NASSAU, N.Y. -- "They actually have an accent in New Zealand. It's
like Australian and almost British," said 11 year old Hunter Sanchez.
He's describing the voice of his overseas pen pal Samuel Oomen.
"It was about two and a half years ago actually. We've been emailing ever since," he said.
After countless emails, package mailings, and 2 phone calls, the pair finally met last week California.
Home video captured the boys ust being being kids. What's not seen in
the video is their inner struggle with a rare bone disease called
Legg-Calve-Perthes.
The childhood condition is associated with a temporary loss of blood supply to the hip joint. Often times it stunts growth.
Despite the effects, the disease brought two boys from opposite ends of the world together.
"It's nice meeting someone going through the same thing at the same
time because you know what each other is feeling, you can just really
connect to them," said Sanchez.
While the disease binds them, Hunter says that's not what their friendship is about.
"We just talk about what regular kids would talk about. We don't really
talk about Perthes that much because when you do, I mean, you swear
your hip starts to hurt," he said.
Wise beyond his years, Hunter now knows someone half way around the
world is just like him. Someone he can call a friend and a brother.
"If I was having a problem, if my hip had been acting up, he'd know
just what to say. He'd know just what it's like because he's been
there, he's done that and he still gets it," he said."
Hunter says he's looking forward to meeting his pen pal again.His
Noelle says the Oomens are planning a trip to the United States in a
few years.
