(man) MAJOR FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY: AND BY: ...RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES.

[no audio] (boy singing) ♪ A B C D E F G ♪ ♪ H I J K L M N O P ♪ ♪ Q R S... ♪♪ (newsman) A YOUNG BOY WAS BURNED OVER MOST OF HIS BODY TODAY, AFTER COLLAPSING INTO A FIRE THAT ENGULFED THE LIVING ROOM (newswoman) OF HIS FAMILY'S HOME IN MINNEAPOLIS.

FIREMEN BROKE THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR TO GET INTO THE LIVING ROOM, (2nd newswoman) BUT WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE BOY.

EVENTUALLY THEY FOUND HIM LYING ON THE FLOOR (2nd newsman) RIGHT BEHIND THE FRONT DOOR THEY HAD JUST ENTERED.

HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HENNEPIN COUNTY BURN UNIT, WHERE DOCTORS SAY HIS CONDITION (newswoman) IS CRITICAL.

IT'S AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR AND TRAGIC STORY OF A YOUNG CHILD PLAYING WITH FIRE.

(boy singing) ♪ NOW I KNOW MY ABC'S, ♪ ♪ TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF ME.

♪♪ ♪ (slow, melodic piano) ♪ ♪ ♪ [rush & crackle of flames] [crackle & roar] [Foua crying] [roar] [Foua crying] [frenetic woman speaking in native language] [sirens] [woman crying and exclaiming] [roar & rush] [Foua crying] (woman exclaims) FOUA!

[Foua crying] (woman screams) FOUA!

FOUA!

[sirens] [woman crying] (woman screams) FOUA!

♪ [piano] ♪ I WAS ONLY ALMOST 18, AND I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, THE SENIOR YEAR THAT YEAR.

THEY HAD NEVER CALLED ME AT SCHOOL FOR ANYTHING, AND WHEN THEY TOLD ME THE HOUSE WAS ON FIRE AND MY SON GOT BURNED AND WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, AND I WAS JUST SHOCKED.

WELL, WHEN FOUA CAME IN, THIS WAS ABOUT AS CRITICALLY INJURED A CHILD AS YOU COULD EVER HAVE ARRIVE IN YOUR BURN CENTER.

HE UNFORTUNATELY PASSED OUT INTO THE FIRE ITSELF, FACE FIRST, AND SO HE WAS BURNED FROM HEAD TO FOOT OVER 90% OF HIS BODY, BUT IN ADDITION, THE BURNS WERE EXTREMELY DEEP.

CERTAINLY HIS EARS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

HIS NOSE WAS DESTROYED.

ALL THE SKIN OF HIS FACE AND EYELIDS WAS DESTROYED INTO THE FAT.

(Patti Klein) THERE WAS, INITIALLY, VERY LITTLE HOPE.

ALWAYS HOPE, BUT LITTLE HOPE THAT HE WOULD SURVIVE.

I REMEMBER THINKING SUCH A LITTLE THING IN THE BED, YOU KNOW JUST THIS LITTLE SPOT IN THE BED-- IN THIS BIG WHITE BED, SURROUNDED BY SO MANY PEOPLE, AND IT'S LIKE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH OF HIM TO GO AROUND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE TO DO SOMETHING.

WE WENT IN TO SEE HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THE DOCTOR CAME IN AND WARNED ME THAT HE DOESN'T LOOK THE SAME AS HE LOOKED BEFORE, AND HE WOULD DIFFERENT-- HE WOULD BE A DIFFERENT COLOR.

SO I WENT IN, AND HE WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

I COULDN'T IMAGINE THE PAIN.

BUT AT THE MOMENT I JUST LOOK AT HIM, AND... "HOW AM I GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS?"

(Dr.

Twomey) WELL, THE FIRST GOAL FOR FOUA WAS TO KEEP HIM ALIVE.

THE SMOKE INHALATION ALONE COMPOUNDS THE MORTALITY RATE, AND THIS REALLY ADDED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE STRUGGLE IN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS JUST TO SIMPLY KEEP HIM ALIVE.

ONCE WE GOT PAST THAT POINT, THEN IT WAS A MAJOR TASK TO TAKE SEGMENTS OF HIS BODY AND GRAFT THEM FROM WHAT LITTLE SKIN WE HAD AVAILABLE FOR HIM, INFLICTING ITS OWN AMOUNT OF PAIN ON THIS POOR LITTLE KID.

SO IT WAS A VERY TEDIOUS PROCESS FOR HIM.

AND I THINK THAT THERE WAS SOME... THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCOMFORT AMONG THE STAFF.

SOME PEOPLE FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT WE WERE NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING BY SAVING HIM.

AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THEM SAYING SOMETHING TO ME LIKE, "WHAT ARE WE DOING TO THIS LITTLE BOY?

I MEAN, HOW CAN WE DO THIS TO HIM?

HOW CAN WE SAVE HIM?

LOOK AT THE KIND OF LIFE HE'S GOING TO HAVE.

WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE LIKE FOR HIM?"

INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT DOING A GOOD THING AND SAVING HIM, PEOPLE WERE THINKING THAT IT WAS THE WRONG THING TO DO, THAT WE WERE DOING HIM HARM, ACTUALLY.

(Dr.

Twomey) WE WERE LOOKING AT A CHILD WHO WILL BE DESTROYED, NOT ONLY FROM HIS FACIAL FEATURES, BUT MANY OF HIS FUNCTIONAL FEATURES, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ASK HIM - IF WE GET HIM TO SURVIVE - TO GO OUT INTO THE HARD, COLD, CRUEL WORLD.

THIS WAS A CHILD WHO HAD A LOT OF STRIKES AGAINST HIM, SO I THINK IT WAS RIGHT FOR MANY PEOPLE TO QUESTION WHETHER WE WERE DOING THE CORRECT THING.

(Patti Klein) I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN, BUT SOMEHOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAVE HIM.

