One More Tribute

PRotege For Jeremy

This is a Tribute Song that Danny Gerena wrote for Jeremy ... Danny is Jeremy's friend. They grew up in the neighborhood together. It's Awesome! PRotege is Danny's group.

Diagnosis day

This is from Jeremy's CaringBridge page, written by his mother

Last year - I woke up this morning in a room in the PICU of Jackson Memorial hospital with Jeremy. He was scheduled for a test that morning. Marcelo, a resident, came in to have me sign the form and advised me that he needed to have a bone marrow biopsy. When they had taken blood a slide had been made. When they looked at the slide again they saw that the cells were misshapen. This is an indicator of Leukemia.

The doctor came into the room and explained that they would do the biopsy and they could have preliminary results in an hour. Most likely, they would not know anything for 24 hours though.One hour later the doctor returned. My brother was there with me when he said - It is definitely Leukemia - we will know what kind tomorrow.

I could not go back into Jeremy's room. I had to go find a quiet place for about 15 minutes. I went back to his room. Jeremy said, "Mom why are you crying, I am fine." Of course this made it worse. Then he said....."unless you know something that I don't."

I had to tell my son - You have Leukemia.

In a few minutes he asked if there was a treatment, I explained there was. Jeremy took my hand and said, " Then I've got this mom. I can do this." These were the words I held onto to the end.

This was the last real conversation I remember having with my son.

Why Do You Celebrate the Fourth?

Today is The Fourth of July

Today we celebrate an independence gained and maintained at the cost of many lives..

Cpl. Andrew Charles Wilfahrt was one who died for those freedoms and rights

even tho he was denied many of them.

"Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes."

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek."

"Too often we don't hear the deaf and do not see the blind."

"What we dream we become."

These are the words Cpl. Andrew Charles Wilfahrt lived by

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. - William Faulkner

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. - Abraham Lincoln

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. - Thomas Paine

The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation. - Woodrow Wilson

Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty. -Louis D. Brandeis

America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality. - Adlai Stevenson

Where liberty dwells, there is my country. - Benjamin Franklin

These are some of the words we should all believe in and live by.

It's too bad that many who claim to be Christians are so Anti-American!

How many more will have to die for their rights and equality in this great land?

Some day this hero and thousands like him may RIP

Now, again, I ask, Why do you celebrate the Fourth?