The Savant Who Knew His Mother’s Love (part 3/3)

Continued from The Savant Who Knew his Mother’s Love, part 2

May’s Miracle

Then, in his sixteenth year, something May calls “The Miracle” occurred.

The family had been in bed for hours. About 3:00 a.m. May awoke and thought she heard music. Assuming that Joe had left the television on, she got up to turn it off. But when she walked into the living room, the television was dark and silent. The music was coming from Leslie’s bedroom.

Leslie Lemke at the piano as a boy

She opened the door and saw her son sitting at the piano, playing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The music was Liberace’s theme song, and he had heard it numerous times on television.

Leslie had never played a note of music in his life, but now he was playing like a professional, racing up and down the keys, never missing a note, as if he’d been practicing for years.

May fell down on her knees and cried. And laughed. And cried again. She ran for Joe. They were both on their knees for most of the night, praising God and thanking Him for giving their boy the gift of music. At last, God had given him a talent. And what a wonderful talent!

Playing the Piano, Singing & Finally Talking

The Lemke’s household was filled with new life. Over the following years Leslie’s skill continued to improve. After a while he added singing, and finally he began to talk. He began performing at his home and at weddings. Their world began to expand around the growing recognition of the nearly lifeless boy who began playing piano like a master. Newspapers, television, and magazines spread the story. This patient and loving woman had been given her miracle, and he never missed an opportunity to tell about it.

Leslie Lemke in concert

What had May known? She knew the power of love, and she believed in the faithfulness of God. What did Joe know? He knew the power of teamwork, and he got behind every whim his wife threw his way. He knew to love his wife as Christ loved the church.

Leslie came to be known as a Savant. This word describes a person who is born with very little ability, who then, for reasons which baffle the greatest of scientists, develop a unique brilliance in some specific area. Roughly interpreted, the word savant means one who knows.

What did Leslie know? He knew his mother’s love.

May Lemke in old age at the piano with her son Leslie Lemke

Turning things Around

As May aged, she began suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. During her final days, Leslie returned that love. He continued playing the piano for her, and something new began to happen. The now emotionless and quiet May began coming alive to the sounds of Leslie’s playing, raising her hands to the heavens, and singing hymns with him, like How Great Thou Art and Our Father. She was now the failing one, and Leslie the caregiver.

People Magazine covers the Leslie Lemke story

Love and the Brain

This story is not about reading instruction. Leslie was blind, and May did not know braille. This is a story about teaching — at the Master level. With the faith and willingness of May Lemke, anyone can see positive results.

May’s desire was to bring hope and purpose into her son’s life. This should become our purpose as we teach our loved ones to read. Most of all, we must never forget May’s secret ingredient. Love.

This three-part story was taken from the book Dyslexic No More: Saved by the ABC’s by Meg Rayborn Dawson