During a parent-teacher meeting at my sons’ school, I shared a powerful story about my son that has had a profound impact on his life and is bound to evoke strong emotions from myself, as well as other parents and students present. Unlike typical fourteen-year-old boys, Jake faced challenges resulting from a disorder affecting his understanding, communication skills, and physical capabilities.
On a Christmas evening, I took him for a walk in the snow where we came across an ice baseball tournament in a large open field. Jake became interested in joining after seeing other boys playing. Despite knowing that our team, The Rosewood Team, was determined to win and might not be accepting of Jake joining, I couldn’t ignore his hopeful expression and decided to take a chance.
I asked the captain of the team if Jake could play with them. The captain said they would try to put him in last. I was happy and surprised by this. I made Jake wear his jersey and he waited patiently. When Jake finally had to go on, Rosewood was losing by two points. Despite knowing they would likely lose the game if Jake played, they still encouraged him to do his best. The pitcher noticed that Jake was struggling and adjusted their throw to make it easier. Unfortunately, Jake still missed the ball.
Once again, he walked ahead to throw the ball, this time with diminished force. However, Jake swung the bat prematurely. Realizing that his teammate needed assistance, the catcher also decided to lend a hand. On the third attempt, Jake successfully made contact with the ball. His teammates erupted in cheers, urging him to run towards first base. Without delay, Jake followed their instructions and sprinted towards second base instead. The opposing team caught the ball, but made the remarkable choice to withhold throwing it, allowing Jake to achieve a home run.
Jake was sprinting towards fourth base, thrilling the crowd. It was his first and last homerun, and the joy displayed on his face was truly invaluable. With a wide grin, he had undoubtedly made his mother proud. Sadly, Jake passed away a few months later. However, I believe that this fleeting memory of his fourteen-year life was the most cherished. As I concluded narrating this tale, tears welled up in the eyes of all those who were there. That day was truly a miraculous Christmas moment.
