Some updates and thoughts

It 's been a while, so I thought I'd bring everyone up to date on life in Teddy's world.
Joshhy has moved in with his aunt in Michigan for school. I hope he is able to do well there. Joe, another friend of ours is staying with us until he is able to get his own place. Joe works a couple of jobs and is a rather busy young man. He is really friendly, but doesn't know how to cook .... we're teaching him tho.
Both William and I are doing great. We are stocking up on storm supplies. We're just waiting to see what Irene is going to do. One moment she is headed towards Florida the next she is moving east of here then later back to us. In any case she is HUGE and moving WNW. She is expected to become a cat 4 and that is bad no matter where she goes.



I recently met a young man Ryan on his blog. He is a young guy with a BF and a really huge heart. He lives at home with his mom, brother and BF. His blog comments are always very interesting and shows how much he cares about the things he believes in. He works for an animal rescue center and loves his work. Please take a few minutes to check out his blog here.

A Few Thoughts

Well, we made it thru another Government created crisis... sort of. The tea baggers and their friends in what is left of the republican party forced their ideas and demands on the US. This gave us, instead of a tax fix, higher interest rates and lower value of the country. Not to mention how bad the US looks to the rest of the world.

New York passed gay marriage much to the chagrin of catholics and other religious bigots who are still making threats to push their agenda on the world.

Have you ever met an Angel in person? You may have and not known it. I recently met one while exploring blogs. There is a young man who happens to live very close to where I do and has a fantastic blog about his life ... his ups and downs ... his loves and fears... and his likes and dislikes. It is also about his growing up. If you saw him at Publix or the beach or at his work, you'd probably think just another cute young guy ... Until you meet him ... His name is Ryan, his BF is Kadin and their blog is Here Ryan is a fantastic role model and a great example of a teen dealing with life. You rarely find a person with such a fun personality that has such a drive for the things he believes in. To read more about him check his blog at the link above.

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?

One Year Later....

I posted this a few weeks ago on the anniversary of the beginning of the story. The actual ending was July 18, 2010....

ONE YEAR LATER

A few years ago an young teen was living with his parents in a South Florida town, going to high school like guys his age should. He was into music, like most teens are. He played sax and joined the school band. A lot of people liked him. He had a close circle of friends as most teens do. His life was going forward as is normal for a 16 year old. His parents loved him, his sisters did too, even though they loved to harass him. He was by all means, your normal average teen.

One warm Florida day in May 2010, his teacher noticed that he didn't look right. His color was off, kind of yellowish. That was the beginning of what was to become the worse two months for everyone that knew him. His parents and close friends were extremely concerned. They stuck by him, cared for him and loved him. His liver had failed, he was very lucky to get a transplant almost immediately. In July 2010 he got sick again ... went to the hospital again ... was diagnosed with leukemia and died in a few days. His family and friends stayed close to him.

It's been a year....

It's been a year we'll never forget....

It's been a year that the world changed....

It's been a year that lives changed....

It's been a year since an unfinished journey came to an end....

It's been a year with out a friend....

It's been a year with out a Love....

It's been the most difficult year of a Family's life....

It's been very hard on some close Friends

They have not had him around ... for the first time....

Their hearts were broken ...their lives changed forever....

They have Cried many tears....

They have asked WHY??....

They have searched for answers that don't exist....

They have found emptiness where there was hope and love....

Holidays that brought joy... now bring tears....

The most difficult thing to learn... life goes on....

The good and bad... Ups and downs... wars and peace....

They have found some new friends....

Others have become mysteriously absent...

Several families have become closer because of the tragedy

They have helped each other through the difficulties

but... They still feel the emptiness....