Eleven

Gabriel Maduro

The first bedroom on the right

Noord, Aruba

Dear Mr. Maduro,

I regretfully inform you that you have not been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for one reason alone; Hogwarts does not exist because there is no such thing as the magic that JK Rowlings writes about. By now you know that there are no spells that will turn your boogers into bats or shrink your front two teeth.  You can’t regrow bones overnight, go back in time or cheat death by having the most powerful wand in the world. 

However, if there were a Hogwarts your name would have been written down the day you were born.  Your entire existence is magical to me.  You are the child that I thought I’d never get to have.  You are the boy who lived through the night when the doctors didn’t think you would.  Helping you ‘see’ has changed my view of the world for the better, just like being your mother has changed me for the better. 

I know things aren’t always easy for you.  I know how you struggle to do things that come easily to others, that you sometimes feel left out, that other kids can sometimes be so mean.  I know it’s hard and frustrating and that you secretly wish that there was a magic spell that could fix your eyes but - my darling boy - I also know how very special you are.

I can never tell where blindness ends and my boy begins because being blind is more than a physical characteristic it’s part of who you are.  Maybe if you could see you wouldn’t have an absolute ear for music, maybe you wouldn’t be able to fluently speak 4 languages, maybe you’d be more interested in running around than having meaningful conversations with people, maybe you wouldn’t be you and I love you more that I could ever say.

On this, your 11^th birthday, there is no letter coming from Albus Dumbledore but if there was it would tell you that you are a smart, funny, charming fellow and that life has magical things in store for you.  Stay the course, be brave and never forget that you have a small army of people who absolutely adore you and will be cheering you on. You are so very loved and that’s the best magic there is.

 Love, your Mostly Muggle Mom