Locate the tissues, folks... prepare for serious inspiration

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 5:47 pm

You may have already heard of this family, but this is one of the most amazing stories, and the video is incredibly touching. Sports Illustrated named this man "Man of the Year", and it's easy to see why.

We've all heard the admonition to never say 'can't'. Here's someone, or rather two someones, that say "Can!"

http://cjcphoto.com/can/

dubhlinn · Post by **dubhlinn** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:09 pm

Never underestimate the power of Love..and Blood.

Nice one Annie

Slan,
D.

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:10 pm

That is quite a story.

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:21 pm

wow

I used to take tennis lessons at a public facility that also had an ice rink, and I remember--I will never forget--watching a mother skating around the rink, pushing her son in a wheel chair. It was the look on the boy's face that I remember most--complete elation, complete freedom from disability, as in this story, too.

Thanks, annie.

Carol

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:35 pm

crud...I forgot to locate my tissues.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 7:08 pm

thanks Annie

djm · Post by **djm** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 7:32 pm

Naturally I am far too tough to need tissues, but someone had better bring me a clean t-shirt pretty darn soon ...

djm

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:22 pm

We have friends who have a daughter, now in her mid 20's, who has a birth defect that kept her from being able to talk, or to have much fine motor control, among other problems, but she is something else! She is smart and funny and enjoys playing with the kids... she plays tricks on them and is an ace at being seeker in hide and seek ... she can use her special communications laptop and can prove that there is far more going on in that medically termed 'retarded' brain than anyone would imagine.

She is a real live, loving, person in a not altogether functional body. I am so glad her parents, too, did not listen to the authorities that told them to institutionalize her, though, I also empathize with those who choose to... it is an incredible amount of work, investment and stress that not everyone can muster. I don't know how I would handle it, but with such examples, I am sure more would try. I breaks my heart to hear people make comments about her... they have no clue... they've been taught that anyone who looks like that is useless... I pray that they will eventually take the chance to find out otherwise.

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:27 am

Wow. It sure is a beautiful example of someone (the dad) making the best of a difficult situation. My heart aches, though, for what the son lost because of one little event during birth.

My son's umbilical cord was around his neck when he was born, and he was blue. Thank goodness, I already know he's fine. He's only two months old, but he is incredibly communicative and was holding up his head and making eye contact immediately after birth. Now he smiles and vocalizes and stretches. I got very worried, as my pregnancy got longer and longer, that something would go wrong at the birth and his life would be compromised. The delivery was really awful, far worse than my first, but, thank goodness, both of my children are healthy and able-bodied.

Of course the dad in that link should be commended and it is an inspiration that he didn't give up on his disabled son, but to look at the face on the son and think about what could have been if the umbilical cord hadn't strangled him, is also heart-breaking.

Birth, since it happens so often, has lost its magic in our collective minds. But a smooth birth with a healthy mother and child is still a miracle. I am incredibly grateful for my healthy children. And I am never doing it again.

I am rambling a bit. I hope what I've written is taken the way it was intended.

bradhurley · Post by **bradhurley** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:22 am

While you've got the tissues out, you may need them for this one:

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1667265

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:44 am

reminds me of Radio

what was brilliant, BTW

BoneQuint · Post by **BoneQuint** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:51 pm

Thanks for those stories, both to anniemcu and bradhurley. Amazing stuff.

Here's more on J-Mac: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4RaOy3dzTs

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:16 pm

Denny wrote:reminds me of Radio

what was brilliant, BTW

Yes, it was very good.

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:27 pm

bradhurley wrote:While you've got the tissues out, you may need them for this one:

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1667265

Yeah... that was phenominal to see. The best part of it is the chink in the wall of prejudice against those who have handicaps of any nature. I am so glad it is getting so much attention. People need to see that their assumptions are not really other people's limits.

alurker · Post by **alurker** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:38 am

Incredibly moving. Thanks for posting Annie.

Kinda makes all the rest of us dads look bad by comparison.