Swimming is the word

If I think of the word approximate when it comes to the number of people dealing with Luscan-Lumish syndrome (LLS) - 11 worldwide - it always reminds me of languages.

Words

Even when we try our very best when learning a new language, we can't know every single word by heart. Why? Even native speakers don't use every single word in the dictionary. And even if we did, words come and go. Old-fashioned ones disappear while ones we never even imagined - like TikTokking- become part of life.

The only thing we know for certain is that within that approximate number of 11 is one very brave girl from Korea - the subject of this blog - Kim Yeseo!

School

Even when it is your dream to become Korea's first swimming athlete with LLS, you still have to go to school like any other kid. Yeseo ended up completing two rather special writing assignments:

1. The Jeollanam-do Education Office writing contest

Yeseo with her essay

Yeseo and her peers in school competed in a writing contest held by the Korean Office Of Education of the Jeollanam-do district. 

For the contest, Yeseo chose to write about the subject she knows well:

swimming

Yeseo with her award

She won the encouragement award! 

Nothing can stop this girl - 

even when life comes with LLS and she has to compete with children who don't have a disability.

2. Open class for parents of third-grade students

Parents were invited to come to school for an open class. Even though Yeseo is on the autism spectrum, she confidently completed an impromptu writing assignment and presented it in front of her non-disabled peers and their parents.

See her in action:

Disabilities

People with disabilities or disorders often become brave and resilient. When you talk with them, they might use words like "Do I have a choice?" or "Me? Brave? This is just who I am." They dismiss quickly that what they are doing is actually quite extraordinary and not something just anyone can do. Even when you have a goal, you still need spirit and inner strength to continue. Goals aren't handed to you on a silver platter, mostly, and working hard - falling and picking yourself up again - is a given. 

"Understand that this is not a dress rehearsal, this is it, your life. Face your fears, and live your dream. And by all means, whatever you do, get it on film." 

This quote comes from a trailer on YouTube - a woman with ALS wanted to do a marathon on a trike in all 50 American states. Even though this has nothing to do with Yeseo or Luscan-Lumish, it shows the one thing brave people have in common:

the quality to adapt, and to not give up.

And yes, you can be certain that Yeseo will again be captured on film in 2025!

Yeseo, her mother Sunim, and myself (Sandra, moderator) wish you a 2025 filled with wonder, contentment, and good health! And remember:

Source: Pinterest