[/caption]About a month ago, the Make-A-Wish volunteer coordinator asked if I might like to work on a wish. I had taken a hiatus during Ellie's surgeries, chemotherapy and pregnancy. I was truly honored that she asked me because there is an overflow of volunteers in Madison. I requested that I be able to be bring Lotta with me to make it easier on Thom (and Lotta and ME since the "kitchen" starts to overflow if Lotta does not eat in awhile.) It was agreed that this would be an acceptable solution.
The little girl whose wish is being granted has a heart condition and is deaf and has difficulty walking, particularly long distances. Her mom told us that she is always concerned if she gets something that she wants to make sure her older sister gets the same thing. For example, when she goes to the hospital, she always gets a sticker for her sister too. So when they started talking about her Make-A-Wish trip, the little girl was concerned that her sister would also get something special. As we were leaving our meeting, the father of the family asked if he could help me carry some of my things. He grabbed my leftovers and was about to take my backpack when the little girl grabbed it from him and put it on her back. She was determined to help me carry something and would not take "no" for an answer. Here was a girl struggling to walk and she just had to help me carry this back pack. I made sure to go straight to the car because it didn't seem right to linger with this child weighted down with all my stuff (if you know me you know I don't believe in underpacking, ever.) I mean the bag was practically bigger than her!
Sometimes I wonder what it is like to live in a body where the struggles are so great. I have often wondered as of late how it feels for Ellie to wake up and suddenly be leaning to the left or right. For drool to be pouring out of her mouth. To have convulsions so severe that it interrupts her ability to complete a task. In reality it is wonderous that either Ellie or the Make-A-Wish child are actually alive at this point. And the thing that completely amazes me is that neither one of these girls seem to be particularly bothered or hindered by what would be viewed by others as a "lack". Both girls have such compassion and joy and love for those around them. It is as if only part of them lives in this diminsion. Perhaps the other part resides in a blissful place which they somehow find a way to share with the rest of us, if we let them. How utterly fortunate I am to have had the opportunity to experience such greatness hidden in the disguise of a "broken body".
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