A child without disabilities writes of why he has been enriched since befriending a little boy with muscular dystrophy.
Jose' Varques is my name, and I am 10 years old. I have been so lucky, especially since I have met my best friend, Johnny Sandusky.
Johnny Sandusky may not look like all that much (small for age, white-blonde hair, blue eyes behind thick glasses), plus he is in a wheelchair; but he is everything to me. He is my very best friend, and I have been taught so much about disabled people, thanks to him.
He has taught me acceptance of others (especially if they are disabled), tolerance, patience, and love. He has taught me what it means to live with a disability each and every day (even though I am not disabled, I have seen firsthand just what he must go through just to do just about anything), and I realize just how fortunate I am. I don't have to worry about sitting in a wheelchair day in and day out, or worrying about muscles that are weak or don't work right, or worry about how long I am going to live or when I am going to die. But Johnny does, and it is because of this that he is a better (and stronger) person. He knows he is disabled, but he still goes on the best way he possibly can, and he tries to smile, even though he may be crying or sad inside. He tries to do things for himself, and if he needs help, he will ask for it; but he mostly tries to do things on his own. He also does a lot of writing, and this has helped him to open up and to be able to express feelings he wasn't able to before; and he enjoys school now.
But I don't get to see him at school anymore because he goes to an entirely different school, and he goes to a school for seriously disabled kids or kids who need a lot of extra help. But I do see him after school or on the weekends; and if we can, we are usually always together if his family isn't going somewhere or if he isn't sick or in the hospital.
Because of my friendship with Johnny, I have a greater understanding of what it is like to be disabled, and I have grown to admire the disabled because they have to go through so much every day of their lives; and their lives are markedly different than mine; but yet on the inside, they are a lot like me, only they happen to have special problems that affect their daily lives in different ways. They are just like me, but yet, in a different way, we are NOT alike. But the "alikes" far outweigh the "not alikes"! And that is what is so neat with people like Johnny.
I really have never had a problem with disabled people, but I really didn't understand them until I met Johnny and his family; and I am a lot better off in knowing them. If only more people could just take the time and get to know a disabled person instead of focusing on their disabilities or what they CAN'T do, then they would be a lot better off; and their would be less teasing and hating in the world. That's all it takes. Just take the time to get to know a disabled person, and you will probably find a friend in waiting, possibly the best friend you'll ever have in your life! :)
(((karen))) well written, heartwarming story...if all of us could take lessons from jose, we'd all be much better off! well done! (((HUGS))) and love, karla. :)
Edie Batstone's first book of colourful picture poems invites us to jump into a child's world of wonder and possibility, just as a child jumps into a puddle - knowing only that it seems like a good idea at the time! Join her on this journey of disco
Jose' Varques is my name, and I am 10 years old. I have been so lucky, especially since I have met my best friend, Johnny Sandusky.
