'Dear Schneily, I'll be your friend'
- Friday, May 14, 2010
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Fri Mar 26, 2010 9:25 AM EDT
We are a world apart, but we are the same. Those are the sentiments echoed in multitudes of letters from U.S. amputees who shared their stories with amputees in Haiti. Selected letters were translated for patients at Hopital Albert Schweitzer in Deschappelles, Haiti.
Elias Brown
One of those letters was from 5-year-old Elias Brown who was moved by the story of Schneily Similien, a boy who lost his lower left leg in the Jan. 12 earthquake. At age 4, Schneily is the youngest patient at the hospital.
Elias, who lives in Austin, Texas, knows what it means to be different. Born with a congenital birth defect, his left leg was amputated when he was 2. He wanted to let Schneily know he wasn't alone, said his mother, Meagan Brown.
"Dear Schneily," Elias wrote, "My leg got amputated when I was 2 years old. And then I got my first prosthetic leg a little bit after that. It's hard to have your leg amputated. Don't be scared because God is with you.
When you first get your prosthetic leg you'll be kind of scared because you don't really know how to use it. But if you practice walking a little bit everyday you'll get better and better. And then one day you'll be able to run again!
Sometimes you might be sad that you have a prosthetic leg. But you are just like me! And there are lots of other kids that have prosthetics too. I'll be your friend forever.
When you get your prosthetic leg we can play together and run. I really hope that I can come to Haiti sometime and we can run and play together. Love, Elias."
In Deschapelles, as an interpreter for msnbc.com read the letter to Schneily's family, the boy's father, Ducarmel, smiled widely and gave a thumbs-up sign. "Amen," he replied.
To read other recent letters sent by readers, click here.
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