Blue Butterflies, Miracles, Real-Goal Setting Strategies for Kids and Other Learning Opportunities
By Kevin Stoda
In preparation for my Junior High classes this week, I came across a DVD called THE BLUE BUTTERFLY (2004).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313300/
As I watched the first minutes of the film, I could not believe that the tale was even vaguely based upon a true story, but I was wrong. Apparently, the film is, indeed, based on the life of a the Quebec-born, David Marenger, who at the age of six was diagnosed with cancer and given only a few months to live.
http://www.bluebutterflythemovie.com/about.html
In 1988, MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION offered to grant the young David Marenger a final wish.
David then traveled from Canada to Mexico with the entomologist, George Broussard. At that time, David was so weak, he had to be carried when he was out with Dr. Broussard in the Latin American forests. Upon his return to Quebec, David fought for his life and then the miracle occurred. David went into remission. Eventually, at the age of 18, David stopped taking any medication or treatments for his cancer.
http://www.lepapillonbleu.net/
By the time that filming of THE BLUE BUTTERFLY in 2002, David was traveling on his own onsite and in-and-around Costa Rica. David Marenger credits "hope, belief, and perseverance" for his being alive today. According to one website, David still had two dreams as of 2005, i.e. after the movie came out. David (1) wanted to visit many more hospitals and inspire many more children and (2) wanted to build his own butterfly aviary some day.
http://www.lepapillonbleu.net/mon_livre/mon_livre.htm
Recently, I had meant a surgeon in Taiwan who has experienced a similar miracle in his life--but as an adult. As a young man, this physician had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Nonetheless, he went on to study medicine and made it through years of training. Two years ago, the same man totally went off his medications and is now an accomplished surgeon.
The thing that is similar about this particular Taiwanese surgeon, who overcame being bipolar to achieve his childhood dream, and the young David Marenger is that they both believe that hope, belief, and perseverance have made the difference in their destiny's.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US?
On the other hand, not everyone has had (nor will actually experience) a true-blue miracle in their lives.