AND IF IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE, IT'S NOT UP TO US.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE FOR FOUA.

WE ASSUME THAT KIDS ARE GOING TO BE CRUEL, BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF HOW THEY ARE, AND THAT PEOPLE WILL BE STARING AND RUDE, AND THAT HE MAYBE WON'T HAVE A GOOD LIFE.

I DON'T KNOW.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT AT THE TIME?

♪ [slow, reflective piano] ♪ ♪ [xylophone] ♪ [students chattering] ♪ [xylophone] ♪ [students talking] (teacher) WE'RE BACK TO THOSE OPEN-ENDED THINGS [laughing] [chattering] (teacher) WHAT'S THE ANSWER THEN?

[chattering] [teacher talking] [chattering] [laughing] (teacher) WHAT IS THAT BIG SPACE UNDERNEATH IT?

[chattering] [applause] ♪ [xylophone] ♪ (Rose Marie Redmon) I MET FOUA LAST YEAR WHEN HE AND HIS MOTHER CAME OVER FOR AN INTERVIEW.

AND I HAD BEEN PREPARED.

I HAD BEEN TOLD FOUA HAS A LOT OF SCARRING, AND HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF FACIAL FEATURE, AND HE DOESN'T HAVE... THE VERBAL DOES NOT IN ANY WAY PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT YOU SEE.

AND I GUESS MY INITIAL REACTION WAS I JUST TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND WENT (gasps) "WOW," YOU KNOW?

THIS KID IS SMILING.

HE'S GOING THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF, AND HE'S STILL SMILING.

HE HAD ONLY A COUPLE FRIENDS THAT HE KNEW WHEN HE FIRST CAME HERE, AND, UM, I THINK THERE WAS MORE OF THE STUDENTS DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM HIM.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY OBSERVED HIM OR TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO LOOK AT HIM OR STARE AT HIM, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DISTANCE.

AND I KNOW FOUA WAS VERY NERVOUS.

HE WAS VERY NERVOUS COMING TO SCHOOL.

WILD WOLVES ROAM THROUGHOUT MANY REGIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE.

THE ROTE ROTE DEER CAN BE FOUND IN VARIOUS PARTS OF EASTERN EUROPE.

THE FIRST DAY WHEN I COME, I THOUGHT THAT JUST WAS SOMETHING ON HIS HEAD.

BUT WHEN I GO BY HIM, I SAW THAT THAT'S HOW HE LOOK LIKE.

AND I WAS SCARED TO SIT BY HIM, AND TO LOOK AT HIM.

[students talking] (Claire) I GUESS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR I CRIED, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SO SAD WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

AND SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT IT, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I'D GO THROUGH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE, EXACTLY.

THE FIRST TIME WE SAW HIM, IT WAS LIKE, "MAN, THAT IS JACKED UP, THAT IS MESSED UP, HE GOT BURNT IN A FIRE."

AND I ASKED HIM HOW HE FELT ABOUT IT, IF IT BUGGED HIM, AND HE SAID, "WELL SOMETIMES."

HE SAID IT NEVER REALLY BUGGED HIM THAT MUCH WITH THE WAY KIDS LOOK AT HIM AND HOW THEY THINK HE LOOKS AND THE BURNS ON HIS FACE.

I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR OF GOING AND WORKING WITH HIM, A LOT OF FEAR TO GO BY HIM.

AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, PEOPLE WERE STARTING TO LOOSEN UP, BE ABLE TO WORK WITH HIM AND TALK TO HIM.

I'M SURE THE FIRST WEEK, IT SEEMED LIKE NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE WERE TALKING TO HIM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS GOING TO BE LIKE.

THE OTHER THING THAT I JUST WANT TO SHARE, WHICH I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO PICK UP A LOT ON THE ARTICLE ABOUT ANGIE, "IT'S OK TO BE DIFFERENT," IS... IT WASN'T ALWAYS EASY TO HAVE A DISABILITY.

THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE VERY, VERY CHALLENGING.

AND NOT JUST SCHOOL.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT IN THE ARTICLE.

SO WE'LL CHOOSE STUDENTS TO STAND UP AND READ TODAY.

IT'S CALLED, "IT'S OK TO BE DIFFERENT.

STOP MAKING FUN OF MY DISABILITY," BY ANGIE ERICKSON.

WHY ME?

I OFTEN ASK MYSELF WHY DID I HAVE TO BE THE ONE?

WHY DID I GET PICKED TO BE DIFFERENT?

WHY ARE PEOPLE MEAN TO ME?

I FINALLY FOUND OUT WHO MY REAL FRIENDS WERE, AND I TRIED TO IGNORE THE ONES WHO WERE MEAN.

PEOPLE STILL CALL ME NAMES AND MAKE FUN OF ME.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT ANYONE WOULD WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAD CEREBRAL PALSY.

(girl) AT 16, I BELIEVE I LEARNED MORE THAN MANY PEOPLE WILL LEARN IN THEIR WHOLE LIVES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL GO THROUGH LIFE BEING MEAN TO THOSE WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACT OR WHAT TO SAY.

(boy) THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WISH I HADN'T BEEN BORN WITH CEREBRA... WHAT'S THAT?

(teacher) CEREBRAL PALSY.

BUT CRYING ABOUT IT ISN'T GOING TO DO ANY GOOD.

I CAN ONLY LIVE ONCE, SO I WANT TO LIVE THE BEST I CAN.

I AM GLAD I LEARNED WHO I AM.

(teacher) VERY... MOVING.

I WAS VERY TOUCHED BY WHAT ANGIE WROTE.

SHE'S A VERY STRONG PERSON-- I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE PICKED THAT UP FROM THE ARTICLE, AND SHE CERTAINLY KNOWS WHO SHE IS.

[many students talking] THEY'RE GOING TO INTERVIEW YOU.

WHAT'S IT FOR?

WOLF TRACKS?

