Courage

Today most of my thoughts are with my Nephew. I'll call him J.


J was born just over 14 years ago with many physical problems including a diaphragmatic hernia, collapsed lung, several holes in his heart and scoliosis.


He has had several operations, the first few as a newborn and more recently one to insert rods into his back and then a few months later another to remove them.


All major surgery.


Today J is back in Bristol in preparation for more surgery. They are inserting more rods and doing something with his ribs...I'm unsure of the details.


I spoke to him on the phone last night to wish him luck...he was about to go out to Youth Club.


One of the things that amazes me about J is the way he just gets on with things. Although he is alot smaller than other 14 year olds and there are obviously some things he is unable to do, he never wants to be treated any differently from them....he never has. He has never used his physical problems as an excuse for not doing whatever he can and I have never once heard him complain.


I don't see J often but I am in awe of his courage and ability to keep smiling....and believe me, it's a big smile!


An amazing kid.

Today and tomorrow I will be thinking of J and my Brother, his wife and their two other sons.


I have no idea how they must be feeling.


Once again, I count my blessings.