We all have lifelong dreams – places we want to go, things we want to accomplish, people we want to meet. For Darren, there was no greater dream than to watch the Chicago Bulls play at the United Center. There was never a question that basketball was going to be an integral part of Darren’s life. At seven, he crafted makeshift baskets and practiced in the backyard. As he got older, he would see the sun come up and go down on Chicago’s Washington Park courts. “It’s what he loved most,” Darren’s mother, Bridget recalls.
At 15, it was a jump shot that altered his life’s course. Violently landing, his head hitting the concrete, Darren’s injury ended his basketball career in the blink of an eye. Not expected to survive, his strong-willed and hardworking nature surprised his medical team – regaining movement before he even opened his eyes. The next several years brought hard fought steps forward…as well as some major setbacks. Through it all, Darren never stopped drawing inspiration from the Chicago Bulls. Watching games, surrounding himself with posters of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, and decked out in Bulls gear – the basketball player in him constantly pushed forward, never giving up.
Finding a home at Marklund, Darren found a place that embraced and encouraged him to push boundaries and regain his independence. With a dedication to making everyday life possible for each resident, Marklund knows how important it is to dream. Just this month, thanks to the support of people like YOU, Darren’s dream came true. At the United Center, he was treated like a VIP as he watched his team play for the first time in person. With the championship banners of the games he’d watched as a child hanging above, he cheered with the crowd and even saw his name in lights on the scoreboard. Darren’s trademark thumbs-up and smile was a constant throughout the evening.
These are the life-changing moments we strive for – what YOU make happen. Today, help us encourage each resident at Marklund to keep dreaming. With your help those dreams CAN be made possible!