NO, WEBSTER WOLF PACK WEEKLY.

WOLF PACK WEEKLY.

[students chattering] HELLO, FOUA.

HOW OLD ARE YOU, FOUA?

12.

12.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SPORT, AND WHY?

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SPORT?

AH, SOCCER.

WHY DO YOU LIKE SOCCER?

BECAUSE YOU KICK IT!

WOULD YOU RATHER BE HERE AT WEBSTER, OR AT ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT COULD GIVE YOU MORE PHYSICAL HELP?

I WANT TO STAY HERE.

STAY HERE?

COOL!

UM... THERE'S MORE.

DO YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT HOW WEBSTER STUDENTS TREAT YOU?

YEAH.

OKAY.

DID YOU MEET A LOT OF NEW KIDS, AND DO YOU HAVE A BEST FRIEND?

I DON'T... I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU DON'T KNOW?

DOES IT BUG YOU WHEN LITTLE KIDS AND OLDER KIDS LOOK AT YOU?

LIKE STARING.

NO.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL?

(chuckles) I LIKE NO WORK.

YOU DON'T LIKE NONE OF IT?

LUNCH?

(Foua) (chuckles)... I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY?

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME, LIKE AFTER SCHOOL?

I DO NOTHIN'.

ALL I DO IS WATCH TV.

WATCH TV?

YOU'RE DONE, RIGHT?

YUP.

(All) THANK YOU!

[students chattering] WE STARTED A PARTNERSHIP WITH KINDERGARTEN WHERE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TEACH KINDERGARTEN FOR HALF A DAY EVERY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

AND WE HAD PARTNERED FOUA WITH ONE OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, CLAIRE, AND WE HAD TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE WANTED THEM TO BUILD THIS RELATIONSHIP.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED WITH FOUA ABOUT WAS THAT HIS KINDERGARTNER WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE NERVOUS.

SHE'D SORT OF CLING TO ME A LOT OF THE TIME, AND SO I JUST HAD TO ENCOURAGE HER TO WORK WITH FOUA MORE AND MORE.

(Kerrie's Mother) SHE CALLED HIM A MONSTER ONCE.

SHE THOUGHT HE LOOKED LIKE A MONSTER.

AND I WOULD MAKE COMMENTS LIKE CALL HIM "FOUA, FOUA THE MONSTER."

AND, ONE DAY I SAID, "YOU KNOW, FOUA THAT MONSTER AT SCHOOL."

AND SHE SAID, "MOM, HE IS NOT A MONSTER."

AND THEN I KNEW SHE WAS THROUGH.

(Rose Marie) WHAT I SAW WAS, YOU KNOW, "SHE'S AFRAID OF ME.

THAT BOTHERS ME."

BUT WHAT HE SAID WAS, "IT'S OKAY."

BUT WHAT YOU SEE IN HIS EYES IS REALLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU HEAR FROM HIM.

(Male interviewer) WHAT DO YOU SEE IN HIS EYES?

YOU SEE... "GOD, SOMEBODY ELSE WHO THINKS I'M REALLY BAD OR REALLY DIFFERENT OR I CAN'T BE CLOSE TO."

IT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY FOR HIM.

I SEE A LITTLE BOY WHO JUST DOESN'T HAVE... A LOT OF... A LOT OF CLOSENESS.

I MEAN, HIS FAMILY IS CLOSE TO HIM, BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S EVER HAD ANYBODY OUTSIDE HIS FAMILY BE REALLY CLOSE TO HIM EXCEPT MAYBE A TEACHER.

AND I DON'T INCLUDE TEACHERS ON MY ALL-TIME LIST OF WHO I WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH IF I'M A SEVENTH GRADER.

I WANT A PERSON TO CONNECT WITH ME.

I THINK WE SAW THAT WITH CLAIRE AND HIS PARTNER STARTING TO CONNECT, AND IT WAS JUST AWESOME!

YOU COULD SEE HIS EYES CHANGE.

YOU COULD SEE IT GOING FROM "OH WELL, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER INCIDENT OF I'M A LITTLE DIFFERENT," TO "OKAY.

THIS IS GOOD!"

BY THE THIRD WEEK, THEY WERE SITTIN' 3 IN A ROW, AND THEY WERE COLORING TOGETHER, AND IT WAS LIKE "YES!"

YOU KNOW?

WE HAVE DONE THIS!

THIS IS GOOD!

[students chattering] YOU'VE GOT TO FINISH THE ELEPHANT, OKAY?

YOU COULD DARKEN IT OUT, OK?

[another student remarks] WHAT DID YOU SAY?

WE COLORED ELEPHANTS TODAY.

(Foua) YOU COULD WRITE UP HERE, OKAY?

PUT DOWN, "WE COLORED... WE COLORED THE ELEPHANT."

ARE WE DRAWING IT?

NO, JUST WRITE IT-- "WE" WHAT?

WE, "W" "E."

WE-- "W" "E."

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY?

WE COLORED ELEPHANT ELEPHANT!

ELEPHANT!

YOU'RE LIKE A TEACHER!

YOU KNOW?

AND YOU'RE A ROLE MODEL, YOU KNOW?

AND THAT'S ALL YOU DO... YOU TEACH 'EM GOOD STUFF, SO WHEN THEY GET IN FIRST GRADE, THEY COULD BE... GET TO... SO THEY DON'T TALK BACK TO THE TEACHER AND ALL THAT.

[xylophone music & students chattering] TIGER.

TIGER?

VERY COOL!

OKAY, WE ARE HERE.

COME ON!

CAN YOU SEE IT OVER THERE?

IT'S WAY OVER THERE!

(chuckles) I SEE A TIGER!

I SEE DIRT.

[xylophone music & many children chattering excitedly] WE'RE LOST!

[bird caws] [Kerrie talking excitedly] (Mai) YOU HAVE A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT TODAY.

I DO?

YES!

