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03/30/2006: "Fordyce man given honor by archdiocese"

Kyle Stevens of Fordyce considers himself a normal 22-year-old college Joe.
Stevens is a junior at Wayne State College, working on a double major of Language Arts and Speech Communications.
That’s not so unusual for a “college Joe,” but Stevens has dealt with cerebral palsy since birth. He walks with metal crutches but points out everyone has problems. It’s how a person deals with whatever life hands him that determines his success Stevens believes.
“I try not let (my disability) rule my life,” Stevens said. “You succeed because of who you are and not in spite of things. My disability is only one aspect of me.”

So last fall when the Cedar Catholic High School teacher directing the school’s one-act Play developed health problems, the administration approached alumni Stevens and asked if could assist with the casting. Then it was could he stop by on a casual basis occasionally and give some direction.
“I had no time like most college students,” Stevens said. “I had a part-time job and homework. But it was like, did I want to let down this whole group of people?”
So Stevens rearranged his 14-credit hour schedule to accommodate three weekly practices - some of them in the early hours before high schoolers begin classes. He then dropped out of the collegiate speech team competition and directed the group to a second place spot at the district meet losing to Norfolk Catholic High School by only a few points.
Next year’s one-act production is already churning in the back of his mind as he assisted the CCHS’ speech department with this spring’s perfoming team. It became so valuable in his life, he could not pass up the chance to work with the students again.
Stevens made a huge impact on the 44 members of the cast and crew. In turn, a few members nominated him for an Omaha Archiocesan award. He is one of three recipients of the ‘Open Wide the Doors’ award for 2006 given out in recognition of March being Disabilities Awareness Month.
Surgeries to make walking a possibility for Stevens have been performed over the years. He had his last procedure completed when he was in ninth grade and learned what it was like to have his world turned upside down. The tendons were cut in the back of his legs and stretched in order to increase his mobility. It shook his very foundation. The orthopedic doctor at the time was not certain the surgery would be successful and tried to encourage Stevens to adapt his life to a wheelchair. He still had dreams of tossing the canes and walking without.
“I’m okay with where I am now,” Stevens said. He has acquired a wheelchair which he uses when he is tired but now knows that’s not important anymore.
Life in Fordyce, surrounded by family and friends, is just about as good as it gets for Stevens at this point.
“People have treated me good and I have never been considered different,” Stevens said. “I still talk to the boys I played baseball with when we were young even though I was never as athletic as them. Not a one thinks I am any different. That’s what is beautiful about the rural area here.”
At an all-school mass recently, Stevens, along with his parents, Doug and Joan Stevens and sister Kelsey, was presented with a plaque honoring him for serving his rural Catholic community despite his disabilities.
“I tried to give them my best ‘we’re not doing a good job’ look,” Stevens said relating how embarrassed he was at the ceremony. “It made (the kids) very happy to see me blush.” He was caught speechless. Stevens considers himself a pretty shy guy even though he was a gold medal state speech winner in his high school years.
Stevens realized just how much the students taught him while he was supposed to be teaching them. He found out if he believed in them, they in turn believed in him. He can see direction in his life now. It has renewed his desire to be a theatre and speech teacher.
“They tell me how much I helped them, but I can’t tell them how much they have given me,” Stevens added.