A Coward’s Message Goes Viral
Valerie Jerram, a Newark mom, posted a letter to Facebook on Saturday about an anonymous letter she received asking her to keep Mickey, her special needs daughter, away from a little league ballpark.
The letter was left taped to her mailbox by a nameless local resident, presumably also a parent of a child in the Midway Little League where Jerram’s son has played for nine years.
In fact, the family consider the Midway ballpark a second home – confirmed by the hand-painted wooden sign adorned with a pretty ribbon on the front door of their home: “If we don’t answer, check the ball field.”
The letter, printed all in caps, asked the Jerrams to keep their daughter away from the baseball field this season.
“I also think it is inappropriate for her to play on the equipment with the younger children as well. Almost creepy! Maybe you can leave her home…”
The letter also chastised Valerie for writing too much about her daughter Mickey on Facebook and for not keeping her tone more positive.
“We all get so tired of reading about Mickey, her seizures and her injury,” the anonymous author wrote.
Here is the letter the Jerrams received on Saturday. And remember, it was taped to their mailbox.
Valerie took to Facebook.
“Do you have any idea what it feels like to not be accepted, to have to worry constantly about what people are thinking?”
Her words came across kind and with grace. She used the opportunity to educate and share just how amazing her daughter Mickey truly is.
“Mickey has overcome more in 23 years than you will ever know or possibly go thru in your lifetime.”
Go get ’em mama!
Like many of us would, Valerie and her husband Ken admitted that their initial “gut” response to the anonymous letter was to have Valerie stay home with Mickey. And not attend the games.
But they quickly realized that more than denying their daughter time out of the house and one of her greatest seasonal pleasures, they would be depriving their son of something that also brings him great joy.
“It means everything to me to have my sister at the games. She cheers me on and she has such a good time there,” Kenny told Town Square Delaware. “I’m hoping Mickey will still be able to come to the ball field, watch my games and still be able to communicate and play with the kids she likes to play with,” he said.
This coward is up there with the worst of them. I am saddened and sickened by their letter. But from true evil, comes good.
Valerie, thank you for advocating for your daughter. Thank you for paving the way for parents like me.
When I communicated with Valerie on Sunday she said, “We are our children’s voice.” Amen mama.
And as I always say, our amazing kids deserve to know the world and the world deserves to know our amazing kids.
Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.
