Wishes on Wheels Inspires Hope at Stonehill Through Collection of New Poems

By Reese Smith

Matt Brown (‘16) returned to Stonehill College on Sept. 10 alongside Lisa (Young) Palladino

(‘87) to share Wishes on Wheels, a collection of poems that gave children and young adults

with physical or developmental disabilities an opportunity to share their experiences,

dreams and accomplishments.

The two Stonehill alumni spoke at the Martin Institute to a crowd of over 100 people about

the inspiration behind Wishes on Wheels. Through 16 poems written by children and young

adults ages 4 to 22, the collection focuses on the ability to overcome difficult

circumstances with strength and perseverance. For Brown and Palladino, the project also

represents a way to give back to the Stonehill Community.

For Brown, the message of overcoming adversity is personal. At 15 years old, Brown

suffered a spinal cord injury during a hockey game in his hometown of Norwood,

Massachusetts. He spent 21 days at Boston Children's Hospital before continuing recovery

at The Shepard Center in Georgia for 100 days.

Despite the challenges he faced, Brown returned to school and graduated on time, with his

class. He was awarded the Golden Diploma Award for overcoming adversity. Brown later

attended Stonehill College graduating in 2016 with a degree in communications. All these

experiences inspired him to give back to others. In 2020, he founded the Matt Brown

Foundation.

“From the very beginning at the children's hospital, I realized I was not going to go through

this alone,” Brown said.

Matt Brown's own experiences helped shape his interest in creating opportunities for

others.

Lisa Palladino also brought her own experiences as an educator to the project. After

graduating from Stonehill College in 1987 with a degree in elementary education, Palladino

went on not only to become a teacher but also founded Little Dreamer Press. Through the

publishing company, she created Wishes and Wings, “A collection of poems written by and

for pediatric cancer heroes”. All proceeds go to the Isabella Santos Foundation.

The success of Wishes and Wings eventually helped inspire Wishes on Wheels.

Like Palladino’s pervious works, Wishes on Wheels centers on the voices of young people

who have experienced significant challenges.

"Edited by Suzanne Galvin, and a foreword by Matt Brown, the book features 16 poems

written by children and young adults between the ages 4 and 22. Rather than defining the

writers by their disabilities or obstacles, the collection empathizes their personalities,

dreams and a world where 'Orange popsicles would be a vegetable,'" Charlotte (Charlie)

age 9 said.

Brown described the experience of reading the collection as something that allows readers

to pause and appreciate each individual story.

“Every time you turned the page, you had a breath of fresh air,” Brown said.

The book gives readers an opportunity to see the young writers beyond their

circumstances. All profits go to the Matt Brown Foundation.

The event also highlighted the lasting connection between Stonehill and its alumni.

Brown and Palladini returned to campus not only as authors but as former students

sharing a project that reflects the values at Stonehill.

Tracy (O’Connor) Rabby (87’) who was interviewed following the event said Stonehill's

sense of community encourages alumni to return and contribute to the college.

“Stonehill gives a sense of community where they want to come and give back,” Tracy said.

The impact of Wishes on Wheels extends beyond the pages of the book. The message of

resilience and community reflects Stonehill's Values, where the alumni are encouraged to

use their experiences to make a difference. By returning to the campus and sharing their

stories, Brown and Palladina showed how the Stonehill community can continue to inspire

others. Their message ultimately comes down to the power of giving young people the

opportunity to dream.

As Palladino had said, “When a child learns to read and dream, the possibilities are limitless.”

The two books can be found at the MacPhaidin Library because of a generous donation

following the event.