WINNIPEG — The weekend 17-year-old Brooklyn Vanreede has been waiting for is finally here.
“She wakes up first things in the morning to a Garth Brooks playlist. Which she won’t get out of bed unless it’s playing,” said Brooklyn’s mom, Tammy Wasylowski.
Garth Brooks is in town for a four concert tour with up to 60, 000 fans piling in to the MTS Centre and Brooklyn along with her mom, grandmother, and friends will be among the crowd thanks to the six tickets they won on air with 680 CJOB last month.
READ MORE: Music gives Winnipeg teen living with down syndrome a way to express herself
Wasylowski said she was determined to give her daughter the world after all that she has gone through and lives through on a daily basis. For her daughter that means a chance to see Garth Brooks.
Brooklyn lives with down syndrome and has survived cancer. Music has helped her through some developmental delays and Garth Brooks’ tunes often top the list.
“Brooklyn uses music as a tool for the things that you and I take for granted. The ability to communicate, introduce yourself to someone, this is a struggle for Brooklyn,” said Wasylowski.
Her passion for Garth Brooks is fueled by a neurological music therapy program that has contributed to her speech and communication development.
She’s able to learn how to order food at a restaurant, speak to friends, tell you how she’s feeling all through her interaction with music. Making her weekend filled with not one, but three Garth Brooks’ concerts much more special.