We are in a home for mentally handicapped children and young adults. Bobby is 25 years old. According to the staff, the only relative who has kept in touch with the young man is his grandfather, who claimed that years ago the boy used to kick a ball like the other children. However, in our contact meetings at the institution, Bobby was extremely slow, passive and delayed in responding.
In May 2014, Bobby changed his usual setting and was placed at Hope House. Thus begins the story of the Lord of the Balls. When placed in the house, Bobby was almost immobile, afraid of everything and everyone, only managing to walk to the sound of children's songs. As a result of the kind attitude, the care of the staff and the positive emotions in the house, Bobby gradually overcame his fears and it turned out that he could not only walk energetically, but was also extremely good at kicking a ball.
By the summer of 2015, the young man is already running free in the woods of Nikolovo Forest Park, and a month later he sees the beautiful sea view at the village of Tyulenovo. At the same time, the centre's team contacts Bobby's grandfather. Touched that someone gave him information about the young man for the first time in so many years and seeing a photo of his grandson, the elderly man visits the centre the very next day. Bobby recognizes him and greets him extremely happy on the doorstep with the word "Grandpa!".
As a result of his experience in 2015 and despite spending years living in institutions, Bobby has made tremendous progress. Today he is walking more steadily and confidently, running after balls and building relationships with his family again. We jokingly call him the Lord of the Balls.
