Merrimack Valley Fourth Grader Sends Inspirational Message

In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, Noah Holt of Amesbury shares his strategies for staying positive despite being diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis or AFM at the age of 6 months. AFM is a rare neurological condition that affects the spinal cord and weakens the muscles and reflexes in the body that some medical professionals describe as “polio-like paralysis”.

Noah’s story published on the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association (SRNA) website discusses how advocating for people with disabilities and spreading kindness empowered him. The article provides a glimpse of Noah’s behind-the-scenes collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and SRNA in the creation of the children’s picture book “No Time for the Moon” that features characters with AFM. In addition, the article details how Noah inspired children’s authors with Ella’s Way of North Andover to create the nonprofit’s Kindness Corner Kits.

Noah states in the SNRA story that these projects coupled with organizing a grassroots campaign to bring additional books about disabilities to schools and public libraries helped stave off frustration about his condition. The young champion concludes seeking knowledge and treating everyone with compassion results in a powerful antidote for a host of daily challenges he and other individuals face.

To read Noah’s “Knowledge and Kindness: Powerful Antidotes” story, visit: Knowledge and Kindness: Powerful Antidotes | SRNA Blog (wearesrna.org)

To access a read aloud version of “No Time for the Moon,” visit No Time for the Moon | SRNA (wearesrna.org).

To learn more about Ella’s Way, visit Ella's Way - Landing Page (ellasway.com).