Leaving His Mark

I think as parents, we all want our kids to grow up and do amazing things; make the world a better place. After James was born, and we learned about all of his medical issues and needs, Stacy and I didn’t think he have a chance to “make his mark on the world.” Boy, were we wrong! This kid continues to amaze us. Here’s a boy who can’t walk, can’t talk, can’t eat by mouth, and can’t use any of his limbs, but yet he has touched the lives of countless people. How many of us that can do all of those aforementioned things have had as much of an impact as James has? I am 42 years old, and I’ve probably only touched a small fraction of the lives that he has. When you’re sometimes referred to as “James’ dad” rather than by your first name, you know your kid is more popular than you are.

So where am I going with this? Well, a couple of months ago there was a voicemail on my phone at work from a sergeant with the police department in the city where I work. The message was relatively short…his name, his number, and asked me to call him when I had a chance because he had a couple of questions to ask me. My first thought was “crap, what the hell did I do?” I went out for a cigarette and tried to think of things I could have possibly done and to calm my nerves a bit before I called him back.

As it turned out, it was nothing that I did; James did it. Well, I guess it was all of us (James, Stacy, and I). The sergeant was the president of the 421st raduating class of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command program, which is a 10-week leadership and management program for law enforcement professionals who wish to move up to more senior positions. At the graduation ceremony, the graduating class gives a legacy gift to a family or organization of their choosing. We were chosen as the recipient of this gift and were invited to their graduation ceremony and luncheon.

I really have no words. Who would have thought that a kid with so many deficits would have such an impact? Certainly not me. But here he is showing all of us that you don’t need to have all of your faculties to leave your mark.

Thank you graduates for your generosity; thank you for doing what you do; and best of luck to you.

Field Trip

James went on a field trip last week to the FireZone where he learned what it’s like to be a firefighter.

Minor Illness

On Monday of this week James seemed like he was coming down with something. Of course, when we sense something starting, we get a bit worried. Especially now with this flu bug going around. Fortunately, it just turned out to be just a minor illness. That is something we rarely say…a minor illness. When James gets sick, he usually gets really sick. Lots of oxygen, lots of suctioning, a trip to the ER for an x-ray, and if he’s lucky, he earns himself a hospital stay. Or should that be if he’s not lucky?

No x-rays or hospital stays this time. Just a couple of days off from school to relax with mommy.