One stormy night, my mother and I were driving home from a basketball tryout that was held at the middle school. My name is Jayy, and I was only 13 at the time and would soon find out that my life was going to get a bit more interesting.
"Mom," I cried, "Please, be careful, you almost hit that car!"
My mother, Jenny, swerved out of the way, "I'm so sorry Jayy, this rain is pouring down so hard and fast."

She was right too, whatever was making the heavens so upset, sure as heck wasn't making it easy for the people living on earth. Even with how fast our windshield wipers were going, it didn't help at all. The rain just kept pouring harder and stronger. I actually blame myself for what’s about to happen. You see, I begged and cried for my mother to take me to basketball tryouts today. I still remembered the look on her face as she watched the morning news caster predict the weather for today. I blocked out the sound of course - I mean, what kid cares about the weather at the time? Her expression was filled with worry and was beginning to have second thoughts about taking me to try-outs. But, being the kid I was back then, I saw no reason for me not to go. I loved basketball more than anything.

As my mother swerved left and right, somehow I was able to squint my eyes hard enough through the small parts of the windshield - that was cleared away from the windshield wipers - only to see a large tree had been knocked over and was laying in the middle of the road.
"MOM!" I screamed.
I felt the impact as my chest lunged forward. Luckily the seat-belt held me back from colliding with the windshield of our car. However, that did not stop my head from hitting the side window, causing me to blackout. I opened my eyes and all i can see was black, so I yelled out for someone, hoping I was only dreaming.
“Mom?" I called out. I heard nothing. Not the sound of the rain, or the engine of the car. I found it odd, I knew we hit a tree, yet, not even the sound of an ambulance echoing off in the background was blaring its sirens. I moved my hands around beside me. Maybe I could tell where I was by the things I could feel, I thought to myself.

I felt something soft. "A bed?" I asked myself. Then I moved my hands up to my chest and face. My hands shook from fear, I felt gauze wrapped around my head which would make sense as to why I wasn't able to see where I was being held. I began to freak out even more. I slid my hand down my arm, only to find that I had been poked with an I.V. I screamed again with a small cry to my voice.
"MOM! Mom, where are you? Why can’t I see anything?"
A nurse had been walking by when she finally heard my screams for help. She yelled at the doctor that I had awaken sooner then expected. The Doctors voice was dark, but was very calming to my ears as he began to speak to me.
"I am aware your name is Jayy Miller, and you are around 13 years of age. Is this correct?" he asked. I nodded my head in a yes response. "Is there anything you can remember before you came to the hospital?"
I sat there quietly. So, I'm at the hospital. That makes sense. I said to myself. I thought for a moment wondering if I did remember anything from earlier. I spoke softly in reply.
"I...I was in the car with my mother, we were coming home from basketball tryouts. You see, it’s my dream to make it into the big leagues someday. But it was raining, really hard and...we hit something. Then I hit my head on the window and blacked out."

"Nothing more?" he asked persistently.
I told him again that, that's all I could remember. I rubbed my head and felt the gauze around my eyes. I shot up in a plea. "Doctor! Please, tell me why I can’t see anything?" I assumed it was the doctor who took a few steps towards me and sat down on bed. His hands were a bit rough, yet smooth in some areas.
“Jayy your blind” He said sadly.
My heart sank deep in my chest. Well there goes my basketball dreams. I thought to myself. “Am I going to be OK? Will I ever get to see again?” I asked. The doctor took hold of my hand.
“I'm sorry Jayy. The damage was much worse than we thought. When you and your mother hit that tree, the windshield glass shattered and a lot of it went into your eyes. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about this, your eye site may never come back”
Later i found out from my father that my mother wasn’t so lucky. The damage she endured was much greater than me losing my eye site. My father had told me she was barley hanging on with the hospitals life support. He told me, we must make a decision on pulling the plug and letting my mom go in peace. It was a hard choice to make, I knew mom wasn’t going to pull through. So we made the choice to pull the plug on mom. My father and I had a hard time moving on after that.

Now, with 3yrs passed by, I am now 16, and would be considered a Junior in high school. I spend most of my time outside in the backyard where I would make attempts to shoot hoops. Even though i couldn’t see - I didn't think that was a good enough reason for me to not try.
Bang! was the sound I often hear when I knew I was hitting the side of the house. I would often groan in frustration. I thought I had the court memorized in my head before I lost my eye site. I felt around on the ground for the ball - hoping it would of rolled back into my direction. Once i found the ball, I slowly walked around til i found the poll of the basket. I took ten step in the opposite direction, found my stance and took the shot. For the first time in a year, I finally made a basket. I finally heard that sweet reassuring sound you get when you make a successful basket.

"Father! Father!" I exclaimed while making my way into the house.
"What is it now Jayy, I'm busy looking at these floor plans for the house we're working on." He replied.

"But father, I made a basket. I actually made one." I sang joyfully
"That's great Jayy, but, don't you think its time to focus on something else other than basket ball? I mean without your site, its not really all that achievable anymore."

