Sunday, December 26, 2010 6:00 PM, CST
I am sitting in the Birmingham Airport waiting for our flight to depart for Corpus Christi, Texas. I would not be telling the truth if I said I was not excited and anxious! But before I get into the trip, I wanted to share a story with each of you about Gabe and the lives he touches. We went skiing recently and when we were getting our equipment and lift tickets I asked if someone could take Gabe down the slope as he cannot ski. The lady stated that for liability reasons, they could not and I totally understood. Seeing how it was a smaller resort, we really got to know the instructors. The second day we got there, an instructor named Charlie asked if Turner and Coop were excited about going down the slope again. I said they had not quit talking about it. He then asked about Addie and Gabe who were standing there. I said Addie was too scared and that Gabe could not ski. He said sure he can, we have taught children younger than him to ski before. I said he cannot ski as he is a special needs child. Charlie (who is a full time paramedic for his real job) asked what type of disease it was so when I explained it to him, his face totally changed. His eyes filled with tears and he looked at Gabe and said "Gabe you want to go skiing?!” Gabe looked up at him and with a huge grin shook his head yes. Charlie then said “well then dad gummit, you are going to go skiing!” Traci started crying tears of joy as Charlie went and got his ski boots and skis…he held Gabe while the lift took them up the slope, he got to the top, and down they came. You could hear Gabe screaming “I’m skiing, I’m skiing!!!” It was an incredible site as Charlie did this a total of 3 times. When he was done, Gabe hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. I shook his hand and hugged him myself. I told him he had no idea how he just touched my family and he said “no…you have no idea hoe Gabe has touched my life!” What a trip and what a moment! I sometime lay in bed and picture it all in my mind again!!
I wanted to share that story with you as I am finding there are more and more incredible people in this world willing to make a difference! Now…on to our current trip (see previous post). We will meet with the doctor tomorrow for about 5 hours as he teaches us how to hook up the machine and how to run the protocols. I will try and post daily and provide as many updates as I can but there are no guarantees. Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers!!! We need them all and could not make it through this without each of you! I hope every one of you hade a Merry Christmas and let’s all hope for one more gift the week after Christmas! Gabe’s Dad
I am sitting in the Birmingham Airport waiting for our flight to depart for Corpus Christi, Texas. I would not be telling the truth if I said I was not excited and anxious! But before I get into the trip, I wanted to share a story with each of you about Gabe and the lives he touches. We went skiing recently and when we were getting our equipment and lift tickets I asked if someone could take Gabe down the slope as he cannot ski. The lady stated that for liability reasons, they could not and I totally understood. Seeing how it was a smaller resort, we really got to know the instructors. The second day we got there, an instructor named Charlie asked if Turner and Coop were excited about going down the slope again. I said they had not quit talking about it. He then asked about Addie and Gabe who were standing there. I said Addie was too scared and that Gabe could not ski. He said sure he can, we have taught children younger than him to ski before. I said he cannot ski as he is a special needs child. Charlie (who is a full time paramedic for his real job) asked what type of disease it was so when I explained it to him, his face totally changed. His eyes filled with tears and he looked at Gabe and said "Gabe you want to go skiing?!” Gabe looked up at him and with a huge grin shook his head yes. Charlie then said “well then dad gummit, you are going to go skiing!” Traci started crying tears of joy as Charlie went and got his ski boots and skis…he held Gabe while the lift took them up the slope, he got to the top, and down they came. You could hear Gabe screaming “I’m skiing, I’m skiing!!!” It was an incredible site as Charlie did this a total of 3 times. When he was done, Gabe hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. I shook his hand and hugged him myself. I told him he had no idea how he just touched my family and he said “no…you have no idea hoe Gabe has touched my life!” What a trip and what a moment! I sometime lay in bed and picture it all in my mind again!!
I wanted to share that story with you as I am finding there are more and more incredible people in this world willing to make a difference! Now…on to our current trip (see previous post). We will meet with the doctor tomorrow for about 5 hours as he teaches us how to hook up the machine and how to run the protocols. I will try and post daily and provide as many updates as I can but there are no guarantees. Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers!!! We need them all and could not make it through this without each of you! I hope every one of you hade a Merry Christmas and let’s all hope for one more gift the week after Christmas! Gabe’s Dad