CHECK UP, RIGHT?

HMMM?

CHECK UP?

UM HUM.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

TAKE YOUR TIME?

YEAH, I TAKE MY TIME.

YEAH, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE TAKING YOUR TIME.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ASK, YOU JUST ASK.

NOTHING.

WHY?

YOU BETTER THINK OF WHAT YOU'RE GONNA ASK.

YEAH, BECAUSE YOU'RE MUCH BIGGER NOW, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR OWN QUESTIONS.

WHY?

WELL, BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK THEM.

MY QUESTION IS... NOTHING.

NOTHING?

WHY?

I'M SURE YOU MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT I WANT TO SAY?

NOTHING!

YOU DON'T GET IT.

MR.

FOUA?

IS ANYTHING WRONG?

(Mai) NO, HE'S JUST LAUGHING.

ROOM 3, RIGHT HERE, OK?

HELLO, HI!

IT'S BEEN A YEAR!

(Mai) YEAH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NEXT YOU'RE GONNA DO SURGERY ON.

WELL, WHAT COMES NEXT IS A DECISION THAT HE SHOULD BE INVOLVED WITH, YOU SHOULD BE INVOLVED WITH, AND I CAN SUGGEST THINGS FOR YOU, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME CHOICES.

>>YEAH.

CAN YOU TURN YOUR HAND UP?

OTHER WAY.

NOW THAT'S THE THUMB WE WORKED ON FOR YOU ONCE.

YEAH.

UM HUM.

ARE YOU RIDING A BIKE?

OKAY, YEAH.

WHAT KIND OF A BIKE IS IT?

A BIKE BIKE, HUH?

YEAH, A BIKE.

IT HAS TO BE SMALL FOR ME TO RIDE.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL DOCTOR PELTIER WHAT KIND OF SPORT YOU'RE DOING IN SCHOOL.

LAST SUMMER I STAY AFTER SCHOOL AND PLAY SOCCER SOCCER?

AND VOLLEYBALL.

OKAY-- WHEN HE'S ACTIVE LIKE THAT, HE WILL STRETCH OUT A LOT OF THE TIGHT PLACES.

WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT AN EAR COULD BE BUILT FOR HIM, PROBABLY OUT OF PLASTIC, AT THIS POINT.

ACTUALLY, I THINK BOTH EARS COULD BE FIT WITH PLASTIC EARS THAT WOULD MATCH HIS COLORING, BUT THEY WOULD NOT BE MADE OF HIS TISSUE, SO THEY WOULD GO ON AND COME OFF.

THE EAR ON THE RIGHT WOULD ACTUALLY GO ON A LITTLE POST BUILT INTO THE BONE.

ASIDE FROM HAIR REPLACEMENT SURGERY, THERE ARE WAYS OF GIVING HIM A HEAD OF HAIR AND MATCHING WHAT HE'S GOT AND INTEGRATING IT ALL TOGETHER.

AND SAVE THE SURGICAL KINDS OF THINGS FOR THINGS THAT CAN'T BE DONE ANY OTHER WAY.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD SUGGEST AT THIS POINT WOULD BE HIS UPPER LIP, WOULD BE GOOD.

WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT DOING SOME WORK ON HIS EYELIDS.

HIS EYELIDS, YEAH.

PUT YOUR FACE UP TOWARD THE... SEE, HE'S VERY, VERY VERY TIGHT ACROSS THERE.

BUT ALSO WHEN WE PUT SKIN IN THERE, IT SHRANK VERY QUICKLY.

YEAH.

HIS NOSE IS VERY LIKELY APPROACHABLE, BUT NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE DONE AT ONCE.

OH, YEAH, I KNOW THAT.

ONLY ONE THING AT A TIME.

AND JUNE IS THE BEST TIME TO DO THE WORK FOR HIM, SO WE DON'T INTERRUPT HIS SCHOOL, SO HE HAS THE REST OF THE SUMMER TO... BUT I NEED TO HEAR FROM HIM WHAT HE THINKS HIS PROBLEMS ARE.

(Mai) YEAH, I WANT HIM TO TELL YOU.

BECAUSE NOW HE'S MUCH BIGGER.

EVERYTHING'S FINE WITH ME.

WELL, THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE HE NEEDS TO GO HOME AND HE NEEDS TO THINK ABOUT IT.

AND WHEN HE'S READY-- EVERYTHING IS FINE.

THAT'S WHEN I'M READY.

(Patti Klein) WE HAD A DAY WHERE WE WERE GETTING FOUA READY FOR HIS DRESSING CHANGES, AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO.

HE WAS SAYING "NO, NO, NO...," I SAID, "OH FOUA, YOU KNOW HONEY, WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

WE JUST HAVE TO DO THIS."

AND WE STARTED TAKING OFF HIS DRESSINGS, AND WE COVERED HIM WITH A DRAPE AND TOOK HIM INTO THE TUB ROOM, AND HE WAS MAD.

I MEAN HE WAS REALLY ANGRY.

HE WAS KIND OF SITTING UP ON A GURNEY TYPE THING THAT HAS RAILINGS, AND I REMEMBER HIM SITTING THERE, AND HE WAS... AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE WENT-- "FOO!"

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!

HE SPIT RIGHT ON ME!

AND I SAID, "FOUA, DON'T YOU EVER, EVER SPIT!

NO!

", YOU KNOW, AND HIS LITTLE FACE, AND I WAS GOING... BUT INSIDE YOU'RE GOING "YES!!"

"YEAH, BUDDY, FIGHT!!"

"SHOW US SOME SPIRIT.

SHOW US SOME FIGHT, SOME RESISTANCE."

(Dr.

Twomey) ANY TIME I'VE TALKED TO HIM, HE'S A PRETTY INDEPENDENT KID.

HE'S DEVELOPED A STRONG SENSE OF WHO HE IS, IN SPITE OF THE ALTERED OUTWARD APPEARANCE.

