A LESSON IN KINDNESS, INCLUSION AND EMPATHY
Nate is supported by his mom, Kelly, in Citizen Care’s Medically Complex Life Sharing program.
In the spring of 2026, Kelly and Nate had the incredible opportunity to visit Trinity Area School District, where Nate’s brother Alex is a sixth-grade student. Kelly and Nate talked with sixth graders who are currently reading Wonder.
Over two days, they met with all 250 sixth-grade students at Trinity, sharing Nate’s story and opening honest, meaningful conversations about living with a disability, kindness and empathy. Kelly spoke with students about Nate’s craniofacial condition and what everyday life looks like from his perspective. Kelly also shared what it’s like to be a mother navigating those experiences alongside him.
The students were engaged, respectful and thoughtful. Nate, true to himself, immediately connected with them, taking their hands, tapping his wheelchair to invite them to sit with him and interacting comfortably with students gathered on the floor and couches. The kids understood, welcomed him and met him exactly where he was.
Their questions showed just how deeply they were thinking:
“Did you know Nate had a medical complex condition when he was born?”
“Was it hard to accept his diagnosis?”
“Did you get to hold him right away?”
“Were you scared when he went to school for the first time?”
It was clear the students had already been encouraged to reflect on stories from different perspectives, including a mother’s point of view.
Not once did a student act rude or inappropriate. Every interaction was rooted in curiosity, kindness and respect. Alex even shared that classmates have been coming up to him saying how cool and cute his brother is.
Nate loved every moment. Making friends comes naturally to him and once again, he showed just how powerful genuine connection can be.
One moment truly stood out for Kelly: after the second day, a student came over to thank her for visiting. He quietly shared that he has autism and said learning about Nate made him feel better about himself. He told her he enjoys learning how people are different. It was a moment that nearly brought her to tears and perfectly captured why conversations like this matter so much.
The teachers invited Kelly and Nate to return next year when the students read Wonder again, and it’s an invitation for which they are grateful. If even a handful of students carry Nate’s story with them and choose kindness because of it, this experience has made a lasting impact.
Nate makes friends wherever he goes, reminding us all that differences don’t divide us; they invite us to understand one another better.
