Don't Give Up! How My Son's Example Taught Me to Pursue My Dreams and Never Give In to Adversity

For those who don’t know, I am the mother of two amazing boys (who will always be boys to me). One is turning 20 and the other will be 14 this year. But the story I want to share is how my older son taught me to pursue my dreams no matter what.

When my son was just five years old, he picked up a #basketball for the first time. It was love at first sight, and he quickly became dedicated to the sport. Those were the happiest days in kindergarten when he had basketball practices. Days and years went by, and as a new mother with her first child, I tried to protect him from all harm – no TV for long hours, no computer games, and lots of fresh air (you know all these “new super-mom” things??). By the time he was ten years old, he was already showing signs of being a promising player and dreaming of making it to the big leagues.

But then came a setback. During a routine eye exam, my son was diagnosed with myopia grade 1 – a condition that would make it difficult for him to see objects clearly at a distance. After six months, another eye exam showed myopia grade 2. This was devastating news. His doctor suggested he quit basketball because of the high risk of blindness in case of collision or impact to his head, a medical condition when the retina detaches. As I couldn't say this to him and break his heart, I offered the doctor to tell him the "big news," but she didn't dare because she knew how much he loved the sport.

But my son and I were determined not to let his diagnosis hold him back. We ran numerous tests and changed dozens of doctors and clinics until we found one who had just returned from the States (Forum for Ophthalmologists). With the help of this doctor and coaches, he worked hard to find solutions that would allow him to continue playing basketball. He started wearing glasses with special lenses that corrected his vision while still allowing him to see the court clearly. However, after a few years, we heard the diagnosis of myopia grade 3. But even this didn't stop him. At 16, he first wore the jersey of the National Basketball Team and represented Lithuania in the European Basketball Championship U16 (in Udine, Italy), and a few years later represented Lithuania with U19 in the World Cup (Riga, Latvia). This year, he is invited to join the national basketball team U20 to represent Lithuania in the European Championship in Crete.

Through hard work and determination, my son continued to excel on the basketball court. He became a star player on his basketball school team, earned scholarships, and even caught the attention of professional scouts. Now, at the age of 20, my son is still playing basketball and pursuing his dream of making it to the big leagues. His myopia may have presented a challenge, but it also taught him (and me) the importance of #perseverance and #resilience. As his mother, I couldn't be prouder of him and all that he has accomplished. Don't ever let anyone make you lose faith in your #dreams!