AND THANK GOD, BECAUSE WE KNEW THIS IS HOW HE'D BE A SURVIVOR.

WHERE'D MY KEY GO?

BETTER NOT LOCK IT INSIDE THE CAR, YOU KNOW!

OH MY GOD!

WHY'D YOU DO THAT, MAN?

OH!

NOW YOU GOTTA WALK HOME.

YEAH, NOW WE'VE GOT TO CALL GRANDPA, THEN.

I COULD GO CALL.

SEE, SEE I KNEW IT YOU LOCKED THE KEY IN THE CAR!

(Mai) HE GETS MAD, YOU KNOW, ANGRY.

BUT HE GETS OVER IT FAST.

HE DOESN'T HANG ON TO IT REAL LONG.

A LOT OF TIMES I TALK TO HIM - WHAT BOTHERS HIM - LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, WE GO TO MY UNCLE'S HOUSE, AND HE SAYS "MOM, I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE.

THEY ALWAYS ASK ME ABOUT MY FATHER, AND I DON'T LIKE THAT."

THEY ASK HIM, "DID YOU SEE YOUR FATHER, OR DID HE GET YOU ANYTHING?"

-- LIKE THAT.

HE DON'T WANT TO HEAR QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS FATHER, BECAUSE HE CAN'T ANSWER.

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T SEE HIM!

SO HE DIDN'T WANT TO FACE THAT.

I THINK THE FATHER HAD THE BIGGEST DIFFICULTY BECAUSE THE FIRST BORN SON OF HIS FAMILY WAS NOW, IN HIS MIND, IF I COULD SPEAK FOR HIM, WAS ESSENTIALLY DESTROYED, OR AT LEAST PERMANENTLY ALTERED.

(Mai) IT WAS JUST LIKE HE WAS NOT EVEN THERE.

HE WANTED ME TO HAVE ANOTHER SON TO REPLACE FOUA.

AND I WAS HURT AND I TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS NO WAY YOU CAN REPLACE ANOTHER PERSON, ANOTHER HUMAN.

(Dr.

Twomey) I THINK THIS WAS REAL HARD ON THE FATHER.

HE WAS NOT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, LIVING WITH THE FAMILY AS A UNIT AT THE TIME.

AND IT RENDERED HIM EVEN MORE POWERLESS, AND IT WAS HIS SON, SO EVERY FATHER HAS A SPECIAL BOND WITH THEIR SON AND THIS WAS RIPPED APART.

I THINK PART OF HIS COPING WAS ALMOST NOT TO FACE THE ISSUE, AND HE TENDED TO STAY AWAY QUITE A BIT, AT LEAST AT FIRST.

HE WAS QUITE DISTRAUGHT ANYTIME HE CAME TO SEE HIS CHILD.

(Male interviewer) WHAT TYPES OF STRAINS DID FOUA'S ACCIDENT PLACE ON YOUR MARRIAGE?

(Mai) IT CHANGED A LOT WHEN FOUA GOT BURNED.

IT JUST DREW US APART.

I WISHED THAT HE WOULD BE THERE MORE OFTEN WITH FOUA AND FOR HIM TO REALLY KNOW ABOUT HIS FATHER.

HE KNOWS THAT HE HAS A FATHER, BUT HE WASN'T THERE AS A FATHER FOR SUPPORT-- A ROLE MODEL FOR FOUA.

(Interviewer) DO YOU THINK FOUA EVER FEELS LONELY?

YEAH, I THINK SO.

I THINK HE FEELS LONELY.

BUT I THINK HE'S MUCH BETTER NOW THAN HE WAS BEFORE.

AND AFTER HE WIN THE ART COMPETITION - IT GAVE HIM COURAGE - IT HELPED HIM A LOT.

AND HE CHANGED COMPLETELY.

VERY SPECIAL ARTS SPONSORED A CONTEST WHERE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THE ART OF DISABLED STUDENTS, AND THEY WANTED PICTURES OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

ARCHITECTURE AND NATURE THEMES ARE SOMETHING FOUA HAS ALWAYS BEEN REALLY INTERESTED IN DRAWING, AND SO HE ENTERED THE CONTEST.

HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE NATION WERE INVOLVED, AND HE ULTIMATELY WON THE TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C.

I HAVE A PICTURE OF HIM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN IT, WITH BARBARA BUSH STANDING IN FRONT OF HIS PICTURE THAT HE PAINTED.

IT WAS REALLY NEAT.

AND THEY SOLD T-SHIRTS AT THE SCHOOL TO PROMOTE... TO COME UP WITH SOME EXTRA FUNDS FOR HIM TO GO.

SO FOUA PAINTED A SCENE, AND THEY HAD IT PRINTED ON TO T-SHIRTS, SO I HAVE MY FOUA T-SHIRT.

IT HAS HIS NAME ON IT.

IT'S REALLY COOL.

IT'S A LITTLE DEER STANDING IN GRASS.

(male interviewer) TELL ME HOW YOU FELT WHEN YOU WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

FINE.

OH, SMART ALEC!

(laughing) SO YOU'RE AVOIDING SAYING "I DON'T KNOW," AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING "FINE!"

OKAY, SO YOU CAN'T SAY "NO, I DON'T KNOW, OR FINE," SO NOW I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE?

GOOD!

(much laughter) ♪ ♪ ♪ [slow melodic strings] ♪ ♪ ♪ FOUA'S A GREAT ARTIST, ISN'T HE?

(Kerrie's Mom) SHE DOES LIKE HIS ART.

SHE TALKS ABOUT HIS ART, AND I THINK SHE EVEN LOOKS FORWARD TO BEING WITH HIM NOW ON WEDNESDAYS.

SHE'S GROWN, SHE'S GROWN PAST THE FEAR, BUT HE'S ALSO GIVEN HER THAT OPPORTUNITY.

