The Magic of Christmas

By Maria Angeles Linares

Some say Christmas is for children. I don’t agree. I believe that the magic of Christmas touches us all if we believe. For our clients and their families, the magic of Christmas is important and very, very real.

Yosel Tabio has been a client with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) since June 2016 and will be turning 21 on December 17. For our clients, 21 is a pivotal age because some services may end. Yosel has cerebral palsy and an intellectual disability. He lives with his mom and dad, who both work outside the home.

As Yosel has gotten older, so have his parents, and taking Yosel out on family outings or to doctor appointments has become increasingly more difficult. Getting him in and out of the family vehicle was becoming more challenging each day. Their wish for a van with a lift ramp was now a necessity.

For 40 years, the Miami Herald’s Wish Book program has spotlighted the needs of individuals in South Florida. The program hosts an open nomination, encouraging organizations throughout the area to submit the needs of three clients to Wish Book. Their stories are then shared in the Miami Herald, encouraging readers to donate items or make a monetary donation for the Wish Book nominees. The need is always greater than the donations and Wish Book is not always able to fulfill each submission’s need.

APD submitted Yosel’s name and situation to the Herald, and we were elated when we received the news that he and his family had been selected as a recipient from Wish Book. On November 23, the family received a minivan equipped with a lift ramp. There is no doubt that this Thanksgiving and Christmas has been very special indeed. Wishes can, and do, come true!

The APD Southern Region office wishes to thank the Miami Herald and Wish Book. Without the generous support of the Herald and its readers, there would be many more customers with unmet needs.


On November 23, the family received a minivan equipped with a lift ramp.


There is no doubt that this Thanksgiving and Christmas has been very special indeed.