OPEN (FMF31 2019 Day 15)

I am participating in 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes 2019 (all of my submissions can be found here).

Today’s prompt is: OPEN

I just happened to catch the story out of the corner of my eye yesterday as I was preparing to go to “live TV” on CNN. The headline was something like “Hamilton star mourns.”

I did not know anything about Miguel Cervantes, who is starring as Alexander Hamilton in the show’s Chicago run right now. I did after reading the story. His 3-year-old daughter died from an extreme form of childhood epilepsy.

I went down the rabbit hole — to his Instagram, which led me to his wife’s Instagram, which led me to her blog.

It’s easy to think being so accomplished in theater must be some kind of golden ticket. Good money, lots of notoriety, a fan base, work you love.

And I wonder how he mustered the energy and concentration eight times a week to play his role, given the challenges faced by his daughter and the rest of his family.

I also read that he and his wife lost a baby between their son being born and this daughter’s birth. The baby had a serious deformity in utero and she shares her story of their choice here.

How do you go through so much pain and remain open to sharing so much of yourself with the world, as he does via acting and she does through her blog and social media presence?

I am at a loss to know how, but something about the way this family has conducted itself gives me hope and empathy.

Their daughter’s life touched us all. Her name was Adelaide.