HE'S WORKED WITH HER, AND SHE'S GOTTEN TO SEE, AND TALK TO HIM.

(Marie Pew) WE PUT HIM IN WITH A GROUP, AND HE'S ACCEPTED-- ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S ART WORK TO DO.

THEY HAVE HIM DO IT.

THEY KNOW HIS STRENGTHS NOW, AND SO IF THEY WANT SOMEBODY WITH ART SKILLS, THEY'LL HOPE FOUA GETS IN WITH THEM.

(Alan Berry) HE'S A GOOD DRAWER.

WE WERE DOING GEOMETRY, AND GOT AN ACUTE ANGLE, AND HE'D DRAW A ROAD GOING LIKE, OFF IN THE DISTANCE.

LOOKED KINDA COOL.

(Joe Kosowski) IT'S REALLY NEAT BECAUSE THE WAY HE WRITES, TOO.

HE HOLDS HIS PENCIL WITH HIS-- YOU KNOW BOTH OF HIS HANDS ARE STUBS, HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY FINGERS ANYMORE-- HE HOLDS HIS PENCIL JUST UP AGAINST HIS CHEST WITH HIS HAND, AND WHEN HE WRITES, HE GOES LIKE THIS, AND HE WRITES... HE WRITES.. BETTER THAN I DO, PROBABLY.

IT'S REALLY NEAT.

(Tim Lee) I LOOKED AT HIS PAPER, AND WENT AROUND AND LOOKED AT MY PAPER-- WE LOOKED AT EVERYBODY ELSE'S PAPER, AND I WAS LIKE, WENT BACK OVER TO HIS, I LOOKED UP AND SAID "WAIT A MINUTE, HE WRITES BETTER THAN EVERYBODY IN THE MATH CLASS."

I WAS LIKE, "DANG!"

I SAID, "YOU WRITE BETTER THAN EVERYBODY IN MATH CLASS!"

HE JUST STARTED LAUGHING AND SMILING AND STUFF.

HE JUST WRITE NUMBERS-- HIS NAME AND EVERYTHING.

HE WRITES PERFECT!

(male interviewer) TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOUA'S PERSONALITY, AND WHAT KIND OF ATTRACTS YOU TO HIM AS A KID.

LET'S SEE... FIRST OF ALL, HE'S A NICE BOY.

HE'S GOT A WONDERFUL SENSE OF HUMOR, I ALWAYS ENJOYED HIS HUMOR.

HE DOESN'T REALLY TELL JOKES, BUT HE'S GOT A WIT-- A LITTLE BIT OF AN EDGE.

HE'S JUST EASY TO BE AROUND.

(interviewer) HOW LONG YOU GUYS KNOWN EACH OTHER?

UM, WHEN DID WE MEET, FOUA?

I DON'T KNOW.

WE MET WHEN HE WAS IN THE FIFTH GRADE, I WAS IN THE FOURTH.

[inaudible whispering] MOM?

YEAH?

COULD YOU COME HERE?

(Foua) TELL HER YOU WANT HER TO PUT THE CHECKERS AWAY.

I WANT YOU TO PUT THE CHECKERS AWAY.

WHOOA!!

AAAAAAH!!!

[everybody laughs] WE GOT YOU!

WE GOT 'EM.

[Mom laughing] (Mom) WHO WON THE CHECKERS?

HE DID.

(Foua) HE CAN'T HARDLY WIN ANYTHING!

(Foua) [boys laughing] (Foua) (Foua) (Alex) OK, OK.

(Foua) (Alex) (Foua) (Foua) I COULD WATCH FOUA AND LEARN THINGS FROM HIM.

I REMEMBER MARVELING AT.. ONE DAY WHEN I WENT OVER TO PLAY, I WAS JUST GOING TO GO OVER AND SEE HIM, AND WE WERE GONNA GO DOWN TO THE PARK, AND IT WAS A HOT SUMMER DAY.

HE WANTED TO WEAR, LIKE, ALMOST NOTHING.

HE WAS WEARING THIS TANK TOP WITH THESE SKINNY LITTLE STRAPS AND THESE LITTLE SHORTS AND, HIS BURN SCARS... WELL HE'S SCARRED ALL OVER.

HIS SCARS WERE JUST VERY APPARENT.

AND I REMEMBER JUST THINKING HOW MARVELOUS THAT WAS THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO HIDE.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ON LONG SLEEVES, LONG PANTS, I MEAN IT WAS HOT, HE WAS A LITTLE KID AND HE WAS SWEATING, AND HE WANTED TO GO PLAY.

AND I REMEMBER THINKING "MAN, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME DAYS YOU HAVE A BAD HAIR DAY, AND YOU DON'T EVEN THINK YOU SHOULD STEP OUTSIDE OR..." I JUST KIND OF GOT A KICK OUT OF THAT.

I JUST SMILED, AND I THOUGHT, "BOY, YOU COULD TAKE A LESSON FROM THIS LITTLE GUY."

(Joe) HE ACTS LIKE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE BURNS.

HE ACTS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE-- ANOTHER PERSON IN THE CROWD.

AND WITH THE WAY THAT PEOPLE TREAT HIM... THE WAY PEOPLE TREAT HIM... IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE BURNS.

HE ACTS LIKE ANOTHER PERSON SO THEY TREAT HIM LIKE ANOTHER PERSON.

(Tim) THAT TELLS ME, DON'T CHOOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF HOW THEY LOOK.

THAT'S TELLING ME DO NOT SAY, "OH I DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND HIM."

HE'S NICE, AND HE'S FRIENDLY.

HE AIN'T NEVER GOING TO HURT NOBODY.

I GET TEASED SOMETIMES FOR BEING OVERWEIGHT, AND I KNOW FOUA'S BEEN TEASED FOR BEING BURNED, AND BEING... HIS APPEARANCE.

AND I KNOW IT DOESN'T FEEL TOO GOOD TO BE TEASED, SO I CAN IMAGINE WHAT FOUA FEELS LIKE WHEN HE'S BEING LAUGHED AT.

