Every year we watch the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. This is not a small tradition out of lack of anything better to do. This is a part of our daily lives. Four of my five brothers were born with Deuchennes Muscular Dystrophy. They were diagnosed in 1990 and were given a life expectancy of mid teens. Caleb, the oldest, was about 8 at the time, Chad was around 4 and Josh was 1, Davey was born in 1994. Jerry Lewis' Labor Day Telethon took on a whole new meaning to our family. I was only 6, and don't remember much beyond some doctors appointments in Columbus. Caleb is now only months from turning 30, Chad would have just turned 25, Josh is 22, and Davey is 17. We have been blessed with great doctors, medication for their heart function, and people all across the country praying for our family.
Chad passed away in February 2004 at the age of 17. I was pregnant with Courtney at the time. Neither she or Jenna ever got to meet him. I try my very best to make up for that in telling them stories and showing them pictures. They tell me all the time how much they miss their Uncle Chad.
This year, Jerry Lewis was not a part of the Telethon. He retired. They also cut the 21 hour program to a 6 hour program. It used to last from Sunday evening to Monday late afternoon. This year it was Sunday from 6pm to 12am. Needless to say, I was very disappointed in that.
Every year, I cry a little when I watch it. Usually I'm at my parents, and just hide my few trickles of tears. This year, I was sitting on my livingroom floor, editing pictures from a photo shoot earlier in the day. I had forgotten that I actually get the channel now, and so I didn't turn it on until 11:30. It was almost over. I cried for the entire 30 minutes that I had it on. Never before has it effected me the way it did tonight. And I had no specific reason to cry more this year than any other. All I could think was "Why am I crying like this? I hope I don't wake the girls up. I wish I had a husband here to hold me." I'm not very vulnerable with a lot of people when it comes to crying. Sometimes, very rarely, I am. But usually I just don't want anyone to see me cry and worry about me. I'm fine. Really. I am. It's something I really wish I had a strong man around for. Someone I won't have to be strong for always, someone who will be strong for me. Tonight was one of those nights.
I don't know why I felt like sharing this. I just know that I did.
We have faced many trials. We have fought, and are still fighting, many earthly battles. We know that God has used our family, and will continue to use our family, in mighty ways. We couldn't have survived this as a fully intact family without God on our side. Praise Him from whom all blessings flow.
Here is a link to Jerry Lewis finishing out the 2008 MDA Telethon. He sang this every year to his kids. Jerry's Kids. Living their lives with muscular dystrophy. http://youtu.be/Fn-bXSlPlMo
Chad passed away in February 2004 at the age of 17. I was pregnant with Courtney at the time. Neither she or Jenna ever got to meet him. I try my very best to make up for that in telling them stories and showing them pictures. They tell me all the time how much they miss their Uncle Chad.
This year, Jerry Lewis was not a part of the Telethon. He retired. They also cut the 21 hour program to a 6 hour program. It used to last from Sunday evening to Monday late afternoon. This year it was Sunday from 6pm to 12am. Needless to say, I was very disappointed in that.
Every year, I cry a little when I watch it. Usually I'm at my parents, and just hide my few trickles of tears. This year, I was sitting on my livingroom floor, editing pictures from a photo shoot earlier in the day. I had forgotten that I actually get the channel now, and so I didn't turn it on until 11:30. It was almost over. I cried for the entire 30 minutes that I had it on. Never before has it effected me the way it did tonight. And I had no specific reason to cry more this year than any other. All I could think was "Why am I crying like this? I hope I don't wake the girls up. I wish I had a husband here to hold me." I'm not very vulnerable with a lot of people when it comes to crying. Sometimes, very rarely, I am. But usually I just don't want anyone to see me cry and worry about me. I'm fine. Really. I am. It's something I really wish I had a strong man around for. Someone I won't have to be strong for always, someone who will be strong for me. Tonight was one of those nights.
I don't know why I felt like sharing this. I just know that I did.
We have faced many trials. We have fought, and are still fighting, many earthly battles. We know that God has used our family, and will continue to use our family, in mighty ways. We couldn't have survived this as a fully intact family without God on our side. Praise Him from whom all blessings flow.
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| Front Row: Davey 17, Jenna 5, Caleb 29, Courtney 6, Joshua 22 Back Row: Me 27, Wyatt 13, Dad old, Mom almost as old, Danielle 19. |
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| Chad around 2002 about 16 years old |
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