At the age of four, I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, necessitating immediate brain surgery. I faintly recall the anxiety-filled days preceding the operation. As a naturally active child prone to scrapes and bruises during play, the doctors’ somber advice to limit physical activity and avoid contact sports cast a heavy shadow over my youthful spirit.
I felt miserable, unable to indulge in the exhilarating activities that once brought me joy. Watching my friends play their favorite sports from the sidelines was disheartening. It seemed like a crucial part of my childhood was slipping away, leaving me with daily frustration and an unrelenting yearning for the freedom and physicality I once had.
In this challenging situation, my parents embarked on a quest to find a safe outlet for my boundless energy. Since baseball was non-contact and my father had fond memories of his university cricket days, we collectively decided that baseball would be the ideal sport for me. It allowed me to stay active, be part of a team, and experience the thrill of competition while adhering to medical advice. While it couldn’t completely replace the contact sports I longed for, baseball became my sanctuary—a place where I could channel my passion and, despite my health condition, savor the excitement of the game.
Initially, baseball merely served as a recreational pastime, affording me valuable moments spent with friends. However, as I matured, its significance evolved from a casual pastime into an escape from the challenges of the real world. For a span of three to four hours, I could immerse myself in the sport I cherished, freeing my mind from any other concerns. The game of baseball also has taught me resilience, discipline, leadership, responsibility, and above all, camaraderie.
In the early days of my first travel baseball team, the West Windsor Warriors, I recall playing alongside teammates who had siblings with special needs, and we’d often invite them to play pickup baseball with us. I was struck by the sheer delight that this small gesture brought to my teammates’ families; their reactions and the joy these kids felt to be included in an everyday game left an indelible impression on me, especially as I could relate to the feeling of helplessly watching everyone play and not able to participate.
Whether in an official or unofficial capacity, I maintained an enduring enthusiasm for providing athletic opportunities for young athletes with mental or physical disabilities. Nearly eight years later, I formalized this kind of behavior through my time at The Miracle League, which hosts little league games exclusively for children with physical or mental disabilities, giving them a safe opportunity to take part in this game that I love so much.
For the past two years, my time at Miracle League has rekindled my appreciation for the joy that arises from assisting others in pursuing activities that they love. But I’ve discovered that there is imperfect information and not enough sources on the number of opportunities like Miracle League that are available to special needs families, and I started to look for a solution to bridge this gap.
Our mission at Let’s Play Together, stems from the pivotal role that sports have played in my own life and the lives of so many other people across the Tri-State area. Through Let’s Play Together, we hope to connect special needs families with the information and resources needed to find a safe and enriching opportunity for play.
Our goal is to become the most comprehensive resource for researching and finding opportunities for special needs children to participate in organized play in the Tri-state area. My aspiration is not only to provide children with mental and physical disabilities with a rewarding and competitive environment but also to guide young individuals in finding a healthy outlet for the challenges they are likely to encounter during their formative teenage years through participation and volunteering.
“WE ALL DESERVE A CHANCE TO PLAY.”