(Rose Marie) I THINK WE EXPECT FOUA TO BE OKAY WITH HIMSELF, AND I THINK EXTERNALLY HE IS.

BUT INTERNALLY HE'S STILL DEALING WITH A LOT OF STUFF.

AND A LOT OF IT IS IMPOSED BY OTHER PEOPLE, OR HE PERCEIVES THAT IT'S BEING IMPOSED ON HIM BY OTHER PEOPLE.

IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT FOUA THE FIRST 5, 6, 7 TIMES.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

NOBODY WANTS TO FEEL THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN TO THEM.

BUT I THINK... I THINK THAT FOUA HAS A VERY STRONG PERSONALITY, AND HE'S REALLY HOLDING IN A LOT OF HURT.

I REALLY THINK THE CHILD IS HURTING-- A LOT!!

AND WE DO HIM A GREAT DISSERVICE BY SAYING, "EVERYTHING'S OKAY."

WE KNOW EVERYTHING'S NOT OKAY.

(Patti) A KID CAME UP TO ME, AND FOUA WAS RIGHT BY ME, SO HE WAS OBVIOUSLY WITHIN EARSHOT.

THIS OTHER CHILD CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, "IS HE WEARING A MASK?"

YOU KNOW... I JUST SAID, "NO, HE'S NOT WEARING A MASK."

"WELL, WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?"

I SAID, "WELL, HE WAS IN A FIRE AND HE GOT BURNED."

I SAID TO FOUA LATER, "FOUA, DID YOU HEAR THAT LITTLE BOY?"

AND HE SAID, "YEAH."

I SAID, "WELL, DID IT BOTHER YOU, OR DOES IT MAKE YOU MAD, OR...

?"

AND HE NEVER REALLY TALKED ABOUT IT.

HE JUST SORT OF SHRUGGED IT OFF.

HE'D ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE HEARD IT, BUT HE WOULDN'T TELL ME ANYMORE, YOU KNOW, IF HE FELT ANYTHING ABOUT IT, OR MAYBE HE COULDN'T SORT IT OUT.

(Foua) JUST FORGET ABOUT IT!

(Mai) NOW I KNOW IT HURTS YOU A LOT, FOUA, BUT YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

LAST TIME WHEN YOU WERE REALLY UPSET, AND YOU WANTED TO STAY HOME, YOU KNOW, LAST TIME-- LAST WEEK WHEN YOU HAD NO SCHOOL?

YOU WERE VERY UPSET.

HOW DID YOU FEEL THAT TIME, RIGHT AT THE MOMENT?

WHEN YOU WERE REALLY MAD INSIDE, WHEN YOU REALLY HURT?

HOW DID YOU FEEL?

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

I DON'T KNOW!

I HEARD YOU SAY ONE TIME THAT YOU WISH THAT YOU WERE NOT BURNED.

DID YOU SAY THAT ONE TIME TO ME?

NO.

YOU DID SAY THAT-- THAT YOU HATE IT.

AND YOU WISHED YOU WERE NOT BURNED, THAT IT WOULD MAKE IT SO MUCH EASIER.

WELL, DID YOU FEEL LIKE THAT?

NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

I THINK HE WOULD PROBABLY LIKE IT IF HE DIDN'T HAVE THE BURNS.

HE WOULD PROBABLY... THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT HE CAN'T DO BECAUSE OF THIS BURNS, LIKE HE CAN'T PLAY BASEBALL OR FOOTBALL OR THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT OTHER KIDS DO BECAUSE HE CAN'T THROW THE BALL OR SWING THE BAT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT I BET THAT IF FOUA WANTED TO, HE COULD.

AW... OOH!

(Foua laughing) (friend) GOING THE WRONG WAY!

[boys laughing] (playmate) GOOD CATCH FOUA.

JUST COME HOME FOUA.

READY FOUA?

>> OK!

[swak!]

[boys calling to each other in native language] COMIN' AT YA!

GOOD CATCH!

[bang!]

(Teacher) NOW YOU SHOOT IT UP THERE.

YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE ABOUT 5 MORE EACH.

[bounce, bounce] (Teacher & students) YES!

ALRIGHT!

HE WAS VERY NERVOUS WHEN WE ASKED IF A STUDENT COULD WORK WITH HIM ON HIS PHYSICAL THERAPY.

HE WANTED TO KNOW WHO THAT WAS GOING TO BE, AND BASICALLY I TOLD HIM "WHOEVER YOU WANT."

I SAID, "DO YOU WANT A BOY OR DO YOU WANT A GIRL?"

AND HE WANTED A GIRL.

I SAID, "DO YOU WANT AN ASIAN GIRL?"

HE SAID, "NO."

I SAID, "DO YOU WANT AN ANGLO GIRL?"

" YEAH."

SO WE WENT FROM THERE.

(girl) DO YOUR NECK EXERCISES.

OKAY... 3... 4... OKAY, DO YOUR ARMS NOW.

PUT EM DOWN.

OKAY, UP.

DOWN.

UP.

DOWN.

UP.

NOW DO YOUR WRISTS.

SLOWER... STAND UP.

OKAY.

OKAY, GO LIKE THIS.

THEN THIS WAY.

THEN THE OTHER WAY.

THEN THE OTHER WAY OKAY, YOU'RE DONE.

[much noise from many games & kids] [game noise] [laughing] [game noise & people chattering] [Foua laughing] NUMBER ONE... I WANT THE... YEAH, NUMBER ONE.

WE CAN'T KEEP THEM ALL... (chuckles) WANTED: SUSPECT CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS... (laughing) (boys joking) (male interviewer) WHEN YOU GUYS... WHEN YOU GET TOGETHER, WHAT DO YOU TALK ABOUT?

OH, I DON'T KNOW.

