A note from Angela LaGreca…

Meredith is off to Atlanta on assignment today, so she asked me to fill in as a "guest blogger."

Meredith and Veronica

If you are a devoted reader of Meredith’s blog, then you know that I’m the producer who works with her to help facilitate her electronic musings (I think some of you have referred to me as "Amanda," but that is Meredith’s assistant, who is currently on maternity leave, and the baby is adorable).

Working with Meredith on her blog is only a small part of my job, but it’s often the most fun part of my day: knocking on Meredith’s door at 9:05 a.m. and then trying to coax a blog out of her (she is a very good writer, but trying to blog on a daily basis when you have a schedule like hers is "ambitious", so I’m there to help keep her on track, and yes, it doesn’t always happen, but certainly not for lack of intention). And since I know Meredith pretty well (I worked with her at The View for 9 years. She said, “Come with me to the TODAY Show.” And here I am, 13 months later) blogging with her is not only fun, it’s usually a laugh riot.

But today, apparently, it’s my turn to jot down some thoughts. And I’m pretty sure that the subject matter is "blog-worthy". It’s the story that aired this morning called "Ballerina Dreams" [watch story here] about how little girls with physical limitations went on to become ballerinas and then perform their version of the Nutcracker. Meredith loves this story as much as I do, and when I told her I was blogging about it for the todayshow.com website, she suggested I post it here as well. So here goes ...

When Jackie Levin, our senior book producer, asked me if I wanted to produce a segment based on a new book called Ballerina Dreams, I jumped at the chance. Sure it was great fun to produce Seinfeld recently, and the cast of Young Frankenstein for our Halloween show, but working on a segment like the ballerina story is what makes me most proud to be a producer here. (It reminded me of the story I produced for Meredith earlier in the year, when she performed as a pediatric clown for a day, cheering up sick children in the hospital. It now runs on a loop in the lobby at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in NYC. Watch story here.)

It wasn’t an easy ride. I was so taken with these little ballerinas and their tireless and enthusiastic instructor and physical therapist Joann Ferrara. I became convinced after meeting them that I could not produce the piece. I knew I cared a lot, probably too much (which is usually a good thing if you are a producer) but as a consequence I was petrified that I wouldn’t do the story justice and so I literally went into hysterical panic (which is NOT a good thing if you are a producer).

Angela LaGreca, Veronica and her mom

I found myself obsessing about the little girls and their situations: Monica who is seven years old, a beautiful girl with cerebral palsy and a shunt, who has had 12 head surgeries in the past year. And yet there she was, performing in rehearsal with a huge smile and wearing a purple tutu because, as her mother told me, "she lives for dance class".

Or what about Peri, a graceful student, who has muscular dystrophy and a tracheotomy? The week before the recital Peri caught pneumonia, and though she didn’t feel well, she kept telling her parents that she would not miss the performance. Not only was Peri at the recital, she insisted on dancing without being hooked up to her trach.

How was I going to properly honor these kids? I, who will complain about a paper cut or the fact that my hip hurts from carrying such a heavy bag? Who was I to try and do justice to this story?

Monica

When I walked into Meredith's office last Monday, the day after shooting the Nutcracker performance, she only had to say, "How did the recital go yesterday?" and I lost it. In all the years I’ve known Meredith, I’m not sure I’ve ever done that in front of her, sobbed like a two year old, not even when my mother passed away six years ago. And yet here I was, out of control and crying, “I can’t do this piece, I’m too close to it!”

Meredith is a sensitive person. She gave me a big hug, and then reminded me of why I was doing this piece. "You have a huge responsibility to these kids. [more panic] Your job is to tell their story. And you can do it. Don’t ever lose your humanity. Tell the story.” I knew she was right, that I had to get out of my head and just do my job.

I left her office and went about the task of screening tapes and trying to write a script. But I was stuck. I have only had severe writers' block maybe two times in my life. And this would be the third. Finally, after sleepless nights, long frustrating days, and a few chats with producers to talk it out, I pulled it together.

Monica and her mom

When I called Veronica’s mother to give her the details for Monday (car pickup, etc.), I told her about my surprise: that we had managed to get Laura Bush to send a video message to Veronica and the girls, congratulating them on the Dancing Dreams program and recital (Veronica had written to the First Lady, inviting her to the Nutcracker). And when I called Monica’s mother to see if they were set to come in for the 10 a.m. segment, she put Monica on the phone to speak with "Goofball". (I had told her at the shoot that I was a "goofball". Of course I was wearing a tutu on my head at the time to make her smile.) I told Monica that I loved her and she said, "I love you" and we hung up the phone. I knew the girls were excited to be on television, and I was happy to have helped to make that happen. When Faith Hill made an effort to say hello to Veronica in the studio, Veronica was beside herself. "My hands are tingling," she said. "I always wanted to meet a famous singer."

Veronica and Faith Hill

I guess what I’m trying to say is that even though most segments take a lot of time to shoot, produce, screen, edit and write (and then air for only 5 minutes), there are some that will stay with you forever. In a world of "disposable journalism" this one will stick. At least for me. When I sit down to Thanksgiving this week, I know I’ll give special thanks for meeting 21 incredibly special girls, their dedicated "helpers", and one committed and selfless instructor/fairy godmother in Joann Ferrara. They all literally restored my faith in humanity, in "goodness", and the belief that with persistence and a dream, anything is possible.

Meredith Vieira, Veronica, Joann Ferrara