Alex, Uncle Don and Aunt Jean

I wrote a blog entitled "Riding Life's Wave" on August 25th ( I encourage you to read it).  It was about an inspiring, courageous young man named Jacob Brewer.  Since posting that blog, I have received the most incredible comments about how he has positively affected those around him.  The last comment I recieved tugged at my heart.  I don't know this person but I applaud her for her honesty and insight.  Carol McMillon wrote to me and said, "It has taken me awhile to be able to comment on Jacob's special day. There is not a single person who doesn't fall in love with him. He leaves his foot print on your heart. I cannot even imagine living one day in a wheelchair let alone years! My sister once asked me to speak to a group of Kroger employees. Standing in front of the room looking at Jacob I suddenly had a life altering moment. I wanted our family to be "perfect", but how could we when we had a "handicapped" family member. It was in that moment that I realized our family was already "perfect" BECAUSE of Jacob. I was ashamed of myself. Oh, the things he has taught us!"

Thank you Carol for commenting.  What a great message and what a great life lesson for us all to learn.

The story of Jacob started me thinking about one of my own family members.  Carol's comments reflect my feelings toward my cousin Alex.  Alexander Montgomery, was special to our family in every sense of the word.  You see, Alex was born on May 31st, 1976, with severe Down's Syndrome which was complicated by a terrible heart condition.  At his birth, doctors gave Alex only a short time to live.  But Alex was a fighter and defied the odds.  Alex wanted to live and enjoy life to the best of his ability.  And Alex did enjoy his life, although harder than your life or mine, for 30 years.  In those thirty years, Alex warmed the hearts of all those he met with a warm smile and often a hug.  Christmas time was special for 30 years also.  Alex loved Santa, who would make a visit every year to deliver presents and visit with Alex.  Alex also taught us to appreciate simple things.  McDonald's shakes, special rides, and a daily visit to a special tree were all things that most of us would not think much about.  But Alex reminded us all that it was the small things in life that mattered.  Alex passed on January 10th, 2007 and although he has been in heaven for almost five years now, I still think about him and the honor it was to hang out with Alex and to learn from him how to live life despite tough odds.

But Alex is only part of this incredible story.  My Uncle Don and Aunt Jean cared for Alex for those 30 years.  And despite how tough it was to care for Alex, I never heard either of them complain.  Both of these wonderful human beings have demonstrated to everyone who has ever met them an incredible patience, unconditional love, and a reverance and respect for human life that is often dismissed today for the sake of convenience. 

I have always had a special place in my heart for Uncle Don and Aunt Jean.  They are just good people.  Growing up, Uncle Don was the cool, muscular, fun guy to be with.  Aunt Jean was the beautiful, even- keeled person that always took an interest in whatever it was that I was doing.  Today, they are still those things to me, but I see them in a different light.  After knowing how difficult it is to raise children who are not physically and mentally challenged, I have come to appreciate just how special they are.

I don't get to visit with Uncle Don and Aunt Jean as much as I would like.  Distance prevents that.  But I do think of them more often than they know and I am thankful for the times that I had growing up having them in my life and am thankful for the few times that we get to see each other nowadays.

And if I could see them today, I would thank them for the life lessons that they have taught me and how blessed I know that I have been to have them in my life.