2008 Woodie Awards
Trip bolsters sisterly love
Ariel Delaney
Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: News
I vowed to go back to Peru eventually, but I never expected to return so soon.
When I was asked to chaperone my brother's trip there I jumped at the chance. Of course, that meant missing classes and pushing back responsibilities, but it was very worth it to see my brother happy.
Those who know me understand how much I love my brother, Mahamed. He was adopted from Somalia, also called the horn of Africa, 11 years ago. His entire family perished in a famine and his age was unknown when he was found.
After a slew of doctors looked over him it was determined that he was between the ages of 4 and 7. We rounded up. He considers himself very lucky and still has faith in his country even though many don't.
I consider myself lucky because I have such a wonderful brother who is a survivor. As I have told him many times before, he is my inspiration.
With help from some amazing people, he was able to attend The Gailer School for four years. This school is very small and boasts a unique learning environment. Every year this school goes on a trip, which they call living and learning, where they do community service. Each person raises money for they trip. We all did. When I had time, I helped at the teddy bear factory and sold whatever they were offering.
It was all worth it for two years, then something bad happened.
After his health forms were turned in, the organizers of the trip saw that he has limited lung capacity. They sent him for a free lung capacity test at UVM to see how he would do. I was devastated when my nana told me that he failed twice.
Mahamed had tuberculosis while in Somalia and has one great lung and about 20% of the other. The trip included going to Cusco which is 11,300 feet.
The doctor said that it would be like the equivalent of a normal person on the top of Mount Everest. He was devastated when he found out and so soon before the trip. I received word that he was very depressed about it.
His teacher then called me four days later. She said that she still wanted Mahamed to go, but with another person who knew him and knew Spanish and could stay with him. She also told me that an anonymous person had donated a lot of money for it to be possible.
When I was asked to chaperone my brother's trip there I jumped at the chance. Of course, that meant missing classes and pushing back responsibilities, but it was very worth it to see my brother happy.
Those who know me understand how much I love my brother, Mahamed. He was adopted from Somalia, also called the horn of Africa, 11 years ago. His entire family perished in a famine and his age was unknown when he was found.
After a slew of doctors looked over him it was determined that he was between the ages of 4 and 7. We rounded up. He considers himself very lucky and still has faith in his country even though many don't.
I consider myself lucky because I have such a wonderful brother who is a survivor. As I have told him many times before, he is my inspiration.
With help from some amazing people, he was able to attend The Gailer School for four years. This school is very small and boasts a unique learning environment. Every year this school goes on a trip, which they call living and learning, where they do community service. Each person raises money for they trip. We all did. When I had time, I helped at the teddy bear factory and sold whatever they were offering.
It was all worth it for two years, then something bad happened.
After his health forms were turned in, the organizers of the trip saw that he has limited lung capacity. They sent him for a free lung capacity test at UVM to see how he would do. I was devastated when my nana told me that he failed twice.
Mahamed had tuberculosis while in Somalia and has one great lung and about 20% of the other. The trip included going to Cusco which is 11,300 feet.
The doctor said that it would be like the equivalent of a normal person on the top of Mount Everest. He was devastated when he found out and so soon before the trip. I received word that he was very depressed about it.
His teacher then called me four days later. She said that she still wanted Mahamed to go, but with another person who knew him and knew Spanish and could stay with him. She also told me that an anonymous person had donated a lot of money for it to be possible.
Be the first to comment on this story