We were having our once a week hot dog indulgence at Costco one day when I noticed this pigeon. You know I'm not a great fan of pigeons, but this fellow caught my eye.
He was hopping around on one foot. Every so often a mangled or badly formed foot would unfold and then retract quickly if the bird lost his balance.
I admired how he was able to move and could see that he was pretty healthy.
It reminded me of our nephew, Shawn who was blind from birth with retinoblastoma. Both of his eyes had to be removed when he was five weeks old. It was devastating for all of us, but he never let it be an excuse for not trying his best.
His parents helped him to learn Braille and get to where he wanted to go on the bus. Shawn developed a love for music very early and was discovered by a Hawaiian artist named Henry Kapono. Shawn eventually had four CDs put out. It was a thrill to hear him on the radio. Life wasn't easy for him. There were struggles. However, he is now very happily married, can cook and still plays music professionally.
My brother, Dennis and sister-in-law, Nancy did their best to make sure their son would be able to live independently. I'm so happy for all of them.
I have seen quite a few children who were able to overcome the challenges that life handed them and marvel at their resolve. Is it something that is just within their own hearts that they're able to do this? Is it the adversity that creates the strength for them to push past the barriers to their happiness? Is it the type of nurturing and instruction they are given?
I was just wondering as I looked at that pigeon hopping along so expertly.
He was hopping around on one foot. Every so often a mangled or badly formed foot would unfold and then retract quickly if the bird lost his balance.
I admired how he was able to move and could see that he was pretty healthy.
It reminded me of our nephew, Shawn who was blind from birth with retinoblastoma. Both of his eyes had to be removed when he was five weeks old. It was devastating for all of us, but he never let it be an excuse for not trying his best.
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| Tiffany and Jonathan with their cousins, Shawn and Barry |
His parents helped him to learn Braille and get to where he wanted to go on the bus. Shawn developed a love for music very early and was discovered by a Hawaiian artist named Henry Kapono. Shawn eventually had four CDs put out. It was a thrill to hear him on the radio. Life wasn't easy for him. There were struggles. However, he is now very happily married, can cook and still plays music professionally.
My brother, Dennis and sister-in-law, Nancy did their best to make sure their son would be able to live independently. I'm so happy for all of them.
I have seen quite a few children who were able to overcome the challenges that life handed them and marvel at their resolve. Is it something that is just within their own hearts that they're able to do this? Is it the adversity that creates the strength for them to push past the barriers to their happiness? Is it the type of nurturing and instruction they are given?
I was just wondering as I looked at that pigeon hopping along so expertly.
With humans some can survive well without nurturing, but I think a key component is how those who surround the child handle the situation...keep that delicate balance between helping and holding back.
ReplyDeleteHaving been a special education teacher for 33 years, I have seen both the awesome resilience and the tragic fragility of the human spirit. My hat is always off to those families who provide support and tend to the inner spark until it glows on its own.
ReplyDeleteBravo Shawn!
ReplyDeleteThis is a touching post Kay, one that I can relate to! My 17 year old son has a learning disability and I wonder all the time how he will fare in life, mostly job-wise.
ReplyDeleteLife is hard for those who cannot see or hear, but then I think of Helen Keller, who could do neither, and she overcame every obstacle. Thank you for introducing me to this very special person, Kay. I'm glad he's happy and has had the support he needed growing up. :-)
ReplyDeleteit's interesting to see how one can flourish while another gives up before the challenge is even started. i'm so proud of Shawn for his accomplishments. he's special indeed. and i think his parents are definitely an inspiration for Shawn... that pigeon seems to be strutting for you. you captured it's character quite well. have a great day~
ReplyDeleteNaquillity, Regarding "strutting" which I could also describe as getting your message out there and not being a shrinking violet: As a teacher, I had three students with cerebral palsy. This disability has many symptoms. Some can walk but not talk. Some can talk but not walk. It takes different forms in different people. Anyway, my point is that all three had outstanding personalities and connected directly with people. For example, one girl in a wheelchair saw me on a snowy day on campus in Ohio and said, "Hey, it's snowing, are you going to push me across campus or not?" Naturally, I helped her. Another was not so verbal, but he was an artist. Instead of writing term papers, I said he could paint his understanding of American literature. The results were brilliant and showed a total understanding of the course. The third "ran the school" with his efvervescent personality and has recently taken up acting in Honolulu. Very inspiring.
Deleteadversity of some kind comes to all and can strength us if we don't allow it to defeat us. Courage to go forward motivates and blesses those with weaknesses which is all of us...
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story of using what you are given. I think it is all of the above when success trumps challenges. He is so lucky to have had such a supportive family.
ReplyDeleteI think your title says it, Kay.....people find an inner strength that helps them deal with such adversity. Your brother and his family have a lot to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful, celebratory story!
ReplyDeleteShawn's story is very inspiring
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing person Shawn is. He proves that it is not our circumstances, but our choices that determine our character.
ReplyDeleteSuch an inspiring story and what an amazing young man, Shawn is!! Thank you for sharing this, Kay!! It's a wonderful reminder for me of how much me and my family have to be thankful for!! My best to all of you!
