A Very Special Olympic Experience
by Linda Buchalo
Many times, I am reminded how fortunate I am that my son resides at Misericordia. Attending Mass at Jeanne Marie Ryan, going to Family Fest, dining in the Greenhouse Inn— these are just a few shining examples where I can attest to the goodness of Misericordia. This summer, when my son qualified for the statewide summer Special Olympics competition, I decided that I would attend. I did not travel with or stay with the group, but I arrived bright and early in the morning to oversee his getting ready for the day and I enjoyed meals, attended the opening ceremonies, and watched the swimming competition with the group. Often, over that weekend, I was again reminded of how blessed we both are to be affiliated with this very special place.
Two of the best qualities of Misericordia—the kind, caring attitude of staff and the camaraderie among the residents—were evident the entire weekend.
Having had a couple of delays on the trip to Bloomington-Normal, I arrived at lunchtime on Friday. The athletes were already eating, and my son was happily seated at a table with friends and a staff member. He’d obviously been guided in his trip through the cafeteria. I know from experience that it’s hard for him to balance a tray, let alone make the quick decisions required in a cafeteria line, so it was nice to see that he was eating a balanced meal and got through it without a spill. His table was full, so I found a spot with other staff and had a most enjoyable conversation. It was obvious that people were glad to be there, not only the athletes, but their coaches and helpers as well.
Staff were well prepared with water, sunscreen, and protein snacks, which they made available throughout the weekend. A long queue led to the place where everyone could buy souvenirs. Staff held money for each resident and patiently helped them to make decisions. While I dreaded standing in that long line, it turned into a fun time conversing with the staff and the other residents.
The atmosphere was festive as we watched Misericordia residents participate in the opening ceremonies, both in the parade and as part of the entertainment. Up in the stands, the excitement built as the athletes enjoyed the show and looked forward to competing on Saturday.
The next day started bright and early with everyone getting ready and revved up for their specific events. Because I was accompanying my son, I spent most of my time on the men’s floor in the dorm. I loved watching the guys interact with each other, teasing, planning their day, and cheering each other on. It’s so obvious that they enjoyed each other and relished this special time together. One athlete brought a stack of favorite pictures that he shared with everyone. I’m still amazed that he managed to transport those photos without a single tear or bend.
The swimming competition took up much of Saturday. Other parents and friends arrived to cheer the group on. We claimed a spot in the gym to gather between events, and staff and parents took turns guarding our location, chairs, and personal belongings. While not everyone got a medal, each athlete walked away feeling proud and supported by the encouragement of friends, family, and others. Special Olympics events are unique in that all parents share the same hopes and dreams for every athlete. A woman sitting next to me in the stands asked my son’s name and when his race started, I heard her yelling, “Go, Andy!” At another race, the entire audience encouraged an assisted swimmer who painstakingly reached the end of the pool—this young man’s accomplishment was met with cheers and a rousing round of applause.
While swimming was not affected, some of the other events and the celebration dance were cancelled because of the extreme heat. Our coaches came to the rescue. They scoped out a free area in the dorm and turned the evening into a party with music and pizza. It is so nice to see how well the Misericordia residents handled this. On other occasions, before Misericordia, I’ve seen this kind of disappointment ruin an entire event. But happiness reigns at Mis and we are quite adept at turning a lemon into lemonade.
The high points of my weekend were watching my son as he interacted with all his friends and witnessing the patience and kindness of the staff. It was so evident that staff enjoyed this adventure as much as the athletes. I had convinced myself that the weekend would be my ticket to heaven, because I dreaded the long hours between events, the heat, and the general chaos of any large group activity. But in fact, I enjoyed myself very much and was so glad that I had decided to make the trip.
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