Winter is and was the most beautiful creature God put on this earth. As a teacher, I try to keep her memory and inspiration alive. Winter and I share have shared a parallel life. First, we share the same birthday...October 10th. Second, we both were diagnosed with scoliosis...mine is severe. When I was growing up I had to wear a milwaukee back brace for 6 years, sometimes for at least 23 hours per day. I had two different back braces. The second brace resembled one of Winter's first tails. It was white plastic with metal. The plastic was around my hips and the a long metal piece from my hips to my neck which attached to a metal piece around my neck. Third, I named our son Nicholas in 2002 (there is a dolphin at clearwater named Nicholas). He was rescued along with his mom from Gibsonton, Florida. I had a chihuahua who's name was Gibson and passed away at the age of 16...like Winter. When I was 16 years old, I no longer had to wear the brace. I still have scoliosis and I understand what Winter was going through with hers. My organs moved and adjusted to the curve. Growing up, I had to deal with the states and the questions...even today some ask why does my back look like it does. Winter and I both had to and needed to do things in certain ways to live/survive. I always felt that there was a spirit or angelic force pushing me onward and I believe that was the same for Winter.
Sharon
I💜Winter
If you want to contact me, my email is s.tcarter@yahoo.com
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She is and was the most beautiful creature that God placed on this earth. She will be tremendously missed. As a teacher, I have been keeping her memory and inspiration alive. Winter and I share a parallel life. First, we share the same birthday. Second, we both were diagnosed with scoliosis...mine is severe. I was diagnosed at the age of nine and had to wear a milwaukee back brace for 6 years, sometimes 23 hours a day. I had two braces created. My second brace resembled one of Winter's first braces. It was white plastic and metal. Plastic around my hips and a metal piece extending to my neck with a metal piece around my neck. Third, I named our son Nicholas ( there is a dolphin at clearwater named Nicholas). This dolphin happened to be rescued with his mom in the town of Gibsonton, Florida. I had a chihuahua who's name was Gibson who also lived for 16 years (like Winter). Also when I was 16 years old, I was allowed to stop wearing my brace. I still have scoliosis today. I understand what Winter had to and needed to do to live/survive. My organs, like Winters, have adjusted for the curve in my spine. I had to deal with the stares and the questions but there always seemed to be something, a spirit or angelic force pushing me onwards...like that with Winter.
If anyone would like to contact me... my name is Sharon and can be reached at s.tcarter@yahoo.com
I 💜 Winter
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I was heartbroken when I heard the news of Winter's passing. My deep condolences to the marine life and people who stood by Winter for the last 16 yrs of her life! I will forever be inspired and touched by her story. R.I.P Winter you will forever be missed by many ❤
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2020, Clearwater Marine Aquarium
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I’ve followed Winter from the day she was found I’m glad I got to her in August for my birthday I learned to keep going to be resilient and strong even in adversity I will never forget u Winter you touched people all over the world we love u u will never be forgotten 🙏♥️❤️🦋🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬
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You are a beautiful soul Winter and you will forever be apart of my heart and soul. You have changed the lives of so many. I am so greatful for that. I will miss you Winter. Rest in paradise baby. 🙏💕🐬
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As I may have never got to see and meet you in person Winter I still have a big place in my heart for you I watched Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2 and it brought tears to my eyes watching what you went through. It's my favorite movie and I never stop watching it. One of my favorite animals are Dolphins. You are surely missed and loved by many Winter ❣️
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Each of our four grandchildren loved Winter, but Alyson probably loved her the most. I made a book similar to this for each of our grandchildren in 2011. We hope you enjoy this story about Winter (it's best to view it "Full Screen"). Also it is our intent to "share" this, NOT to "sell" it :
https://www.shutterfly.com/sh…
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I got to see winter in 2012 I have stage 4 cancer and I wanted so much to get into the water with her but I was afraid to ask. She inspired me so very much. I have loved dolphins since I was a little girl. I have wanted so much.to be able to inact and play with them before I am.no longer able to. They are my passion. I have always wanted to work in a marine rescue like there in Clearwater and if ever I have a chance it would be there. Winter has given me the courage to want to be the person I want to be. To help.with rescue and save dolphins and marine animals.i want to to be a big part.of the life while I still can. Winter was and always will be my hope of one day being able to live my dream. I will miss her so much. I wanted so much to swim with her, we both I guess you can say, has disabilities. That is my wish. To swim with the rest of the dolphins now, hope, pj, Nicholas, and the new ones. I hope one day my wish will come true. Thank you. Mona Rutherford, my number 614 804 2195, email, scoobymona08@gmail.com
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My wife and I were in Disney World for two weeks in April 2021. We had never been to the CMA and decided that we needed to go and see Winter. We are big fans of the movies and her story has always touched our hearts. We are so glad and grateful we did that and was able to see her before her passing. It was an honor to meet her and say hello, well done! The lives she touched was incredible! And the work that we saw the CMA staff does is remarkable! Winter will always be in our hearts and we will never forget her!
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good evening everyone I saw Winter 1 and 2 and her story touches me a lot I cry every time I look at her story with her tail and hopefully I will miss her a lot and all my condolences to the Clearwater team on top of that you do good work continue to save wild animals
Well done !
best regards stessy lapotre and winter's best friends
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One my fondest memories of visiting Clearwater Aquarium was the weekend after 2-26-21 when my Mom&I were visiting as part of what we were doing for my late Birthday celebration&we went to Winter's underwater viewing window&winter was@the other side of her pool when guests walked away however when I walked up she all of sudden was right up@the window&stayed a good minute before going to the surface,Several years before that when she was in her first pool&I had visited she had made her famous tweetybird sound@me.
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Winter was a gift from God and that she'll be returned to sea makes me smile and cry at the same time. In first place it was only crying over her loss but slowly the feeling of being grateful is getting stronger. We all miss her so dearly words cannot describe...
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I am so sad to hear of your passing but you made such an impression on so many, sweet Winter. You showed the world that a disability cannot stop one from living a good life. I am fortunate to have seen you in person. Rest peacefully as you return home to sea. You were so loved.
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