Magic of Believing

The word handicapped just sounds like it has so much limit to it.

“I know anything’s possible” says 12 yr old Nick Santanastasso.  And he’s proof of the fact.  He can play baseball and football, do a headstand on his skateboard, play the keyboard and drums, type on a computer, help in the kitchen and play video games with his siblings.

So?  Lots of 12 yr olds can do all that you say.  True.  But Nick was born with Hanhart Syndrome TypeII, a rare genetic disorder shared with only 11 other people. That means he has no legs . . . only one arm . . . and only one finger.

My parents just keep encouraging me to do stuff — like, don’t give up and keep trying. If you fall down, get back up.

Everyday tasks are a bit harder for Nick, but according to his family, there’s nothing he can’t do, whether it’s on the baseball diamond or the football field, where he emulates his favorite player, Tiki Barber, former star running back of the New York Giants. The secret of his success?  His parents didn’t treat him any differently than any of their other children. And even with that said, his parents are still impressed with just how normal their son is.

“We’re supposed to be heroes to our children, but Nick is a hero to us.  He’s proved to be a real trouper, and our hero.”

He’s also Tiki Barber’s hero.  On Nick’s last birthday, Barber himself presented Nick with a brand new skateboard.  The inscription read, “Nick, you’re an inspiration”.

Did I say he even helps in the kitchen?  How many of OUR kids help in the kitchen??  How many of US wake up with the love for life that Nick does??  The answer is................ not enough, unfortunately. Our excuses? I’m too poor. I’m too overweight. I’m not pretty enough. I’m not smart enough. Oh that stuff happens to OTHER people, but never for me.  Unlike us, Nick has REAL excuses ­ if he wanted to use them. Hmmm. I can’t play baseball because.......

I HAVE NO LEGS AND ONLY ONE ARM AND ONE FINGER!!

Kinda puts our silly excuses into perspective, doesn’t it?  Nick is teaching us that we should get off our unmotivated behinds and DO SOMETHING!! Take action!!  If he can do it, surely we can too. 

Nick just recently won another achievement.  He will spend his upcoming 13th birthday at the NewJersey governor’s mansion being honored for a poster he drew in a statewide competition intended topromote family values.  Chosen from more than 100 finalists, Nick’s drawing shows a tree with roots spelling out a word underneath.  The word?

Love.

The one simple word that makes everything possible.  Love of family.  Love of life.  Love in the belief that anything’s possible. Because as young Nick has proven to all of us, it really is true.

If you can believe, then all things are possible.