While watching one of the Little League All Star Championship games this weekend, I ran into a Majors Coach from our League who, along with his team of 12 year olds, participated as Buddies at one of Jenelle's Challenger Games earlier this year. When he saw me, he thanked me again for the wonderful opportunity his son had to interact with the special needs kids. I told him that I was thankful to him for the help, but he said, "No, let me tell you how that buddy experience impacted my son's life."
His son is 12 and thus in his last official year of Little League (before going onto juniors, etc.) A friend of theirs is an amature photographer and took photos at each and every one of his son's games this year. A few weeks ago, that friend brought over her photos, and told his son to pick the three he wanted to keep to memorialize his Little League career. His first choice of course was his first home run. His second photo choice, a photo of him pitching. Of course, the two classic things you think of in baseball - home runs and pitching. His last choice? The photo of him pushing Jenelle in her wheelchair around the bases.
The Dad says his son talks about that Challenger game all the time, and how inspired he was by the kids and how they played. Of all the moments in a lifetime of playing baseball, that was one of three he wanted to cherish forever.
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4 comments:
Amazing!
I got teary reading that. It's beautiful that you and Jenelle were able to touch a boy in such a profound way.
Same here. I am so speechless! Changing the world one smile at a time!
Been a few weeks since I checked Jenelle's site - had to comment on avoiding the little girls at the baseball game. I so totally understand - I find myself avoiding gazes, eyes etc at times simply b/c I don't want to have another conversation about what is wrong with Camille. I think because we live it everyday - there are some days when we just don't want to talk about it and there are other days that we're OK with it. Don't beat yourself up!
I'm going to show your last post to my husband. He hasn't wanted to do "baseball" with Camille b/c he doesn't think she will get anything out of it but as your post shows - it's not just about her!
we never know how our kiddos will touch others - no matter what their age. Way to go Jenelle!
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