The Day Lily Touched A Strangers Heart
Sometimes during this unique journey of having children with a disabilities, we feel alone or think others don't understand our experience. Sometimes though we are gently reminded that we aren't alone.
As we were sitting in the shade at a picnic table under the stands at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track this past May inhaling Jug's fried chicken and biscuits during a Indy car practice session for the Indy 500, an older gentleman on his way to the upper level of the fancy suites stopped to say hi to our daughter Lily who has Down syndrome and autism. Lily was a few feet back from us sitting in her wheelchair playing on her iPad while covering her ears with a hand and an her opposite shoulder avoiding eye contact and ignoring everyone. Because she's often like this, it's rare for people to interact with her.
Moving over to them, I prompted Lily to say hi. She looked up at the man (who looked a little like her Grumpa) and softly said hi and then held out her hand for the man to hold. He first grasped her hand lightly and then offered up a fist bump. Lily decided she'd do a high five instead and this made the older gentleman smile. Then he leaned over to me and said with a strong catch in his voice, "Our daughter was just like her." He then quickly turned away and headed over to the elevator up his suite to watch some race cars.
As we were sitting in the shade at a picnic table under the stands at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track this past May inhaling Jug's fried chicken and biscuits during a Indy car practice session for the Indy 500, an older gentleman on his way to the upper level of the fancy suites stopped to say hi to our daughter Lily who has Down syndrome and autism. Lily was a few feet back from us sitting in her wheelchair playing on her iPad while covering her ears with a hand and an her opposite shoulder avoiding eye contact and ignoring everyone. Because she's often like this, it's rare for people to interact with her.
Moving over to them, I prompted Lily to say hi. She looked up at the man (who looked a little like her Grumpa) and softly said hi and then held out her hand for the man to hold. He first grasped her hand lightly and then offered up a fist bump. Lily decided she'd do a high five instead and this made the older gentleman smile. Then he leaned over to me and said with a strong catch in his voice, "Our daughter was just like her." He then quickly turned away and headed over to the elevator up his suite to watch some race cars.
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