dad. If you haven’t met her yet, you will get the chance to this week. She’s the mastermind behind this incredible event, and she also lives with limb loss.” There were a few hoots as some kids proudly lifted their prosthetic limbs. “Every day, I am in awe of her resilience, her unwavering optimism, and her compassion for others. And I’d like for you to join me in welcoming her onto the stage to share a few remarks and officially kick off this camp.”
There was a loud cheer as Maisie walked across the stage to join me, flushed and bright-eyed. She waved to a few little girls in wheelchairs in the front row, and they burst into a fit of excited squeals, acting like my daughter was some kind of celebrity. Which, I suppose, in a way, she was. She’d gotten quite a lot of national attention with her social media videos and had been a guest on several local talk shows while promoting this camp.
As soon as she got within arm’s reach, I pulled her in for a tight hug. “So proud of you, sweetheart.”
She squeezed me back. “Thanks, Dad.”
I handed off the microphone and stepped back, letting my girl take center stage.
With an air of grace and maturity far beyond her thirteen—almost fourteen—years, she addressed the crowd. “First, I’d like to thank everyone who helped make this camp possible—the San Diego Surf Foundation, the donors who contributed funds so that we could offer this week free of charge to participants, the parks department for allowing us to use their facilities, and all the volunteer counselors and coaches. But most of all, I’d like to thank my family, who supported my vision from the very start. My dad, Levi, my stepmom, Arizona, and my brother, Austin.”
She turned around and blew us each a kiss.
“I come from a family of athletes, which can be kind of intimidating for a kid who’s lost their leg. But because my dad is the best, he made sure to secure adaptive equipment so that I could play too. And through sled hockey, I met some of my best friends. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how fortunate I was to have access to adaptive sports. So I wanted to find a way to grant that opportunity to those who might not have the resources or connections I was so privileged to have. That’s how I came up with the idea for Thorne Tough, a place where kids with a diverse range of physical disabilities could come together for one week each summer to make genuine connections while trying any sport their hearts desire. It’s my hope that we can continue this program for many years to come and inspire more just like it around the country.”
The crowd cheered, and Maisie’s smile grew so wide it nearly split her face.
“It is my pleasure to announce that the first-ever Thorne Tough Camp has officially begun! I hope everyone has the week of their lives!”
My girl was destined for great things. This was only the beginning.
