Smiles In Trials!

This school year has already brought many positive experiences. I am in my third year of Health Academy which is a health/medical program they have at my school. During this year I will get the chance to shadow at the local hospital in several different units of personal interest. I also will be going on class field trips to medical related facilities.
Just recently I went with my class to a local elementary school and took a tour of their "ESE Wing." This is a school that works with special needs children to receive an education as well as physical and speech therapy. The ages of the children range from the itty bitty four year old to the wise and superior 5th grader. Each class is suited for the type of disability the children have, For example there is a "PI" room, which works with the younger children to teach them to feed themselves, use the restroom on their own, and to become more sociable with other people.
As I went through each room I was touched more and more. Each little smiling face that i passed by warmed my heart to a greater degree. The simple fact that each of these children are struggling and fighting to have somewhat of a normal quality of life and still manage to keep high flying spirits and bright glowing smiles amazes me.
One room in particular touched me on a personal level. This was the ambulatory department. This department consisted of four children that have very limited mobility and control of their motions. While they may physically be 6 or 7 years old mentally they are only 6 months old. They have to sit in special chairs that keep their posture upright and be carried to certain places. These young children are totally defenseless. They can do nothing on their own and are completely dependent on the staff to help them.
Going through this room nearly brought tears to my eyes. It was difficult to watch such a young child have to live a degraded version of life. Even through all of this they still managed to be happy. One child a young boy by the name of Brandon was full of excitement and ecstatic to see so many people. Watching him was the worst because while he was so happy every time he laughed his eyes rolled back into his head.
One young child by the name of Garret told us we were all his friends immediately after meeting us. He was there for speech therapy along with another student Alex. The way their therapist worked with them made you want to become a speech and language therapist. After seeing her with them I didn't want to leave. I wanted to say, "Forget school, I'm staying here for the day!"
Those children might not have realized it but each of them taught me something that day. They taught me how to accept people no matter their appearance, how to be a friend to any one that comes by, and that laughter and smiling can be the best medicine. I will never forget my day at Maple wood Elementary nor the children I met there. What the school is providing for these kids is excellent. I hope to be able to go back and spend more time getting to know every single child there.