A SPECIAL CAUSE...and a request

Please indulge me and read this post to the end. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As I was raising my children there were several times that my ex and I were faced with serious medical issues involving one or more of the boys. There was the time when my first son was born that we were told he had severely elevated "numbers" and it seemed to indicate he might have been born with muscular dystrophy. Then when he didn't have properly developed leg muscles and his motor skills were lagging behind the acceptable level for his age, again we were faced with a serious situation that broke our hearts. We were further disheartened when he reached the age of 3 and had yet to utter his first word. Tests upon tests were performed on this boy by some of the finest specialists available. Children's hospitals, offices of speech therapists, occupational therapists, and Shriner's Hospital for Children became second homes to us as we sorted through the myriad of problems to reach a conclusive diagnosis.

As I sat in the waiting rooms for yet another appointment on yet another day, I would observe the other patients and their families. One thing I learned early in the process was that no matter how grim I thought my situation, no matter how heart-wrenching, there was always someone who had a much worse prognosis and far bigger challenge. To witness some of the mothers who tirelessly smiled as they once again spoon fed a meal to an oblivious, wheelchair-bound, diaper-wearing preteen broke my heart anew. I prayed for them... wondered why they seemed so happy despite the reality they faced every day as they struggled to provide a normal life for a child that would never say "I love you, Mommy" or would even know the difference.

We all face challenges at different levels that to each of us seem, at the time, to be the worst thing we've ever encountered. And if we are church-doing, God-fearing folks, we look around us and are thankful that we don't have life as bad as some others around us, because things can ALWAYS be worse.

So the next time you are feeling thankful for the good health of your children... or are thinking what horrible brats they are and surely are not your offspring, go read a story about how your life could have been and be thankful anew that no matter what hand we are dealt in this life, it is still something precious and worthy of a smile.

As you think about this, let me share something. A woman I met as a result of our mutual passion for quilting has an additional passion dear to her heart, her granddaughter Katy. I've known Perry long enough that I remember when Katy was born and Grandma Perry was proudly posting pictures of the newborn baby and her big sister.

I ask that you go read about Katy and all she has to deal with in her young life as she tries to be a normal little girl. Read about the reality her family faces as they strive to beat the odds and fight to find a cure. You can help with a simple donation and a shot at winning a gorgeous quilt made especially to raffle for this cause. Another post that tells more about Katy is here. Additional links are also located on these pages for further information or for donations.

I thank you, and no doubt Katy's family thank you as well. Please feel free to share this post with others in your life who would love to help by making a donation and taking a chance on winning a beautiful quilt in Katy's honor.