what a guy!

did you ever meet those people who are sick and give up there whole life? I once remember meeting a woman, who had a rash on her face dude to some illness and she went on disability because the rash made her itch! i remember thinking. this woman is letting her illness rule her life!

well here is another story! about 10 years ago a man i knew got diagnosed with an illness called lupus, and although it has limited him in the things he can do, he still has an incredible outlook on life then anyone i have ever met! This dude once an avid skier, snowboarder, golfer, baseball player,bowler and trampoline jumper has had all of that taken away from him little by little. When first diagnosed he still did the things he loved, quitting just baseball, because to pick up the bat and swing was hard for him, but as time went on, he slowly but surely gave up all the sports he once loved. skiing and snowboarding because of the cold weather and his lungs, and bowling because the guys on the team smoked and he could not take it, trampoline jumping because it got too hard for him to catch his breath, and his joints hurt him so much while doing it! Today once and a while he will go golfing but not with out his oxygen machine!

But the Man still gets up day in and day out to go to work, to bring home the bacon! He keeps going and finds excitement in other things these days such as working on his classic car, his dog, and a new found appreciation for his friends and family! Spending his every extra min with them and enjoying the company of them. He is sure not to miss little league games, or school plays and concerts he does not miss graduations,or birthday parties, he goes to parades, and fairs with the kids and family members and has dinner with friends once a week, along with a yearly vacation with the same friends! despite the fact that it tires him out and wears him down! this man would do anything for you, Give you the last bit of money in his wallet just so you are "ok" or help you reface a kitchen or fix up your house, he will give you the shirt off his back if you needed it!

the things that were once important to this man have become lasting memories but the things that are real in life such as friends and family is what keeps him going though all these hard times! He is a trooper.. laughing alot and making jokes in the mist of his suffering and hurting! even though you can tell he limited by his illness it does not stop the man from missing a moment! and I am proud to call this man my father! I love him with all my heart and pray that he is healed! he is a special man to me.. and i hope that my outlook on life is just half as good as his! :)