‘A whisper in the Wind’

Jodeon Davis-Lawrence has penned the following poem to express how she thinks her son, Nickardo King, feels. The 16-year-old was diagnosed with a severe case of cerebral palsy when he was seven months old.

"I know this piece will inspire other parents with children living with disabilities," she said, after being chosen as a recipient of the 'Wish Upon The STAR' promotion. The initiative is a collaborative effort by telecommunications firm Digicel, NCB Foundation and THE STAR to bring Christmas cheer to persons.

A whisper in the Wind

As I stare out my window each day,

Oh, how I wish I knew what life would be!

This is an opportunity for you to all meet me.

Not guessing or assuming you really know me,

When all you know is what everyone sees.

As I watch children running in the street

And see the school bus drives slowly over the peak.

Oh, I sit and wonder,

In my thoughts I ponder,

Unanswered questions about my future.

Would I really fulfil my dreams, or would I sit in class and dream?

Would I be a pilot or a fisherman at sea?

Oh, how I wish I could get a good education - a master degree!

If only schools have the materials I need,

Like a cool teacher who can really teach me to read,

Or even a ramp to ride my wheel,

Oh disability, what have you done to me?

I am now forced to live a life knowing success will never be.

Physical therapy seems like hell to me,

Speech therapy is slow in our society.

I may look and sound different, you see,

It makes me really sad when people stare or mock me,

But that's what disability does - it robs my creativity.

I am beautiful inside and out.

I am intelligent without a doubt.

I have a lot to say out loud,

But I can't -- the speech just won't leave my mouth.

To hold a pencil, pen or paper is a very big wish,

To have a favourite subject or write about my favourite dish.

There are so many ideas inside my head,

But sad to say, they reach no further than my bed.

Not being able to articulate them well, I have to leave them all unsaid.

It is just so sad for me,

That no one will know how smart I can really be.

Oh disability, what have you done to me?

You leave my future in uncertainty.

I wish to see a system that caters to kids like me,

So that someone will see, that true potential lies within me.