EDINA, Minn — As the Edina Marching Band prepares for its last big halftime show of the regular season this week, 17-year-old Oskar Kelly and his family have been busy soaking up an incredible, and emotional, year.
"He loves it," said Maddie Kelly, who watched and cheered as she watched her brother, in full uniform, being pushed in his wheelchair so that he could play tambourine during this year's homecoming parade. "You can tell! He went by in the parade and he was laughing, the whole time."
Those joyful reactions are precious to Oskar's family, because they are his primary way of communicating and haven't always been present as he's navigated a difficult road throughout his life.
"He has a very rare chromosomal deletion," said Oskar's mom, Blake Kelly. "He was diagnosed when he was 18 months old. He has seizure disorder, he can't walk and he's non-verbal."
Despite her son's physical disability, Blake says Oskar always responded to music. Thankfully, she says the staff at Edina Public Schools have always been willing to embrace that.
"He started band when he was in fifth grade," Blake said. "Everybody picks an instrument and he was a percussionist. My daughter, who was three years older, was in marching band, and we used to go to their performances and I just saw his face light up."
Once he reached marching age last year, band director Paul Kile gave Oscar the chance to march along with the band during the homecoming parade.
Blake and a team of caregivers went to work, figuring out a way for him to play the tambourine while a band member pushed him with the drumline.
"It was terrific," Paul Kile said. "His enthusiasm lifts everybody up."
It was such a success that this year the band invited Oskar back, to march in the parade and to join them during halftime performances.
"I think a fun part about band is we have so many different people," said Celeste Eckstein, a percussionist who marches next to Oskar. "It's a really inclusive community and it's a super huge group, so it's fun to get to know a lot of different people and it's been super fun to march with Oskar. It's a great experience."
Director Kile says the biggest challenge is making sure Oskar can keep up, which is why they called in a pro this year.
"My youngest daughter was just hired in the district as a special-ed teacher and I asked if she'd be interested in helping with Oskar and she's like, 'Absolutely,'" he said.
As a former band member herself, Jackie Kile doesn't just make sure Oskar stays in line during parades. When the lights are brightest, she also helps him shine on the field.
"When we write the drill, working in someone who's in a wheelchair takes up a little bit more space," Director Kile said. "(Jackie) has the knowledge and knows how to go out on the field and do the drill."
It's not always easy to pull off, but anyone watching this season could see it was always a heartwarming sight, and smile, to behold.
"I never would have imagined that he could do a lot of the same things that I was doing when I went to Edina," Maddie Kelly said. "It makes all of us proud, and it makes people proud to be part of the band."
It also makes for some pretty proud parents. After seeing videos of his son's debut last year, Albert Kelly flew in from California to witness it for himself this year.
"I want to make sure I capture every scene," he said. "It's so good to see him so happy. Just a huge smile on his face. It's also amazing to see him so accepted by his peers."
For Blake Kelly, it's a feeling that even she can't quite express with words alone.
"I'm just like running, chasing him... yeah, it makes me so happy," she said. "I'm so proud. Like, is his smile bigger or mine? It's like... one of my favorite days of the year. It's amazing."
Oskar will play his last halftime show with the band during Edina's final home football game on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m.
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