"Why do you have the wheelchair?" she asked a matter-of-factly.
"I have the SMA and I can't walk by myself." replied Ella in the same tone.
"The what?" was the inquiry.
"The SMA," said Ella, "God made me with SMA and I can't walk by myself."
Her eyes fixated on the chair, glanced purposefully to Ella's legs, then met Ella's eyes. "Oh," was her response. The two girls sat in silence for a moment or two.
"I like Doc McStuffins." said the girl.
"Me too." replied Ella.
"I like your wheelchair. How does it work?" the girl inquisitively asked.
Ella made a friend. They sat and played school on the pavement. Went to the playground and enjoyed each other's company. They learned about each other...just a little bit, but enough to keep their interest in one another alive.
They played tag. A game that can be difficult for a person in a wheelchair who has limited mobility of the arms. But they made it work.
Two four-year olds made a game of tag work with one of them being in a wheelchair and having SMA. At first, Ella was "the runner" and her new-found friend was "it". Ella was caught and she was the "it". The game began on the grass but after awhile Ella requested that it continue on the sidewalk only. That way she could gather speed without having to bounce herself around as she does on the grass.
Her new friend obliged.
They laughed. They "ran". They played tag.
Upon leaving Ella turned to the girl and said, "Do you want to be my friend?"
The girl had a sincere smile in her eyes and without missing a beat said, "Yes, of course."
A friendship this is formed at 4 years old has the potential to last a lifetime.
