As Amy Hagadorn rounded the corner across the hall from her classroom, she crashed with a tall boy from the fifth grade running in the opposite direction. 

"Watch it, Squirt," the boy yelled, as he dodged around the little third grader. Then, with an unfriendly smile on his face, the boy took hold of his right leg and mimicked the way Amy limped when she walked. 

Amy closed her eyes for a moment. --Ignore him, she told herself as she headed for her classroom. 

But at the end of the day, Amy was still thinking about the tall boy's mean teasing. It wasn't as if he were the only one. Amy was tired of it. Sometimes, even in a classroom full of other students, the teasing about her speech or her limping made her feel all alone. 

Back home at the dinner table that evening Amy was quiet. That's why Patti Hagdorn was happy to havesome exciting news to share with her daughter. 

"There's a Christmas Wish Contest on the radio station," she announced. "Write a letter to Santa and you might win a prize. I think someone at this table with blond curly hair should enter." 

Amy giggled. The contest sounded like fun. She started thinking about what she wanted most for Christmas. 

A smile took hold of Amy when the idea first came to her. Out came pencil and paper and Amy went to work on her letter. --Dear Santa Claus, she began. 

While Amy worked away at her best printing, the rest of the family tried to guess what she might ask from Santa. Amy's sister, Jamie, and Amy's mom both thought a 3-foot Barbie Doll would top Amy's wish list. Amy's dad guessed a picture book. But Amy wasn't ready to reveal her secret Christmas wish just then. Here is Amy's letter to Santa, just as she wrote it that night: 

Dear Santa Clause, 

My name is Amy. I am 9 years old. I have a problem at school. Can you help me, Santa? Kids laugh at me because of the way I walk and run and talk. I have cerebral palsy . I just want one day where no one laughs at me or makes fun of me. 

Love, 

Amy 

At radio station WJLT in Fort Wayne, Indiana, letters poured in for the Christmas Wish Contest. The workers had fun reading about all the different presents that boys and girls from across the city wanted for Christmas. 

When Amy's letter arrived at the radio station, manager Lee Tobin read it carefully. He knew cerebral palsy was a muscle disorder that might confuse the schoolmates of Amy who didn't understand her disability. He thought it would be good for the people in Fort Wayne to hear about this special third grader and her unusual wish. Mr. Tobin called up the local newspaper. 

The next day, a picture of Amy and her letter to Santa made the front page of the News Sentinel. The story spread quickly. All across the country, newspapers and radio and television station reported the story of the little girl in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who asked for such a simple, yet remarkable Christmas gift - just one day without teasing. 

Suddenly the postman was a regular at the Hagadorn house. Envelopes of all sizes addressed to Amy arrived daily from children and adults all across the nation. They came filled with holiday greetings and words of encouragement. 

During that unforgettable Christmas season, over two thousand people from all over the world sent Amy letters of friendship and support. Amy and her family read every single one. Some of the writers had disabilities; some had been teased as children. Many people thanked Amy for being brave enough to speak up. Others encouraged her to ignore teasing and to carry her head high. Each writer had a special message for Amy. Through the cards and letters from strangers, Amy glimpsed a world full of people who truly cared about each other. She realized that no amount or form of teasing could ever make her feel lonely again. 

Amy did get her wish of a special day without teasing at South Wayne Elementary School. Additionally, everyone at school got an added bonus. Teachers and students talked together about how bad teasing can make others feel. 

That year, the Fort Wayne mayor officially proclaimed December 21st as Amy Jo Hagadorn Day throughout the city. The mayor explained that by daring to make such a simple wish, Amy taught a universal lesson. 

"Everyone," said the mayor, "wants and deserves to be treated with respect, dignity and warmth."
Who did the tall boy run into?
What grade was he in?
What did he call her?
Is she in his class?
What did she do?
Is she ridiculed a lot?
Who shared information with her at supper?
About what?
What did she need to do to participate?
Did she?
What did she put in the writing?
Where was it mailed?
Who received hers?
Who did he contact?
Where was her writing published?
Did a lot of readers see it?
Did it reach t.v.?
Did she receive personal responses?
What was she referred to as?
What was the day named?
Amy Hagadorn
Amy Hagadorn
fifth
fifth
Squirt
Squirt
No.
third grader
headed for her classroom
headed for her classroom
Yes.
It wasn't as if he were the only one
Her mother.
Patti Hagdorn
There's a Christmas Wish Contest on the radio station
There's a Christmas Wish Contest on the radio station
Write a letter to Santa
Write a letter to Santa
Yes.
Out came pencil and paper and Amy went to work on her letter
For children to stop poking fun at her.
Kids laugh at me because of the way I walk and run and talk. I have cerebral palsy
WJLT in Fort Wayne, Indiana
WJLT in Fort Wayne, Indiana
manager Lee Tobin
manager Lee Tobin
the local newspaper
the local newspaper
the front page of the News Sentinel
the front page of the News Sentinel
Yes.
story spread quickly
Yes.
television
Yes.
two thousand people from all over the world sent Amy letters of friendship and support
brave
brave
Amy Jo Hagadorn Day
Amy Jo Hagadorn Day