HOMEWORK, SCHOOL, MAYBE GIRLFRIENDS.

WHO WE WANT TO GO OUT WITH, AND WHO WE WOULD NOT WANT TO GO OUT WITH.

WHO LOOKS PRETTY, WHO DOESN'T.

(Foua) (Foua) [all laughing] (Foua) (Foua) (Foua) (Foua) (Foua) I TALKED TO FOUA ABOUT IT, AND HE WAS KINDA... LAST YEAR HE SAID, "NO, I'M JUST GONNA WAIT UNTIL THEY ASK ME OUT, THEN I'LL GO OUT.

BUT I'M WON'T ASK THEM OUT."

I DON'T THINK IT BOTHERS HIM ABOUT DATING AND STUFF.

I DON'T THINK HE WILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

SOME GIRLS MIGHT WANT THE REALLY CUTE GUYS, AND MAYBE FOUA WON'T QUALIFY FOR THAT.

BUT IF THEY JUST WANT A FRIEND - NICE, CARING - FOUA QUALIFIES FOR THAT, YEAH.

(male interview) IF FOUA WERE TO COME ASK ANY OF YOU GIRLS TO DANCE, DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD?

WELL, I DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE OTHER GIRLS HAVE THEIR OWN OPINIONS, BUT IF HE WAS TO ASK ME, I WOULD.

YEAH.

MAI WILL DANCE WITH YOU!

YEAH, I WILL.

I'LL BE YOUR GUEST.

WANT IT?

(female student) FOUA, DID YOUR MOM LET YOU GO?

TELL HER YOU WANT TO GO!

YOU'LL DANCE WITH ME?

YEAH!

(Mai) (Foua) (Mai) (Foua) (Vong) (Foua) (Vong) (Foua) (Vong) (Foua) (Vong) (Mai) (Foua) (Vong) (Mai) (Foua) (all chuckle) (Vong) (Foua) DID YOU TELL YOUR GRANDMOTHER?

MY GRANDMOTHER'S NO HOME.

DOES SOMEONE KNOW YOU'RE LEAVING NOW?

MY MOM KNOWS.

YOUR MOM KNOWS.

[engine rumbles] [many students talking] I LOOK FUNNY!

I LOOK FUNNY!

NO I DO!

(chuckles) [music in the distance] (male interviewer) TELL ME, FOUA.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GIRLS?

(Mai) I THINK HE'S EMBARASSED BECAUSE I'M HERE.

(chuckles) I DON'T LIKE... (Mai chuckles) (interviewer) WANTA HAVE A GIRLFRIEND?

(Mai) YOU'RE GETTING TO THAT AGE, YOU KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW MY FUTURE!

[xylophone music] (students singing) ♪ FOR THE GLORY ♪ ♪ OF THE EARTH ♪ ♪ FOR THE GLORY ♪ ♪ OF THE SUN ♪ ♪ WE WILL SING ♪ ♪ OUR LIFE TOGETHER ♪ ♪ AND FOREVER BE AS ONE ♪ [xylophone music] (Mai) MY HOPE... MY DREAMS FOR FOUA IS... JUST BE YOURSELF, AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN.

I DON'T WANT HIM TO BE WHAT I WANT HIM TO BE, I WANT HIM TO BE WHAT HE WANTS TO BE.

(Rose Marie) THIS KID SURVIVED, AND THIS KID HAS A GOOD OUTLOOK, AND THIS KID HAS A NEAT PERSONALITY, AND THIS KID IS STILL THERE, REGARDLESS OF HIS EXTERNALS.

(male interviewer) DO YOU THINK THIS WAS A GOOD OR BAD EXPERIENCE?

(Kerri's parents) OH, GOOD, DEFINITELY.

DEFINITELY.

WHY?

(Kerrie's Dad) SHE'LL BE MORE WILLING TO ACCEPT OTHERS FOR WHO THEY ARE, AND LOOK PAST THE SUPERFICIAL-- IT PREPARED HER FOR... FOR LIFE IN GENERAL.

HE'S MADE HIMSELF A SURVIVOR, AND HE'S TURNED THE WORLD IN HIS DIRECTION.

I HOPE HE'LL PROVE ME RIGHT.

HE'S GOING TO FIND HIS NICHE.

WE NEED TO HELP ACCOMMODATE HIS EDUCATION.

WE NEED TO HELP ACCOMMODATE THE FACT THAT HE NEEDS TO LEARN SOCIAL SKILLS, AND HE NEEDS TO LEARN HOW TO INTERACT, AND HE NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE GROUP MEMBER.

(gym teacher) WE WERE WORKING ON SKILLS, AND HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE, AND SO HE JUST DECIDED THAT HE NEEDED TO TRY IT A DIFFERENT WAY.

SO I SAID, "OKAY."

AND THEN HE MADE A STATEMENT LIKE, "I JUST CAN'T DO IT THAT WAY.

BUT LIFE GOES ON, AND I'M JUST GOING TO DO IT THIS WAY."

IT ALSO SHOWS HOW HE'S GOING TO APPROACH LIFE.

HE'S JUST DETERMINED TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT.

READY, FOUA?

ELLEN, YOU GOT IT?

SHOOT IT, ELLEN, SHOOT IT!

FOUA IS A GOOD PERSON.

HE'S NO DIFFERENT FROM YOU.

HE'S NO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

INSIDE HE'S NICE HE'S STILL THE SAME AS HE PROBABLY WAS.

HE'S STILL THE SAME!

HE SAID HE WASN'T EVER GOING TO PLAY... MESS WITH NO MATCHES AGAIN.

SEE YOU TOMORROW... OKAY.

DID YOU GET YOUR HOMEWORK SHEET?

YEAH, I PASSED.

HOW DID YOU GET DOWN HERE SO FAST?

I HAD TO GO CHECK ON A COUPLE KIDS.

♪ ♪ (man) MAJOR FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY: AND BY: ...RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMUNITIES.