Meet Yaza
Yaza is 10 years old, and comes into the hospital often to work with doctors and therapists to maximize the potential of her equipment. She will always need a wheelchair to get around because of a serious car accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Yaza was born and raised in Philadelphia in a family with roots in Casablanca, Morocco. She and her four brothers also speak Arabic and French. She proudly wears a hijab and prays in accordance with Islamic practices.
Except for the hijab, she dresses like any other kid. Yaza has a curious mind and is always reading. Although her skills were unlocked in the accident, which was a few years ago, she is still discovering the extent of her powers. It was very hard at first, but now Yaza embraces life with a wheelchair.
As the Superhero Salam, Yaza can transform things through letters and symbols. She could write or draw a key and one will appear at just the right time. Or she writes “light” and her pen will glow. If she doesn’t have a pen, or needs to make something BIG, she writes using her wheelchair. Yaza’s green eyes light up when she thinks about spending hours tinkering in her workshop, which she keeps very clean and organized. Her friends describe her as naturally funny, kind, and helpful because she tutors other kids in science and languages. She is proud of her hijab and is always happy to share about her family’s traditions and beliefs. Her friends also love her Mom’s amazing and huge meals that the family brings to share at the hospital.