Laura L. Smith
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HOW MY NEPHEW GOT CROWNED KING

10/6/2015

8 Comments

 
Picture
My nephew, Chad, crowned king
The day my nephew Chad was born, no one would have imagined one day he’d be crowned king. No one, except God, because that is exactly how our Creator saw Chad all along.
​
Chad was:
  • Born two months early
  • Weighed 3 lbs. 8 oz. at birth
  • Was diagnosed at birth with Down Syndrome and Atrial Septal Defect (a hole in his heart)
  • Spent the first five days of his life in the NICU with his twin sister, Lindsey
  • Was switched to another hospital where he spent the next seven days in a special care nursery
  • At four months old, when the hole in his heart did not close, he was scheduled for open heart surgery
  • In pre-op Chad was diagnosed with RSV. The heart surgery was postponed and he was admitted to the hospital for ten days to address his respiratory issues.
  • At six months old Chad was strong enough, and had successful open-heart surgery.
 
And eighteen years later at a soggy, chilly, rainy football game in a suburb of Cincinnati, thanks to the amazing true beauty of his high school community, Kings, Chad was not only elected by his peers onto the homecoming court, but called to the throne with this announcement, “And this year’s homecoming king is no other than Chad Handorf!” 

And the meek shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
​
​Yes, my sweet, smiling nephew who somehow sustains himself on chicken nuggets and pretzels, who always carries a coaches whistle, who has faithfully cheered the loudest at every single one of his three siblings’ games, who laughs and tells the most fantastic stories, who sings the loudest and proudest when the cousins go Christmas caroling each year, the boy who came too early, who had a list of medical problems, who survived against the odds, and who lives with the implications and limitations of Down Syndrome each and every day got to see a glimpse of how God sees him. He got to see his true reflection.
Picture
Chad and his date, the queen who said, "yes!"
​But wait, there’s more.
​Chad is buddies with one of the girls on the homecoming court, Emily Lima. He was convinced he should invite her to homecoming. Even though she has a boyfriend. My sister-in-law insisted he not do it, because of the boyfriend. But Chad has always been a little stubborn. And so, he made a sign, held it up in class, and asked this girl to the dance. Emily said, “Yes, I will. I’d love to.” And so, she, her boyfriend, and Chad, well, they went to the dance together. It is only fitting, that this beautiful girl, who helped show Chad his true reflection, was crowned queen.
 
You know what true beauty looks like? My nephew, Chad, with a crown on his head, face beaming, knowing through and through that he is a child of the one true King.
 

8 Comments
Angela Zlatic
10/6/2015 02:11:28 pm

I'm pretty sure I can speak for the Kings staff when I say how truly blessed we are to have Chad in our classrooms and school.

Reply
Laura Smith link
10/6/2015 04:49:36 pm

Awww, Angela, I can't tell you how blessed we are to have Chad at Kings! Your community amazes me. Totally blown away by how you've embraced him for his true self!

Reply
Renee Lima
10/6/2015 06:18:47 pm

Hi Laura
I'm Emily's mom... That was beautifully written and just when I thought all my tears had come and gone after a memorable weekend ... They came again!! Chad is amazing and Emily has always adored him!!
Renee

Reply
Laura Smith link
10/7/2015 03:28:00 am

Oh my goodness, Renee, you have done such an amazing job raising your daughter! Emily's kindness and grace blow me away and are such a beautiful example to everyone who comes in contact with her. What a deserving queen. I pray she feels fully her true beauty!

Reply
Dawn Gould
10/7/2015 06:27:06 am

Laura,

This is so beautifully written! We all at Kings are so happy for Chad! I'm not sure if you know this, but there were 3, yes 3! students with special needs on this year's homecoming court. It is a true testament of the caring, inclusive, and loving students we have at Kings. Well done!

Reply
Laura Smith link
10/7/2015 10:03:16 am

Dawn, that is remarkable. What a beautiful testimony of how the Kings' community embraces humanity and treats all with dignity. You are to be commended to be part of such a loving group of people. You and everyone at Kings is truly beautiful.

Reply
Amy Parker link
10/15/2015 07:16:25 am

Wow. So beautiful.

Reply
Laura Smith link
10/15/2015 07:28:34 am

It was pretty amazing to see God's love shining so brightly!

Reply



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