"No! How can you say that to me? Dad, I can do it, I've been practicing nonstop, I can do this. All I need is a chance to prove myself to a coach or something" I exclaimed with plea.
My father gave a sigh of sadness and turned to look in my direction. " Look Jayy, I've fought with you about this for over 3 years now, and frankly, I've had enough of it. If you can convince the sports coach to give you a shot, I'll help you."

Sport season was about to start soon this year, and i was determined to get on the team. I felt excited, but nervous as i made my way to the coaches office after school. I can only imagine how irritated the coach my be after seeing me enter his office, year after year - since my accident. Like i figured as soon as i opened the door he gave a soft sigh. The loud squeak from his chair must of meant he was sitting up.
"Sir, I want to try out for the basketball team this year." I started off with softly

"Jayy, we've been through this already. I cant put you on the team if you cant even see to protect yourself - let alone catch or throw the ball to make a basket-"
"But coach, I've been practicing with my dad. Please, just give me a chance, or just let me come to a couple of practices for learning. I don't have to see all the time, I can listen i can focus on the voices of my team members! Please, I beg you, I don't want anything else in the world than to prove that I can do this."

I must of broke the coach's heart or something, the words that came from his mouth blew me away. The coach actually said 'yes' to me. After nearly 3 years of begging and pleading for the chance to prove myself, it was finally going to happen this time. I reached out and placed my hand on the table feeling around for his. We shared an awkward handshake. I told him he wouldn't regret it.
Once I got home from school, I made my way to my dad's office to tell him the good news. My father was still a bit uneasy about it, but was happy to hear that the coach was willing to work with me even though I am visibly disabled.

It was nonstop training from then on. A couple hours after school, I would meet up with the coach and the rest of the team for practice. Of course, you've got your shallow boys who think that just because i have no site, i can do anything sports related, but all i need is just one shot on the court with them and they'll see, I'll prove them wrong. On weekends, I'll be practicing with my dad - now that i have him 100% with me in support.

Our first basket ball match was coming up in a few weeks. I have suffered some scrapes and small bruising along the way. Keep in mind, that this is all worth it. I've been put in a few practice runs and was told that I wasn't that bad, but was always room for improvement. I was really bad at finding my placement once the whistle was blown but coach kept telling me to listen to the voices around me, along with my teammates gestures. I felt myself getting more successful.

April 19th. Today was the day. We were to play the last rival team of the season for nationals. I awoke that morning with a fast beating heart full of excitement. My dad and I talked about how excited we both were on how far and how much i had really improved on with my training. I have so many people to thank. But only one person I wish was still here to see my success. . . .my mother. I wondered how proud my mother would be to know how much stronger I've become with dad's help. I just wish my love of basketball didn't end her life that night.
I was a nervous wreck that school morning into the afternoon. I somehow made it through and slowly made my way to the locker rooms where my teammates would be waiting to go out onto the court. I could hear the crowed roar inside the gymnasium while the school band tried desperately to roar back over them with the schools theme song.
The booming of the bands drums, the roaring of the crowed, or the chattering monkeys i refer to as my team mates. Neither one would shut up long enough for me to concentrate. Then I hear the principle speak and everything went dead. As usual he welcomed everyone here for supporting the basketball team and for sort-of congratulating me on making the team I suppose. It was the last game before nationals, and i so badly wanted to win and not screw this main event up.

The game was coming to an end, the score is 18 to 20. It’s a pretty even match between us. The smell of nasty sweaty bodies filled my nostrils as i took a small break on the bench. Tick...Tick...Tick. The clock was ticking by, precious seconds ticking away as we struggled to gain control of the ball again. Then i felt a tap to my shoulder.

"Jayy, get in there and wind us this game." called the coach
"Coach, are you sure you want me to shoot the winning basket?" I was confused. My placing wasn't all that great when it came to shooting a basket but it took me a couple tries to get it right. Then he called over Ryan, a boy from our team.
"Ryan, here will help you find your placement. Don't worry, I've checked with the rules and the referees. It’s not cheating. Now, Jayy. Shoot us that winning basket!"

The whistle blew and we took our placements. It was all down to this. The last minute on the clock. I listened, and found who had the ball. With Ryan by my side he led me to the 3 pointer line. The crowed roared again. "Jayy. Jayy. Jayy!" they chanted. I imagined the basket in front of me like back at home. I tried to waste as much time as i could, waiting for Ryans yell so i could shoot the ball. I felt a tap to my shoulder again and heard Ryan call to me. I shot the ball. Then, the timer blared.

What happened next? Well, we went to nationals of course. Me being blind, exploded all over the media. I was famous! It was nice, but being famous wasn't what i wanted. Being able to play and proving i could do it even though i was blind, that's what I wanted. I was an inspiration to other disabled kids. So i was told by the news people from the TV, and the constant interviews, and I believe it. Now I believe in me and even if your disabled you can do anything you want like me.