D
donna
Guest
My son ###, who is now 24 years old, has lived a life of pain with very little hope. He was born with Spina Bifida, which made it impossible for him to ever walk. As a result of the condition, he has very little function below his waist. In addition to this, ### suffered a respiratory arrest and 2 heart attacks around his 18th birthday. ### is my hero, through all of this, (including approx. 30 other operations since birth), he has developed a sense of humour second to none and he is fiercely loyal and devoted to his family. Family is basically all ### has and now we (as his family) can barely give him that. As a result of living in a small city, ###, ###, Canada, we do not have all the medical facilities other larger centers, (such as ###, ###, etc.,), are fortunate enough to have. ### has lived at home with his family taking care of him until only two years ago when we could no longer realistically take proper care of him. At that time ### was transferred to ###, our nation's capital, approximately one and a half hours away from ###. At ### in ###, ### is receiving excellent care and there are numerous activities for ### to participate in. However, even with all that ### has to offer, (including an amazingly caring and supportive staff), ### continually asks when he is coming home. ### was promised a bed in a youth wing presently being erected in a new facility in our city, however, we have been recently informed that because of ###'s costly medical condition, there is no funding for equipment, staffing, etc. This means that ### remains in ### for his care. Our local Member of Provincial Parliament, ###, has taken up ###'s cause and we appreciate the efforts he has provided. We as a family are devastated. We want our son home, and more importantly ### wants to be home. On a visit just a few nights ago, my son said to me, "Mom, I don't think I'll ever have any children and so it is important to me that I at least watch my nieces grow up, and being up here now I'm not even able to do that." ###'s older brother ### and wife ### are the proud parents of two year old ###, and twin daughters, ### and ###. My heart broken, I called our ### medical team the next day, only to be told the horrible news that ### can never come home because there isn't enough money to pay for the equipment and staff, etc., needed for him. ### is not only a strong family member, but he is an important member of our community as well. ### represented the Easter Seals Society twice as "Timmy." He did so with pride and distinction. ### was awarded the coveted "Terry Fox Award" in 1997, from the ### Public School Board. "It is testament to ###'s commitment to life that he is always cheerful, positive and displaying of a great disposition. All those associated with ### have never observed him in a position or a mood where he wasn't willing to help others, to encourage them on and to put their interests first. ### ###, the Terry Fox Award recipient, 1997, is an outstanding young man who serves as a fine example for all associated with him as he demonstrates his courage and his spirit and lives with a willingness to give. It has taken, and ### has displayed, an insatiable amount of strength in facing various diversities through his young life time. In the field of education, we recognize, humbly and with appreciation, the many things ### has taught to us and all those in our community through his commitment, his good will and, most certainly through his strength and leadership." It is ###'s wish to continue to be a part of his community and to share his many talents. ### was also responsible for bringing "Challenger Baseball" to our city. One year when he was asked what he wanted for Christmas, ### replied, "A ball and glove so I can play baseball." (His older brother, ###, is a great athlete and played baseball and hockey throughout his and ###'s life). ### often became the "unofficial cheerleader" of many of ###'s hockey and baseball teams. My husband ###, ###'s Dad, ### and myself then began a campaign to bring "Challenger Baseball" to ###. ###'s story was featured in our local newspaper, ###, and his story was picked up nationally by ###. It was with tears flowing that I watched my wheelchair bound son take his first pitch as a baseball player. When we can occasionally bring ### to ### from ###, ### continues to play baseball to this day. I love my son with all my heart and I again state that he is my hero. My prayer to all of you is to pray for my son to come home, and if it happens that he is unable to come home, please pray for him and us to understand the reasons and to accept them with the same strength and fortitude, which has been the mainstay of his life. Please help my family to become whole again, and pray to bring ### home. Thank you for your prayers.
Mom (###)
November 29, 2008
Mom (###)
November 29, 2008
