For the invisible children

I started to write a post last night after reading about Mitchell Wilson's life. ....but had to pause....because I was angry, upset, heartbroken....and meaningful words escaped me.

Tanner has the same disease, and Tanner has been bullied..but the most damaging of all is he has been ignored and excluded....The invisible boy to quote my sister. Bullying comes in all forms....and is equally hurtful and damaging on all counts.

So I speak for him, for Mitchell and for every other child, person who has endured being ostracized or victimized. For the children that should no longer be invisible. And they will not be.

Bullying is reprehensible. The Webster's definition of bully is to inflict physical or emotional harm upon. To make timid or fearful by or is if by threats.

What gives one person the right to intentionally hurt or harm another because of their appearance, or physical or intellectual ability?? Because they may have a different sexual orientation or religious affiliation. Because they are different. Who decides, or more importantly, what gives them the right to decide, what is normal and accepted. It inflames me, it disgusts me. People who bully have not reached the state of evolution that seperates us from apes. Actually, perhaps that is not a fair or just statement about apes. Apes are more highly evolved, in my personal opinion, than bullies.

Every child, every soul has the right to joy and happiness. The right to live. To embrace and be embraced for our differences. We need to embody that as parents for our children, we need to embody that as people for each other.

And for the bullies of the world, you need some time with someone in a back alley who is bigger and stronger than you and carrying a very big stick. Normally I would have compassion for you and feel sorry for the ignorant and empty existence you must lead to have become what you are...but a boy DIED. He took his own life because of you. As have so many. This just has to stop.

Ok, so I have lost track of the days...maybe that is significant, that I have stopped counting. I was struggling with the goodness in people, or at least my faith in that despite that I have been surrounded ( as has Tanner) by so so many fantastic people. Funny what things can test you. Funny what things can happen to renew you.

Today, a wonderful man whom also has bean dealt what most would consider an unfair hand, showed me again that people ( or most...) are kind, compassionate, wonderful.

My friend David, who was rendered a paraplegic in a biking accident more than three years ago made a gesture today - for me for Tanner - that makes my heart leap. We actually met the day of the accident. I was first on the scene to help him. I had been out for an early am run with the girls and he was out for a ride ( he was and still is a competition ranked cyclist...but that is another story) and came across the accident..a still drunk driver hit him and history now unfolds. He reminds me of Tanner, what would have sent most people into a tailspin, suddenly losing your ability to do what makes you, what drives you. He embraced it. Never once did he give up. HE is probably more active today with his adaptive chairs, bikes, skiis then he ever was. And he loves life!

I encountered him quite unexpectedly yesterday and as always he asks about Tanner, He has been pivotal in getting Tanner into some adaptive programs - sit ski, water ski...I told him about the challenges and changes we now face. How with the snow Tanner was basically homebound ( his powerchair is not very compatible with the snow). This morning, he simply showed up with a sled that is made for disabled persons. It mimics a tradional dogsled but is less cumbersome and more portable and it is awesome! We have inches of fresh snow today and for the first time in at least a year, Booger can go have fun in it without worry!

God bless them both. My heart has swollen another 2 sizes again for the first time in awhile!