Vinny

I met Vinny a few days ago, as he slurped on Kona Ice, during a special visit to the Montessori. “My brain is freezing”, he said with a silly grin. His mom, clearly moved with emotion, couldn’t help her self – “I hope it freezes your tumor”!

Meet Vinny, a precocious six year old, who is fascinated by sharks, loves sports, and video games involving bumper cars. He is also battling an inoperable brain tumor, nestled on his brain stem. “We were so excited that his tumor was shrinking,” his mom told me, “and then the surgeon knocked the wind out of our sails.” The message was every parent’s worst nightmare. Their ordeal was far from over.

Tomorrow our Montessori children will participate in our annual “Trike-a-thon” to raise money for Vinny and his family. Four-year-old Victoria offered to do chores at her house to “earn” money for Vinny. It has been heart warming to see young three year olds emptying their piggy banks to help this sweet boy. We foster a culture of giving. Our children, and their families, open their hearts and give generously.

Life can be cruel to the extent that it can shake one’s faith in the divine. The bewildered look, in the eyes of a broken mother, says enough. The visible scars on Vinny’s head are gut wrenching, and just heart breaking. Yet the battle continues.

As a young boy fights for his life, we can bring him a little joy, help his family with small tokens towards unfathomable costs, and offer a shoulder of support. And yes, we did bring a smile to his face – even if the brain freeze was momentary.