ReplyDeleteWonderful story. How fortunate that Shawn had such loving supportive parents. However, I believe that inner strength which comes from .... is the major reason individuals with problems persevere and overcome life's obstacles. Good for Shawn. A truly gifted boy who found his calling. Dianne
ReplyDeletePS sometimes the help comes from a teacher....why I love teachers.
I think it takes a combination of things for a boy like Shawn, but the first thing has to be strong parental support, which nurtures his own inner strength. Then healthcare and educational personnel can help. Shawn is definitely a success story, as I've seen other times when you wrote about him.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd say the pigeon is, too, even without a support system! I saw a one-legged pigeon in the Venice train station, and he had the corner with benches across from the entrance all staked out as his territory. More than once I saw him chase other pigeons away!
The pigeon in your photo has the additional advantage of being pretty, which must help in its dealings with people and food.
K
Inner strength and outter support. My neice is deaf since six months of age. She now is 45. She worked hard; the family supported her. She had her first traffic ticket at age 18, and stood in the median of an interstate highway with her back to the state highway patrolman until he produced an officer who could sign. She was let off with a warning.
ReplyDeleteThis should be a guest column in Midweek or the SB!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the good energy you always broadcast
ALOHA from Honolulu - side
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° > <3
What a wonderful post! I love it.
ReplyDeleteHope all handicapped people experience love and happiness.
I'm pretty sure Shawn played in the band at my niece Stacy's wedding around fifteen years ago or so. It was pretty amazing. The other musicians were older and therefore more experienced than he, yet he was the anchor man. He was very, very good. Stacy is Hawaiian and Shawn had a good grasp of the Hawaiian song book, the standards that are a must here in Hawaii. I recall he played the guitar by laying it flat on his lap. I have a hunch we'll be hearing more about him in the future. I'm glad his personal life is working out. It's gotta be the same Shawn.
ReplyDeleteThat had to have been Shawn, Hank. He used to go by the moniker that Henry Kapono gave him, B.B. Shawn. Shawn no longer goes by that and just uses his real name. Shawn will be so touched that you remembered him. I called my brother to tell him to read your comment. He and Nancy will be so pleased that you remembered their son.
DeleteRight, he was billed as B. B. Shawn. The bride was Stacy Ferreira. Her mother was Melva Ferreira, who became a good family friend. It was a very good day. Come to think of it, it may have been the first-year birthday luau party for Stacy's daughter. I do remember that Shawn played with the guitar on bis lap, but not exactly like an electric guitar, and he seemed so comfortable with the instrument.
DeleteHe really is an amazing musician. He's also very adept with the ukulele and drums which he enjoys a lot.
DeleteBy the way, Hank, you remember this from 15 years ago? Wow!!! I can't remember what I did 15 days ago. You are amazing!!!
DeleteAunty Kay -- Please lead us to Mr. Shawn's CDs; we'd love to hear the music from such a good-hearted, strong soul!
ReplyDeleteNow maybe THAT particular pigeon wouldn't mess around your house if you adopted him...
DrumMajor
I don't think his CDs are out in the market still. It was a while ago. He's now moved to California.
DeleteJust a great story.
ReplyDeletethat is so inspirational;!!! thank you for this uplifting post!
ReplyDeleteShawn is a great role model. I also think his Mom and Dad must be fantastic parents too.
ReplyDeleteThey really are. My sister-in-law stressed out her fingers and wrists from Brailling everything for him.
DeleteI do love that photo of the cousins! Even at that age, Shawn seems to get the most out of life. Not everyone is able to overcome obstacles in their lives, but it is so heartwarming to hear about those who do.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed your nephew playing at various venues and took notice of a handicapped not Hawaiian young man playing and singing Hawaiian songs so expertly. When you first mentioned he was your very own nephew...what a surprise!! You must be so proud of him and your brother's family.
ReplyDeleteL...w
He was playing in Waikiki quite a bit before he moved to the mainland. It was always fun to go and watch him. It always amazed me how he had all those Hawaiian songs memorized.
DeleteLovely post...I think the way we are raised is important, but there is also something internal that comes from within and I have seen it as a teacher.. Not everyone has it..Michelle
ReplyDeleteNo. I believe it is an inner strength they are born with. What a happy looking child.
ReplyDeleteSmall correction Kay. Shawn was only 5 weeks old when they removed his eyes. Bilateral Retinoblastoma was quite rare back then (35 yrs ago)to the point that the doctors told Dennis and me to "not get attached, because he'll be dead before he's 2).
ReplyDeleteI agree that along with family support, inner strength had a lot to do with his survival.
He was always such a happy inquisitive child. I truly believe that God only gives us as much as we can endure and I thank him every day for the beautiful blessings of all three of our boys.
Thanks Kay for the great post and thanks to your readers for actually remembering his days of performing.
PS. Being the record label, I actually have his CD's that were under me. Others might be found through John Valentine.
Thanks, Nancy! I just made the correction on the spelling of retinoblastoma and the time table. Wow! Shawn was only five weeks old. I still marvel at all you and Dennis went through. It makes the happiness Shawn has now found that much more wonderful.
ReplyDelete