#I wish you dwell on my strenght…
…rather than my disability!
Allow me to introduce myself; I’m Spyros, an 8-year-old filled with boundless confidence!
Although my illness has imposed limitations on my mobility, I refused to be disheartened. I got well, albeit now reliant on four wheels. Initially, this adjustment was daunting, strange, and unfamiliar. How could I come to terms with the reality that standing might no longer be an option? Fortunately, with the unwavering support of my parents, we collectively made a decision. Wheels are meant for movement, for running — not for standing still. Hence, we resolved that we COULD GO EVERYWHERE with our wheels.
At school, my friends always look out for me and shower me with love. Do you know why? Because we constitute an awesome and tightly-knit group that shares laughter in both easy and challenging times, overcoming any obstacle that attempts to cast a shadow. My mother expressed concerns about my participation in gym class. One day, puzzled, she asked me: “Spiro, what do you do in gym class?” It then struck me that I hadn’t mentioned that I play soccer just like every other child—whether as a goalie, defender, or striker, depending on the team’s needs. When she learned of this, she was deeply moved.
My courageous mother crafted a poignant metaphor for my disability, fearlessly presenting it in front of hundreds of teachers and students nationwide during this year’s WishStar awards, the official launch of the WishStar Programme for the 2023-2024 school year, organized by Make-A-Wish Greece.
In her metaphor, I am the boat and the school is the ocean. Allow my mother to articulate it more eloquently:
“All of you here, your families, your children, the teachers in the schools, you are the ocean. You are the ones who can regulate the sea, calm it down, so that our boats are not in danger from you!”
She was referring to the importance of accepting and including children like me who, due to illness, have encountered what it means to be “different” from their peers. Just as the ocean regulates the sea to ensure the boats’ safety, accepting our differences ensures that people around us won’t feel burdened by circumstances beyond their control. They’ll be happier, carefree, and EMPOWERED!
Now, let’s discuss my wish. Thanks to the enchanting room that my fairy created for me, I can indulge in both basketball AND soccer. My wish was for a room, complete with furniture and a basketball court, tailored to my disability. This wish has transformed me into a proficient player in both sports, granting me direct access to all my shelves and cabinets.
Along my journey with a disability, the granting of my wish has provided me with strength, confidence, and a more accessible daily life.
