Dreams Take Flight: The Story of Deaf Pilot Nellie Zabel Willhite
When Nellie Zabel was born nature sang outside her window A robin called tut-tut tut-tut Wind rattled oak leaves But when Nellie turned four everything changed As she lay in bed her mother wiped her fevered forehead and fussed over her spotted skin Nellie's fever rose And then sounds stopped
Nellie may not have been able to hear but her mother wouldn't give up on her She knew her daughter could do anything She taught her to stitch cook and feed the cattle But Nellie dreamed of more She watched in wonder as robins soared across the cloudless sky She dreamed of doing something just as extraordinary
Nellie's mother showed her a new way to communicate through her hands She formed Nellie's fingers into shapes special motions for any word Nellie needed hungry home love Speaking through sign language opened Nellie's world She smiled up at her mother Yes maybe now she could do anything
