Article #3 in the ESL Student Life Stories Project, by Sebastian from Colombia, age 17.
I didn’t understand what was going on. There were tears in my mother’s eyes and my brother looked so sad.
I was in my room, a very dark and cold room, standing between my bed and my brother’s blue crib. The only sound was coming from our giant grandfather clock: tick, tock… tick, tock…
I only was ten years old when I realized that in my country of Colombia, everyone faces different sadnesses. I was born in Bogota where l spent beautiful moments. But I will never forget the day when everything changed.
It was a chilly day, and my father was not at home. I had been playing with my newborn brother all afternoon, but I knew something strange was happening because my mother had been very quiet all day, crying silently.
As I tried to play with my brother, I noticed that he was just lying there on the sheets. His eyes were closed and there was no movement in his body. At first I was confused and did not want to ask anything. But after a while, I finally decided to ask my mother what was going on.
My mother avoided my eyes, her mouth closed. She didn’t want to tell me anything. I felt terrible because I knew that something really bad was happening to my brother.
Then all of a sudden, my mother broke the silence. She cried out, “Your brother is not like the other children! He is… special!”
I looked at my mother with her curly black hair, sitting there next to the crib in her white pajamas, rolling her rosary beads through her hands, and I felt confused. What did she mean by “special”?
My mother gazed at me, took a breath, then said: “Your brother has Cerebral Palsy!”
Then she started to cry again.
At that moment I didn’t know what to say. It was painful. The room returned to a deep silence and the sound of the clock echoed: tick… tock.
Slowly, I thought to myself: Now it all makes sense. My mother’s tears… the immobility of my brother… my father’s sadness… Finally I knew where the sadness came from.
Then I thought that everything would be very different from how it was before. Just a few moments earlier, I was so excited about having a brother: someone who I could play with and talk to! But at that moment I realized that such a life would not be possible.
My heart sank even further when my mother told me the doctor’s words: “He will never be able to walk or speak.”
We were all heartbroken then, but now, at the age of seventeen, I know that it is amazing to have a “special” brother. I also know that bad predictions don’t have to come true.
Despite the doctor’s dire predictions, with the help of my family’s cariño or love, now my brother CAN walk, ride a bike, and even ride a horse!
Also, though he can’t speak as fluently as you or me, my brother can now communicate with us in his own way. Every day, he is improving himself.
My brother has taught me how we can face life in a different way. He never thinks he CAN’T do things others can do. He always figures out how to solve the problems that arise and never allows himself to be left behind.
Here’s an example. Last year at Christmas, my parents, brother, and I were at a shopping center in Bogota, eating dinner at Unicentro. When we finished eating, my mother left her bag on the table and my parents and I walked away, not remembering the purse. But my brother was paying attention to everything! When my mother left the table, my brother started laughing because she had left the bag. When my mother realized what she had done, she smiled and rescued her purse. My brother was a hero on that day… and on many other days, too!
My brother has faced the handicaps from his illness by improving his other skills, like memory. He is always looking for a way forward instead of worrying about what holds him back. This is what makes him “special,” and this is what makes him an inspiration to me.
Every day when l wake up, I feel happy because l learn new things with my brother. Would you not feel the same?
Lillie’s Note: Please, please leave a comment for Sebastian on his moving article, stating your geographical location!
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Robbie says
February 11, 2014 at 11:59 amVery powerful & beautifully written. I’m in Idaho, USA.
zamir says
November 16, 2010 at 7:53 amThis is a very well written article. I like the article because the article is very moving.
Laura Mejia says
October 26, 2010 at 8:18 pmSebastian me parece esta historia tan hermosa. Yo tambien tengo una amiga que es especial, y yo la quiero mucho. La conosco desde los 12 anos y ya tiene 19. Ella me inspira demasiado y nos ensena mucho de todos de la comunidad latina.
Laura Mejia, Boston, MA
Deborah Hiwot says
October 19, 2010 at 5:54 pmThis was a very inspiring story. I love the way Sebastian wrote it with powefulness, and I think it teaches us that no matter what you are dealing with you can always reach your goals. Just like Sebastians brother can go horse riding, ride a bike, and walk I also learned that it may take take time but you’ll get their.
Marian, Nohora y luis fe says
August 5, 2010 at 7:46 pmHola mi querido Sebastian…Te Felicito por tu escrito , refleja la realidad de lo que todos vivimos . Sabemos del significado que tiene este acontesimiento en tu vida y compartimos con alegria que tu hermano sea tu inspiración . Cuando hablas de tu hermano como un ejemplo , sà que es un gran ejemplo para todos .El nos ha dado una gran lección de vida y nos ha demostrado que es tan talentoso y capacitado para hacer cosas maravillosas.. En nuestra casa David representa el amor , la ternura ,la inosencia y la pilera de un niño feliz .. Con el cuello de sancocho de chocolate más rico que he podido oler y besar…Exitos en todo lo que hagas ….. Tu tambien eres nuestro ejemplo Abrazo
Nohora
Felicitaciones te envian Mariana y Luis Felipe….
Mario Barrero Fajardo says
July 18, 2010 at 11:46 amApreciado Sebastian:
En uno de sus ensayos al final de sus dÃas la escritora Marguerite Duras insistÃa en la imposibilidad de escribir, algo que sonaba contradictorio a la luz de su extensa producción bibliográfica. Pero en el mismo ensayo indicaba que a pesar de esa imposibilidad algunas personas volvÃan a llenar con palabras un determinado número de páginas que la mayorÃa de veces terminaban en la papelera. ¿Por qué ese esfuerzo aparentemente inútil? Porque a pesar de ser concientes de emprender un trabajo fallido de antemano, en cuanto la incapacidad de la palabra para recrear las diferentes aristas de la condición humana, guardan la esperanza que por un momento su palabra logre evadir la condena que pesa sobre ella y transmitir tanto a su autor como a sus posibles lectores un momento de epifanÃa, de revelación… Eso es lo que logras transmitir con tu escrito, eso es lo que siento y me emociona al leerlo.
Un abrazo,
Mario (Seguramente no te acuerdas de mÃ, soy uno de los tantos rostros que has saludo durante los eventos de Quala, soy el esposo de Astrid Medina)
Astrid M. says
July 16, 2010 at 8:11 pmSebastian: el texto es muy inspirador y conmovedor, además de estar muy bien escrito!!! Escribir asÃ, reflejando tan bien los sentimientos, la atmósfera de la situación y llevando al lector de un tono de tristeza a uno de alegrÃa, esperanza, admiración, etc. no es fácil. Al igual que tu hermano David, debes estar muy seguro de tus grandes habilidades y tener presente algo que reflejas en tu historia y que todos olvidamos con frecuencia: los lÃmites están en nosotros mismos!
k-mi Morales says
July 13, 2010 at 12:02 amHello Sebas your article is beautiful, I want that you know that sometimes I feel the same thing that your, since David is my cousin and when i share with him, I can see that for him there is nothing difficult, when we can not understand what he want to say he tries to express it somehow and he does not give up himself easily. Sebastian, thanks for having the courage to show this story to the world and so many will follow the example of David.
We love U <3
Att: Camila, Francy y Jorge
Cristina Morales says
July 12, 2010 at 9:46 pmHola Shebitas, Te felicitamos por ese escrito tan lindo acerca de David, se nos aguaron los ojos pero de alegrìa porque de verdad David es un niño de admirar ,tu eres lo mejor que èl tiene.
Un abrazo ,
Cris
Luz Gordon says
July 9, 2010 at 11:44 pmWhat a beautiful, well written, inspirational and uplifting story. When I started reading it, I thought, how sad that must be terrible but at the end I felt joy and proud that even though your brother has a condition that may create some obstacles he has been able to bring lots happiness and pride to everyone that meets him, including me! I feel nothing but happiness for him and all your family!
Luz, Charlotte, North Carolina
Olga lucÃa says
July 9, 2010 at 11:02 pmSebastian: Like your mom, I’ve always admired you, you are a very special kid, I saw the tenderness and care that you give to your brother since you were a very small kid, Be sure that God bless you everyday and he have beautiful things for your life because you are a very special human being.
Sebastian says
July 9, 2010 at 7:32 pmThank you for your comments!!!!!
I’m glad that my article was able to show how someone so special can change your life, like my brother because he has bonded us together more and more every day and teaches us that perseverance and persistence are very useful tools to face life. Also thank you for encouraging me and for valuing the fight that every special child carries out !!!
– Sebastian, a Colombian in Boston
Adrian Spidle says
July 9, 2010 at 7:32 pmWOW Sebastian. What a moving article you’ve produced. I’m really proud to know you.
Adrian
Chris says
July 8, 2010 at 7:36 pmThank you for sharing your article, Sebastian. It is a topic that many of us can relate to in one way or another and your writing it was wonderful. Great work.
Chris
Cambridge
Mercedes says
July 9, 2010 at 5:09 amSebastian:
Estoy muy orgullosa de tà y al igual que tu hermano, eres muy especial por ser fuente de inspiración y ejemplo de vida para él.
Te amo mucho….
Mercedes,
Bogotá-Colombia
adomon says
July 8, 2010 at 7:23 pmSebastian, enhorabuena por tener ese hermano tan especial.
Desde Valencia, España. Adolfo
Kathy (Trekcapri) says
July 8, 2010 at 1:16 pmHi Sebastian, thank you for writing this article and for sharing such an amazing story about your brother. Your article is very well written and as Kwabla said it was wonderful how “special” became to mean something positive for your family. And despite the doctors dire predictions, it is great to see that your brother has progressed so much. Great photos. Best to you and your family.
edwat says
July 8, 2010 at 12:38 pmNice.
Patricia Peereboom-González says
July 8, 2010 at 11:01 amHola Sebas, me alegro mucho leer tu articulo Merceditas tiene una gran fortuna al tener unos hijos tan lindos y especiales y que fortuna tener una mama como la que tienes que ha luchado y ha hecho todo por sus hijos sin perder la fe, la esperanza y segura de que mas allá de un simple diagnostico están las ganas de salir adelante.
Que lección de vida hemos recibido :)
Abrazo muy especial desde Zürich en suiza.
Patty
Kwabla says
July 8, 2010 at 4:19 amSebastian,
Thank you so much for your inspirational story! I am so impressed with the progress that your brother has made in his life, as well as you and your family. I love how the word “special” gradually changed from something negative and sad to something happy and good in your story. Oh and the pictures are fantastic as well! What a smile!
Thanks again.
– Kwabla (Connecticut, USA)
TETI ROZI says
July 8, 2010 at 3:55 amI love the way Sebastian wrote his story, very moving and inspiring. The language he’s using was effective and vivid. I’m also teaching English to seventeen-year-old students. Thank you for giving me the ideas to have this kind of project with my students too.
Lillie says
July 8, 2010 at 5:41 amSo glad you find the project useful and interesting! I encourage you to use these ESL student life stories, as well as the 31 Ghana student stories (found at https://www.aroundtheworldl.com/category/learning/student-life-stories-project/ ) with your class, and have your students leave comments. Let’s weave an international web of inspiration!
SeongJun Cho says
July 8, 2010 at 3:13 amHello. friend. It is so great story. your brother is so smart. I know a few people closely such as your brother. One of them is very familiar with me. I’ve known him for 20 years. He is now 37 years old. When I first met him, It was very difficult to understand what he said. However, his ability to speak is being improved with the lapse of the time. So, I hope your brother fluently speak and play with you.
Seong Jun Cho, a Korean in Boston
Michele says
July 8, 2010 at 1:11 amSebastian, thank you for writing this story. Your family is very lucky to have two sons to make their life complete. I’m glad to hear your little brother gives you inspiration. Children with different needs are best at teaching us how to love in a completely different way, and it is obvious to me that’s what has happened in your family.
Best of luck on your journey and keep up the good work. Your story is beautifully written, and your English is very good!
Michele Campbell, writer, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA