Minor Miracles

Minor Miracles - Adaptive Softball League

This article first appeared on the Exceptional Parent website in April, 2008. We owe special thanks to so many of Amanda's teachers and paraprofessionals who volunteer their time to Miracle League!

We are very fortunate to have an adaptive softball league near our home. The North Metro Miracle League (NMML) provides inclusive adapted sports for children and adults of all abilities. As their website states, “Each of the NMML players has an on field Buddy to assist with the things the player’s disability makes difficult or impossible. The resulting interaction between buddy and player is an essential part of our mission. We want to remove the barriers to inclusion, accommodation and friendship that often arise just because a person has a disability.”

Amanda has been playing softball with NMML for six seasons now. The environment at the games is relaxed and supportive. During the first season she spent most of the game crying and trying to escape the field. Amanda rarely expresses emotion. It is as unusual for her to cry as it is for her to laugh or smile. My husband and I had to reassure ourselves on every drive home that we were doing a good thing.

During Amanda’s second season, another dad called out, “Way not to cry, Amanda!” There couldn’t be a nicer group of people involved in children’s sports. Everyone cheers as each player walks, rolls or is carried into home plate. There is no score. Still, we felt awful taking her.

We told each other that Miracle League was a good form of exercise for a child who has difficulty walking. We discussed the value of fresh air and socialization with her peers. We’d quote Tom Hanks from the movie A League of Their Own, and remind Amanda, “There’s no crying in baseball.” But mainly, we felt terrible that every Saturday morning we forced our little girl to do something that made her cry in the name of “fun”.

Of course, Saturday morning softball wasn’t the only time that we’ve had to force Amanda to do things she doesn’t want to do. We made her go to therapy several times a week for years. We’ve taken her to have multiple surgeries. In a way, going to baseball toughened us up for all of the other things we had to do for Amanda's benefit.

The most surprising outcome of our participation in North Metro Miracle League has been Amanda’s friendship with Erin. A typical teenager, Erin is Amanda’s first and best friend. For the past three years, Erin has been spending her Saturday mornings acting as Amanda’s Miracle League buddy.

With Erin’s gentle guidance, Amanda stopped crying during games. She even began to cooperate. Now she looks forward to going every Saturday morning. At the beginning of this fall season Erin called to let Amanda know that she was going to be her buddy again. Amanda was so happy that she made a card for Erin. Amanda never draws or colors voluntarily. That in itself was a minor miracle.

Erin’s friendship has expanded beyond the baseball field. She has helped us out at home - she even came to Amanda’s birthday party! Due to her disabilities, Amanda finds social interactions difficult. However, Erin never makes Amanda feel different. They enjoy each other’s company and smile when they are together. Just as the website promised, playing softball really did remove a barrier to friendship for Amanda. As far as we’re concerned, more than exercise or fresh air that has been the biggest miracle to come out of the North Metro Miracle League.