Dad, son kick off Father’s Day by passing inaugural torch
Born prematurely with Down Syndrome, Jonah Hickman had a seemingly grim prognosis. Medical professionals warned his life would be marred by limitations and that he would be unable to achieve what other children could.
It would’ve been a dismaying diagnosis for any parent with dreams for a healthy child, but the Hickmans refused to see Jonah’s disability as a barrier.
“When the doctors and the textbooks said, ‘No, he can’t,’ we said, ‘Oh yes, he can,’ ” his father, Tim Hickman, said.
On Father’s Day weekend, while other dads hit the golf course, barbecue or kicked back in front of the television, Hickman celebrated with a historic run through the streets of downtown with his 17-year-old son who continues to defy all odds. Together, the father-son pair from The Woodlands carried the Special Olympics torch on its inaugural journey to the World Games in Los Angeles. The
Hickmans are among more than 20,000 people trekking from the East to West Coast carrying flames lit by sun rays during a mid-May ceremony in Athens, Greece.
After making its way through Houston on Saturday, the torch will be carried through the other major Texas cities, passing hand-to-hand on its way to the opening ceremonies July 25.
Special Olympics has long made it a mission to bring people with disabilities out of the shadows, but the organization is amplifying that effort this year by conducting three simultaneous torch runs across the United States.
The 46-day relay is designed to raise awareness and advance the group’s mission of making the world a more inclusive place for people with disabilities, said Tela Mange, vice president of Special Olympics Texas.
“It’s not been all that long ago where parents who had babies with intellectual disabilities put those children in homes or warehoused them in institutions,” she said. “There were a lot families that felt a great deal of shame and pain and embarrassment. And they would hide their loved ones at home, and not have them in the real world, because there was a stigma or because they were worried how the world would treat their children.” ‘We choose to celebrate’
Even when Jonah was diagnosed, the Hickmans were told that his life would be limited.
“They said, ‘Don’t expect much or for him to do much in his lifetime,’ ” said Hickman, 47, a financial adviser with Bank of America, which sponsored the relay.
But the Hickmans eschewed that pessimism, instead flooding Jonah’s life with opportunities. Early on, they discovered that Jonah had endless determination to succeed at whatever he tried.
By 8, he was playing basketball alongside his twin sister at a Houstonarea YMCA.
At 12, he was competing in four separate Special Olympics sports: basket-
“We recognize that Jonah does indeed have a disability. … We choose to celebrate his ability to learn and compete. He does really well in school, sports, relationships and life.”
Tim Hickman, father of Jonah
ball, swimming, bowling and track.
He’s now a member of The Woodlands High School varsity bowling squad, and in May, his Special Olympics basketball team, coached by his dad, took home the gold medal at the state championship.
“We recognize that Jonah does indeed have a disability, but we don’t focus on his disability,” Hickman said. “We choose to celebrate his ability to learn and compete. He does really well in school, sports, relationships and life. You can check those boxes off.” ‘An absolute blessing’
While his competitive streak runs deep — Jonah inherited his love for the game from his father, who played NCAA Division 1 college basketball at Lamar University — the basketball court provides more than a chance to flex his athletic prowess.
“Sports can bring us all together,” Jonah said.
Hickman said that spirit exemplifies his son’s happy-go-lucky outlook on life, a perspective that’s reshaped the way he looks at the world.
“Jonah to us is an absolute blessing because he allowed us to realize what is truly important in life,” Hickman said.
It’s a message the pair hoped to spread among others along the relay route Saturday night. They jogged side-by-side into Discovery Green where a crowd was waiting to welcome them.
“There is hope,” Hickman said. “And the light at the end of the tunnel is the flame of hope we’re carrying tonight. To not only show the greater Houston area, but to show the world, that we’re all flawed in some way, but if you recognize your advantages and you focus on your strengths, your future and your success can be limitless.”