Over the last four years, the facility staff at UVM Gutterson Fieldhouse has gone above and beyond to form a relationship with Kayla. They have all accepted her quirkiness, rigidness, and physical limitations. Before every game, Kayla rides the Zamboni after the team warms up. Mike Little is the guy that gets her on the Zamboni and drives her around. Kayla has been to every game and so has Mike.
Mike was not a recent game and Kayla immediately asked what was going to happen. As I came down the stairs, I see Thad McCuin sitting next to Kayla telling her that he was going to drive her that night. Kayla sat there with him and told him exactly what the routine was. Tears were brought to my eyes seeing the kindness, acceptance, understanding, and empathy that was shown that night.