| To Dwyane, with love: Children send Heat player get-well letters |
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By Chris Perkins So, too, has been the reaction from children worldwide. At last count, Wade had more than 3,100 get-well letters from kids, including 140 at Gratigny Elementary. The submissions have arrived from every major city in Florida and every state in America and from abroad, including Britain and Belgium and China and Japan. And there still are five boxes of mail that haven't been opened. Wade, who tonight will play his fifth game since returning from a 23-game absence, was moved by the sympathetic messages. "You always get fan mail, but this is different," said Wade, who is well-known outside the United States because of the NBA's high profile overseas, his many commercials and endorsements and his participation on the U.S. national team. "These are kids that really truly care about you, really want to see you back on the court. That makes it special." The letter-writing campaign at Gratigny, whose students are predominantly Haitian, began with teacher Maria Asencio, who teaches Spanish to fourth-graders as a second language. Asencio - a Heat season-ticket holder - noticed that many of her students were talking about Wade's injury, which came Feb. 21 in Houston. "I got inspired and thought they should be writing about it," she said. So they did. And once word spread, students in other grades wanted to send letters. It grew into a school-wide project. Some pupils drew pictures, too. "I have never seen 140 kids with so much love," Asencio said. Some of the letters were just a paragraph, some a full page. One kindergarten student wrote: To Dwyane Wade, I send you my light and my love. May God heal you quickly. Another student wrote: I pray for you every night before I go to sleep and felt bad when you broke your arm. Another stated: I think you are the bestest player. Yet another letter informed Wade: I'm sorry when you got hit. I was crying at home. Indeed, they felt his pain. One girl said she twisted her ankle while playing basketball and understands how tough it is to play hurt. A third-grader, in a burst of child-like honesty, revealed: My sister is crazy about you and so is my brother but he liked Dorell Wright more than you. Some students included their address and telephone number in case Wade wants to call or visit. Fifth-grader Monica Lautere wrote: My dream is to see a Heat game with my family but we can't afford it. But perhaps no letter summed up the sentiment of Wade's young fans than the one that said: We came here to say I love you from all the kids in the world. Heat center Shaquille O'Neal, who also receives lots of get-well letters from children when he is hurt, said it's touching to receive them. "I remember when I was one of those kids who used to write letters," he said. Wade said the outpouring of emotion is humbling. "You don't always show it," he said, "but you're kind of warm-hearted and feel very thankful for people showing you their love and respect because they don't have to. I've got to find a way to let them know I read all the letters and I've seen everything they gave me."
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