永欣是遲來的寶貝。

那一年小姑與先生憑著一股傻勁，到美國打拼，

造化弄人，他們的第一個孩子，在四歲的時候得了腦膜炎。

上天沒有帶走他，卻一點一滴奪去他的健康，從活潑可愛到失智，

躺在床上變成植物人，歷經一年多的時間，醫師已經宣布放棄，

但是可憐的父母不願放手，小姑放棄自己的工作，

全心全意沒日沒夜的照顧他，孩子病了二十一年，現在已經二十五歲。

從躺在床上毫無知覺，到現在可以帶著他在戶外走動，他的醫生認為是奇蹟，

還告訴其他得相同病症的家庭，去看這對偉大的父母，如何照顧病童。

小姑本來不想再生，永欣卻意外的降臨。

這個小女孩，帶給這個幾乎忘記世上還有歡笑的家庭，最多的快樂與希望。

她懂事、體貼溫柔，她一張開眼就知道母親的辛苦。

她總是安靜的看書，哥哥抽筋的時候，母親掉淚的時候，

小小的她已經知道自己的責任，她從不吵鬧，

不要再增添爸爸媽媽的負擔，早熟的令人心疼。

隔壁新搬來了一個鄰居，會拉小提琴，悠揚的琴音，讓永欣駐足聆聽。

媽媽知道女兒想學，就做了蛋糕，忐忑的敲鄰居大門，吞吞吐吐的說明來意，

那個人皺著眉，打量這個不速之客，勉為其難的答應了。

永欣果然有天分，短時間就讓老師驚艷，老師也樂得英才而教之。

她的琴藝進步神速，小小年紀就考取了市立交響樂團，

樂團指揮欣賞她的天分，從不輕易收徒的她，親自指導這個小神童，

永欣也不負眾望，多次得到比賽的大獎。

她的在校成績也是出類拔萃，今年初中畢業，榮獲年度榮譽學生與市長獎，

畢業典禮時代表畢業生致詞，以下是永欣致詞的全文：「面對恐懼」

Facing Your Fear                                     by Shannon Ho                 

Congrats, class of 2008! We’ve all worked hard for this moment,

and now we’re going to high school! But, one day, something called fear

may keep us from doing what is right or prevent us from facing a

challenge. It already holds some of us back from chasing our dreams.

Everyone has a fear, even those who deny it. The fear itself can be to

stand up for somebody, to speak out against someone you dislike,

or even to confront a friend. We are also afraid because of the

possibilities of results; we might get hurt, not fit in, not being

thought of as 'cool'. But look, this is life! And in life, we should take

chances, and do what’s right no matter what. Don’t let your fears

stop you from reaching your goals, your dreams. Whatever the

consequence is, at least you won’t ever look back and wonder

what would have happened. Don’t let past disappointments make you

afraid of the future. Instead, appreciate everything you already have,

and move on with your life. Look at us now. We’re going on to high

school, and we have loving families who will support us, friends who

will stand by our side, and teachers who will aid us when we truly need it.

So don’t let your fears control your life. Control them, do what’s

right, and remember that you’re not alone.