Superheroes are among us every day, though you may not recognize them.
They do not “leap from tall buildings with a single bound,” fly, smash buildings, or shoot laser beams from their hands (although, admittedly, they might try). They don’t usually wear capes.
Many times they move quietly among us, doing amazing things, but like an invisible person, go unnoticed and unrecognized. This week at Kid’s Creek Therapy we celebrate Superheroes Week…just to recognize these super individuals.
Many superheroes work at Kid’s Creek.
The feats they accomplish are amazing. Guiding a child in taking his or her first steps, helping a little one reach out to touch mom’s face for the first time, encouraging one more try, hearing a child’s first words, cheering a child on as they play with a peer and smile for the first time, comforting a mom who has just learned of her child’s diagnosis, listening to a dad who wants to learn how to play with his child and teaching him how…the list could go on and on.
Over 180 young Superheroes come through our doors each week.
They move our hearts in deep and lasting ways. They seem to have a magical power over us. All they have to do is smile or laugh and they have us under their spell…and there is no other place we would rather be.
We also know some Superhero Sidekicks.
You know every Superhero has to have a Sidekick, right? Around here, they show up in the form of brothers and sisters. Any given week, many Super Sidekicks can be spotted in the waiting room of Kid’s Creek. I’m not sure how many of their parents would say that their super power is patience or waiting, but we know the love these kids have for their siblings is absolutely powerful! I’d like to share a short story of one Superhero Sidekick.
Meet Superhero Ava and her Sidekick little brother, Aaron:
I’ve known Ava since she was two years old; she is now nine. Over the years, Ava has changed so much. She has shown us what perseverance means. She has progressed from a little girl with no words to a playful little girl who can belt out in perfect pitch “Old MacDonald” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” with the best of them.
Sidekick Aaron has grown up watching his big Superhero sister go through quite a lot. Ava has mitochondrial disorder, cerebral palsy and autism. Visits to the hospital are frequent. Watching Big Sister be poked, prodded, and evaluated are a normal routine to this little guy, so it was only fitting that just as we were starting to celebrate Superhero week in 2013 at Kid’s Creek that Aaron decided to take on the role of Superhero for his sister one day, when she was not feeling well. The picture above says it all…
Last but definitely not least, you parents are superheroes, too.
You are Superheroes in our eyes every day! We see your tireless efforts to do everything you can to provide the best for your children. School, doctor’s appointments, therapy appointments, meal planning, house cleaning, job juggling…there is so much more that you do than I can even list. So on the days that you are not feeling so “super,” let us come alongside you and hold you up. Let us help to recharge your x-ray vision, hold up your super stretchy arms, tune up your super hearing, and recharge your super strength. You are amazing!
