Caleb's Crew!!

This weekend is the 14th Annual Stride and Ride in Mission Bay/Crown Point. I'm typically not a fundraising type of person. I've wanted to do the 3-Day Breast Cancer walk, but don't do it because of the fundraising. I hate asking people for money. I feel rude. But...when a cause is this close to me I simply can't NOT fundraise. If you were to meet Caleb you'd feel the same too. Caleb is such a sweet little guy and so so smart. He's 4 years old and already able to sound out most words and read them. He's not only reading books, but he reads street signs and other things he see too. I'm lucky enough to know him, and I know many of the people that I ask to help me with my fundraising efforts haven't and may not (due to distance) get to meet him. This makes it even harder to convince people that he IS worth it. He is worth whatever little bit they may be able to afford to donate.

Caleb loves to give hugs so he can run his hands through your hair.
Caleb loves his Wii and iTouch
Caleb loves ice cream

Caleb would love to walk all on his own.

I've copied a piece of Amy's blog (Caleb's mom) so anyone that is here can immediately read why I'm fundraising for Caleb's Crew, and why YOU should donate if you haven't already.

***A couple of days ago Caleb was sitting on the couch when he asked, seemingly out of the blue, "Mommy, when I get older and bigger I won't have Muscular Dystrophy any more?"

My heart was immediately in my throat, along with a flood of possible answers, and questions of my own. How do I possibly convey to a 4-year old that this is not something he will outgrow, that he will have likely MD for the rest of his life unless by some miracle there is a cure... How do I possibly express this while still giving him hope that anything is possible and that life is still worth cherishing, despite the challenges he will face... How do I look into his bright eyes and tell him that because his body doesn't produce ONE STINKING PROTEIN, his muscles will never work the same as other people's and he very likely won't live to be an old man?!

The flood of questions, answers and emotions coursed through me in mere seconds. Before I knew it, Caleb was talking about Lego Star Wars, without me being able to say a single thing. I knew this was a vital conversation that we needed to have, so I brought him back to it.

"Caleb, you asked a very important question about Muscular Dystrophy, and it's time to talk about it."

"What, mom?"

"Well you asked if you wouldn't have Muscular Dystrophy when you get older and bigger. But Muscular Dystrophy is part of your body, and it's something that you'll always have, even when you're bigger. So you'll always need some help with things like walking, and will need to use things like walkers or wheelchairs to get around."

"Mom, I think when I get bigger I won't even use a walker."

"Oh really. What will you use, then?"

"I think I'll just use my legs and feet and walk all by myself."

As the tears welled up, the only response that seemed remotely close to being correct was, "I sure hope you're right, Caleb."

I know this is just the beginning of questions we will have to answer for our amazing and insightful little boy. God willing, some day he won't be so little any more when we have to give him more answers. We may not always have the right answers, but all we can prepare ourselves for is to try our best to find the delicate balance of helping our son face his reality while maintaing hope and joy for his future.***

Now...don't YOU want to donate and help Caleb achieve his goal of walking with just his legs and feet all by himself???


(ps...Amy, I hope you don't mind that I stole from you!!!)


Click here to donate!!!