For our second session Brandon came in wearing a Houston Astros hat. I pulled out a copy of the Stuttering Foundation newsletter and showed him the picture on the cover of MVP George Springer from the Houston Astros. The revelation for Brandon that a player on his favorite team stuttered was one of pure disbelief.


In fact, it turned out that Brandon was going to an Angels v. Astros game a few weeks later for his 6th birthday. I shared with Brandon and his mother all about the work that George Springer does as a spokesperson for SAY (Stuttering Association for the Young). I suggested to Brandon that he make a sign telling George that he, too, stuttered.


Brandon and his family went to two games that week. At the first game, Brandon and his family got to the stadium early for batting practice. George waved to a group of fans who were there close to the field and Brandon was certain that George was waving at him. He was hard to miss: Brandon could also be seen during the post-game show that night with his colorful sign, “Springer #4, I Stutter Too!”.


When Brandon went back for the second game that week, he got his chance. George saw Brandon with his poster and came over to talk to him. He told Brandon that it was okay to stutter, autographed a baseball card, ball, and took photos together. He then went back to the dugout and brought back a pair of his batting gloves. Brandon still wears them to sleep every night.


Brandon disclosed to everyone through his sign that he stuttered all because he saw someone that he admired and identified with, decreasing the stigma he felt about his own stuttering. He continues to grow in sharing his understanding of stuttering, now more confidently responding to questions from peers about his speech. He now knows he is not alone in his stuttering, and that it is okay to be open about his struggle ... just like George Springer.


Meeting George was surely a long shot on a summer night, but one that was only possible when we stayed true to our words.


27


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