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Dear Simone Biles,
Although my daughter, Lily, would love to write to you herself, she’s only 5 and still mastering her letters. You’re still getting used to being one of the most recognized figures in the world, and I wanted to share how much you mean to this little girl.
Lily entered the world at just 23 weeks, weighing a little over a pound. Her journey began in the neonatal intensive care unit, where she spent 196 days fighting for her life, defying all odds. The tiniest person I’ve ever seen, she was also the strongest. Even with her eyes fused shut, she had an inner strength that guided her through pain and isolation, teaching me about resilience and determination.
At the age of 2, she started gymnastics, inspired by her own energy and your example. With her remarkable preemie upper body strength and the clumsiness of a preschooler, she walks on her hands and leaps off anything she can reach. “Watch me,” she says with glee. “You might think I’m small, but this is going to be amazing.”
Lily is little, and that weighs heavily on her. “When will I be big?” she often asks. Unfortunately, doctors say she’ll likely stay petite. I’ve witnessed her peers call her a baby and tell her she’s too small to play with them. She tries to stay brave. One day, she climbed to the top of a playground tree and looked down at the kids who were much taller. “You can climb like this,” she said, “when you’re big like me.” I felt a wave of pride, but her courage sometimes falters, and some nights she cries about wanting to be big.
Then we discovered you on YouTube, and everything changed. Lily began to see herself differently. “Is Simone Biles little like me?” she asked. “Yes,” I replied. “She’s just like you.” “She’s even better than me at gymnastics,” she mused. “But that’s okay.”
Now, we watch videos of the “Best Girl in The World” every night. We discuss hard work, practice, confidence, and strength. I even let her stay up late to watch you at the Olympics. When you nailed your floor routine and won that gold medal, Lily leaped off the couch in pure joy.
You’ve empowered her against one of the toughest challenges: the judgment of other girls. You’ve helped her envision what’s possible and reminded her of her inherent strength. As the camera zoomed in on your radiant smile, she said, “She is looking at me. Does she see me?” I couldn’t bear to tell her it was just TV.
Lily created a drawing of you, convinced I could hand it to you through the screen. Here it is, filled with all our love and gratitude.
With appreciation,
Megan
P.S. If you’re interested in exploring more about home insemination methods, consider checking out this post, and for further guidance, visit Make a Mom for expert advice, or Medical News Today for fertility resources.
Summary: This heartfelt letter captures the profound impact Simone Biles has had on a young girl’s self-perception and resilience. Lily, born prematurely, draws inspiration from Simone’s achievements, finding strength in her journey and redefining her identity despite societal judgments about her size.