Friendship Needs No Words

There was a video posted online recently that broke my heart. It made me realize why there are so many stories of kids being bullied or being made fun of, or even dying- because they had parents like the woman who said to parents of disabled kids "kill it, give it away or leave it at home." I had a few choice words for this woman. Then I thought about it. With all the stories about bullying and all the stories about the horrifying things the human race can do to each other, let me bring you another side. Where friendship needs no words. This is what should be shared 6,000+ times.

Meet Kreed, who is medically fragile, has autism and uses a device to communicate. And, meet Skyler, who has Usher's Syndrome (leading cause of deaf/blindness), is deaf, losing peripheral vision, has autism and currently does not have a means to effectively communicate.

Both boys have been underestimated their whole lives. People think surely they will never be able to have any kind of friendship. They said they won't understand. They don't have compassion. They don't understand how to love. People have also never understood them- why Kreed is so loud and makes the movements he does. And Skyler has faced challenges most people couldn’t dream about and they wonder why he makes the sounds he does and doesn’t listen and seems to go from one thing to the next. They have their reasons and now finally it seems they have found commonality in each other. Just because we don’t understand, doesn’t make their connection any less. Friendship doesn’t always need words. 

Here is the photo that proves them all wrong.

Skyler was a little unsure of the hotel surroundings. So I asked Kreed if he would help. Kreed walked over, grabbed Skyler's hand and they walked in together. Skyler trusted Kreed and Kreed knew Skyler needed his help. It was amazing to watch. Two boys the world has told would never accomplish things such as friendship and love and meaningful relationships. Or that they shouldn’t go in public because they don’t act the  way everyone else does. 

While the world watches kids hurt other kids with disabilities, or where adults make fun of those that are different or use hate speech...here are two boys who are profoundly affected but have found a way to interact without needing words. They FEEL. They CARE. They LOVE.

As a special needs parent, we only hope and pray that one day our child will find their "tribe." Someone they can be themselves with. Someone who doesn't mind their quirks. Someone who is just fine with exactly who they are. Kreed doesn't care when Skyler gets as close as possible to him, or when he reaches out to touch him. Skyler has no idea how loud Kreed is and so never gives off that annoyed feeling and he has realized Kreed is different and similar to himself. So he watches Kreed, follows Kreed and in general they want to be around each other. They don't need words to convey the comfort it is to find your tribe. They just know. And it is beautiful. I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life.

So when we say these kids have #nolimits, we mean it in every possible way. From communication, to cognitive ability to friendship and love. I don't care that's its taken 17 years for Kreed to find a friend, because this friendship was worth the wait. I can't wait to see what the future holds for these two.

And I thank them both for restoring hope and love back into the human race.