Meeting Hayden Filson
A while back I went on a rant about the way the media covers limb differences… Some Illinois media outlets reported on a “one armed” high school softball player. If you watch the video, you quickly see how Hayden Filson has TWO ARMS and one hand. It put me on a media rant that has actually helped change the way some newsrooms cover news about people with limb differences. I’m pretty proud of that.
I’m also very proud that Hayden’s mom let me know she was coming into town for a softball tournament now that Hayden is a college player. She’s a freshman player for Heartland Community College. So I geared Jordan up with her glove and a ball so she could toss the ball back and forth with Hayden. In the short amount of time we had to play, Jordan learned a really good tip on using her glove: release the back strap completely so the glove pops off quicker… also buy at least one size larger.
When they were done, Jordan got Hayden to sign her glove. Jordan is VERY proud of that.
I’m honored we can keep growing an army of awesome limb different friends for Jordan. Thank you Hayden for being someone Jordan looks up to. She’s so proud of having a chance to play with you.
Jen, Thank You for the post.
Please do give our regards to Hayden when you meet her next time. Tell her that she is inspiring a family here in Bangalore too. Also tell Jordan that she is already an inspiration to us here and there is a little girl looking upto her and hearing her stories. My little one just smiles when I tell her some of these strories..She is just 29 days old now …But I feel she can sense what I am saying. -:)
That’s awesome, Michael.
That’s fantastic!!
Congrats to Jordan and Hayden! How fun to connect like that in the limb different community.
Thank you Jen for posting!
I’m a book editor, and a few months ago I published a memoir by Jim Abbott, the former pitcher that Hayden Filson says was her hero. Jim is an incredible guy and working on the book with him was an experience I’ll never forget. I’m just as inspired by this: these images of this young woman helping this girl, this story of one generation giving tips to the next on how to handle the challenge. A beautiful thing, and one we can all learn from.
Thank you for telling us all the story.
Thanks Mark. Jordan was SO thrilled when a friend of mine gave her a signed copy of Jim Abbott’s book. But the moment where Hayden signed her glove was even more special.
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