On my 20th Birthday, I had a vision. I was no longer a teenager and began to think over my life. Eighty-five percent of my childhood was spent in Camden, New Jersey. I thanked God for allowing me to survive and find happiness in such a negative setting. I thank my parents for protecting me from the harsh realities of life in that city. However, I knew that there were other people suffering. People who couldn't say they had parents like mine. Individuals who couldn't claim to have found happiness. I wanted to start a vast non-profit network but I knew that I needed to start somewhere. You just can't help everyone at once! Immediately, a scene from my childhood came to mind.
When I was younger, my family made frequent visits to the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia to visit a relative. There, I saw many sick children. Many of them were sad. It was the night of my 20th birthday that I realized that there is something I had to do in order to better the lives of children like them. I thought of Miracles. The name required a lot of brainstorming. The significance of the name is: everyone can reach his/her full potential in spite of their disabilities or negative circumstances. It is an idea that goes against the conventional wisdom. Simply too many people are being brushed aside because they may not appear or act "normal." Some of the greatest minds in history were once perceived as different and went on to become extraordinary people. Many of these great minds have been documented to have a disability themselves. With Miracles, we can encourage these individuals and change perceptions across the globe.
© 2008 Winter