Midlife Series: SOAR

In preparation for this piece, I watched a documentary called "Happy Birthday Thalidomide." In the film, difference between England and Brazil in the way thalidomide survivors had been treated was significant. In the UK, thanks to the adequate support systems, many survivors have grown to live independently. In the slums of Brazil, lepers have been receiving thalidomide in order to relieve the nerve pain. Despite precautions against pregnant women taking it, mistakes have happened and babies with malformed limbs have been born. With lack of support systems for the survivors, independent living, norms in the UK, seems unthinkable there.

This piece expresses my wishes for a world where each one of us, regardless of disability, class, or race, will be able to SOAR to be the best he/she can be.