CINCINNATI (AP) — Numerous medical problems have affectedJoan Hurd’s ability to talk and recognize
her own family for the last12 years.It has not, however, affected her love for her grandson, Mathew, who was
born with Down syndrome.Afterbeing heavily sedated for seven days from a seizure she suffered onOct. 7, the
85-year-old complained to nurses that she wasn’t beingallowed to see "him."It took some time
before the nurses and her daughter realized who "him" was.And it wasn’t so much that Hurd wanted
to see him.She wanted to see him dance.MaryRamirez-Cook, Hurd’s daughter and Mathew’s mother, has been a
danceinstructor for 25 years and created the Dancing Stars, or DS, a dancegroup devoted to providing free
dance instruction to people with Downsyndrome.She created the program because she noticed that Mathew,12,
liked to dance and she thought it could be a good way for him (andfor her) to meet others living with Down
syndrome.Since the groupstarted meeting in 2007, it has grown to more than 40 members — allwith Down
syndrome — who dance together on Wednesdays at Ramirez-Cook’sstudio, A-Marika Dance Company in
Sharonville."She asks me everyday, ‘When is he dancing?’" Ramirez-Cook said. "Her health was
neverwell enough to come see them. I even tried to set up a show at a hotelnear her old downtown
apartment."But until Tuesday, Hurd had never seen him dance.Thatwas the day Ramirez-Cook was finally
able to give her mother her wishwhen Mathew and 20 others performed for her and other residents of
theKenwood Terrace Care Center, where Hurd is recovering from a series ofseizures and a fall that caused
bleeding in her brain."She was so excited about this," Ramirez-Cook said. "She kept asking,
‘What day is it again?’ "Mathewshowed off his dance moves for his grandmother as she and otherresidents
cheered. The performance was capped off with Mathew and hisgrandmother leading a conga line, him pushing her
in her wheelchair."Every minute of it was a blessing," Hurd said after the show. "He is just
so special."PraisingMathew isn’t uncommon for Hurd, who has 18 other grandchildren and hasbeen known to
share with complete strangers that he is her favorite."God knows that I love him the most," Hurd
said. "I am so lucky."Twoyears ago, Ramirez-Cook had a problem with Mathew running away. So shehad
a book made with photos of family members that he could trust. Italso featured a story that showed why he
had to be careful aroundstrangers.Recently, Mathew brought the book to show hisgrandmother at the care
center. With the book, Mathew helped her torecognize the once-familiar faces."I can’t even describe how
special their relationship is," Ramirez-Cook said. "It is just amazing to see them
together."I am just so thankful, as her daughter, that I can give her this gift at
Thanksgiving."___Information from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.comCopyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.