Essay

Hand power

By John Gathright

It all started with six-year-old Takaki and his Magic Left Hand. Takaki is one special boy! Not everyone is born with a magic hand nor can they do all the things that Takaki can. What he lacks in fingers he is able to compensate with ingenuity, determination and a positive attitude!

His left hand has only a thumb and pinky, but from day one he became a wizard with these two fingers. In fact, he became so good at tying his shoes, folding paper airplanes, and all sorts of games that he often bettered his 10-fingered peers. His hand came to be known as Takaki's Magic Left Hand

Unfortunately, the first day of elementary school proved to be a big challenge for Takaki. Some of the kids didn't see the magic, they only saw the missing fingers. A teacher suggested that he keep it from view, and the teasing of other kids left Takaki's heart broken.

As, in Takaki's eyes, his hand's magic started to fade, I was blessed with the opportunity to meet him. His family came to our Tree Climbing Event. Takaki was going to try and climb a big tree. He didn't want any special rigging, ropes or harnesses. He wanted to use the same equipment that the other kids use. He wanted to test himself and his hand to the limits.

Takaki's first climb was not easy. It was hard to grab the ropes with his left hand and he just didn't have the strength to pull himself up with just his right hand. But Takaki would not give up. His first climb was one meter, and he made it, through a combination of encouragement, determination and tears

But Takaki wasn't satisfied with climbing just one meter. He wanted to get to the tree top. He wanted to go the full 10 meters and touch the sky. He needed to do it himself with his magic hand.

Takaki and his magic hand became an inspiration to us all. With each climb he became a little stronger and a little more skilled. Everyone cried tears of joy when he finally reached the top of the tree and screamed, "I did it! The magic is back!"

Takaki became a hero, but little did we know that news of his magic hand would cross the sea and touch the lives of young disabled Korean children as well. A Korean TV producer read the book I wrote about the experience, and he contacted us about making a documentary about our tree therapy program for helping children with special needs to climb huge trees.

And the magic just seems to keep on growing. This summer we had the great opportunity to host disabled children from Korea for a tree-top summit in Japan, and next summer we will be visiting Korea to launch a special tree therapy program. To Takaki and all of the kids, thank you for bringing so much magic to the forest.

Shukan ST: Aug. 11, 2006

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