April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
FAMILY LIFE
Nine-year-old creates a life amid disabilities
The nine-year-old also likes her role in helping out with baptisms at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany: "I hold the oil."
Naomi was born with arthrogryposis, a congenital condition that left her with shortened muscles and joints.
She puts it more simply: "I can't walk because I was born that way."
Naomi also has severe visual impairments, epilepsy and apraxia of speech, which means it's difficult for her to speak. "Life is unpredictable," remarked her father, Tim.
Naomi has three different wheelchairs that she uses throughout the day. Along with her regular electric wheelchair, she has a standing chair with which she can wheel herself around in an upright position.
Her third wheelchair is for outdoor use. It gets a lot of mileage when the Simcoe family takes walks. More portable, with having large tires that are better on grass, it looks a little like a stroller. It's the only chair Naomi can't maneuver by herself.
Disabilities haven't stopped the nine-year-old from packing her schedule with activities.
"If Naomi wants to be part of something, they find a way," said Elizabeth Simcoe, Naomi's grandmother.
That ability might run in the family: Mrs. Simcoe is also chancellor for the Albany Diocese, diocesan head of Catholic Faith Formation, head of the Prayer and Worship Office and newly-named parish life director for St. Vincent's (see page 2).
The proud grandmother remembered the first time her granddaughter served Mass at St. Vincent's.
The priest "began Mass by announcing to the congregation that he had anointed her when she was an infant. He was quite emotionally taken with the moment, as were other people," she told The Evangelist.
Back "when Naomi's life began, what her prospects were was very unclear, very uncertain," Mrs. Simcoe said. Now, during faith formation classes or "Psalty," the parish's annual summer musical, friends help Naomi move her wheelchair around the church. During last year's production of "Psalty," the cast decorated the chair, too.
"She participates as fully as anyone else," said Mr. Simcoe. "It's really beautiful."
Naomi's mother, Jiyoon, noted that the parish has an electric candle that Naomi uses when she's on the altar.
"I feel like Naomi's famous," Mrs. Simcoe said, noting that everyone at the parish knows her daughter and says hello as the family leaves after Mass.
Naomi also has some unique interests, from participating in a summer camp for kids at the Steamer 10 Theater in Albany to pursuing a fascination with other faiths and cultures.
"She's been trying to fast for Ramadan and Passover," Mr. Simcoe told The Evangelist. Naomi and her two-and-a-half-year-old brother, Robbie, even greet each other by saying, "Shalom."
Naomi has also been to a Buddhist temple, where she meditated for over an hour.
During the day, an aide helps care for Naomi, who is homeschooled. Many of the aides who have worked with her are college students who like to share their life stories with Naomi.
"She really wants to know how other people live," Mr. Simcoe told The Evangelist. "It makes for a very rich experience for everybody."
The Simcoes' living room furniture is pushed back against the walls to leave empty space for Naomi to exercise. She does laps around the hardwood floor in her wheelchair.
Robbie and Esti, Naomi's five-and-a-half-year-old sister, like to be a part of that, playing on Naomi's wheelchair.
"They make jokes about how Esti is going to climb into Naomi's wheelchair and go away to New York City," Mr. Simcoe said.
Esti insists that the plans aren't jokes.
The two sisters like to play with their American girl dolls together. Esti says that Naomi's favorite game is one they made up about Barney, the purple dinosaur famous from children's television.
"Naomi is rich in imagination," her mother remarked.
The family usually goes to Grandma Simcoe's house for Sunday dinner. Naomi told The Evangelist that one of her favorite things to do is cook with her grandmother.
A few weekends ago, the grandchildren pitched in to make a blueberry pie. "I try to involve them," said Mrs. Simcoe.
Having a family member with a disability is not easy, the chancellor added, but she's proud to see Esti be such a good sister to Naomi.
Esti sticks up for her big sister when people are talking too quickly or underestimating what Naomi can do.
Even grandmothers need schooling when a relative is dealing with a disability.
"I thought I was astute and aware of things. I had done training for the ministries I'm engaged in," Mrs. Simcoe said, but nothing can really prepare a person for the real situation: "It is eye-opening."[[In-content Ad]]
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