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Strong families last

Parents set example for daughter's success

Lauren Trodahl practices a ballet move while wearing her mother’s battle dress uniform blouse. Photo credit: Trodahl Family

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Leighann and Nathan Trodahl are strong parents.

Leighann joined the Army as a way to take control of her own destiny, do something on her own and in the process accomplish something to be proud of. She served honorably for eight years, but her career ended due to a disability.

"Even saying I'm a disabled Army veteran creates a pit in my stomach and a feeling of denial and defeat," she wrote in an email. "No one plans to be disabled, but it made me realize that things can change in an instant in life."

She emphasized that her husband, Nathan, a former Ranger, has stood beside her throughout the tough times.

"The values that my father instilled in me were validated in the Rangers," he wrote. "It laid the foundation of who I am as a man, a husband and a father."

While with the Rangers, Nathan related, he carried in his patrol cap a laminated quote that reads, "Hard Times Don't Last -- Hard Men Do!"

In time, their first daughter, Lauren, came along.  

"Her beautiful blue eyes looking up at me didn't see disabled," Leighann continued. "At that time, I decided that I will be damned if I let my disability hinder her from reaching any success in this world."

The Trodahls had no idea they would have the opportunity to further their daughter's success when she began to dance at the age of 2 years old.

Five years later, their daughter began to receive formal instruction in ballet, a form of dance that traces its origin to the 15th and 16th centuries of the Italian Renaissance.

Now a junior at Steilacoom High School and a Running Start student at Pierce College, Fort Steilacoom, Lauren pursues a rigorous daily schedule.

"I train every day, anywhere between three to six hours, occasionally taking Sundays off," she began in an email. "Whenever I set my mind to something, I never want to stop until that one thing is finished. That's why I love ballet so much because there is no end to it."

The training and hard work and pain began to pay off; when Lauren was 15 years old, she was accepted to attend the American Ballet Theatre's summer intensive program in 2016.

"Nate and I weren't sure what to expect since ballet honestly wasn't ever on our radar," Leighann said.

In order to further their daughter's training and the goal that it could lead to a career in ballet, the Trodahls committed to driving to Seattle.

"At that time, Lauren had her driving permit, and so the commute began," her mother explained. "Six to seven days a week, I would get in the passenger seat and have Lauren drive to Seattle. I told her ‘You might as well start now because once you're 16, you're on your own.'"

Leighann said that on many of those days she was in pain, but she went with her daughter to support her.  At times, she slept in the parking garage while waiting for Lauren to finish her dance practice.

Her sacrifice has not gone unrewarded.

This summer, Lauren will fly to New York City to again attend the American Ballet Theatre summer intensive program.

This is a big step toward realizing a career in ballet, and Lauren's success only heightens her mother's hard work and the words on her father's laminated card.

"Being disabled doesn't have to limit you unless you let it," Leighann concluded. "I have complete confidence (Lauren) will be fine in New York because I have done absolutely everything to prepare (her) for it."

Tough families last.

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