What Inspires You?

Everyone is able to find inspiration from somewhere.  Whether it is a picture, a person, an event, or a story.  For myself, inspiration comes from others.  I recently wrote about my friend Ashley and her story, and how it inspired me to get my butt moving and get into shape.  I have all usable body parts, so why wasn't I putting more effort into it for myself.  Since that time, I run anywhere from 10-15 miles a week, and I've never felt better. :-)

Tonight however, I'd like to write about the bravest little boy I know.  Dylan Flinchum is a 3 year old with MLD.  MLD stands for metachromatic leukodystrophy.  Being that I want to ensure that no misinformation is given, to find out more about MLD PLEASE be sure to go to the MLD Foundation website to learn more about this rare genetic condition and help spread awareness.   

First off, I'd like to share Dylan's story... and then I will tell you why I find him and his parents so inspiring.  Aside from attending high school with Dylan's parents, Mike and Melissa, they are not part of my closer circle of friends.  However, with fantastic vehicles such as Facebook, I along with hundreds of others am able to stay in touch and follow their journey on a daily basis.  I encourage anyone and everyone reading this to find and "like" the page The Dylan Flinchum Rock On Foundation on Facebook.  It is important to me that Dylan's story is correct, so to write in my own words how this diagnosis came about would be unjust.  I'm sharing Dylan's story from his Facebook page.  

Dylan's Story:

Shortly after Dylan’s second birthday in January of last year, he began to experience difficulty walking. After being referred to several medical specialists (including some of the top neurosurgeons in the country at Cornell Medical Center in NYC) it was determined that Dylan had a condition known as Chiari malformation. Dylan underwent surgery in the spring and was expected to make a full recovery.

After several weeks of physical therapy, Dylan was not progressing as expected and began to show symptoms that were unrelated to the malformation. A follow up MRI was completed and doctors were shocked to significant change in Dylan's white brain matter. After getting the initial diagnosis from Cornell, Mike and Melissa traveled to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) where it was confirmed that Dylan is suffering from a degenerative disease known as metachromatic leukodystrophy, often referred to as MLD.

As they all prepare to cope with this horrible disease, everyone is focused on one thing, Dylan. Their goal is to make Dylan as happy and as comfortable as possible while bringing as many smiles to his face as they can.

Now... you may be wondering why I have chosen to write about Dylan and his story.  Well, I will tell you.  Tonight, Melissa posted a video of Dylan using his voice.  It has been quite some time since Dylan has lost his ability to speak.  So tonight when I got to see this video of him finding his voice and then acknowledging Mommy when she asked him, was enough for me to watch over and over with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.  Here is this child who unfortunately has no choice in what cards he has been dealt in this life time.  Dylan deals with discomfort and pain on a daily basis.  He is unable to do what a three year old should be doing like running and playing, or throwing a tantrum because he's not happy about having to eat his broccoli.  But yet, those big brown eyes and gorgeous little mouth, still find ways to curve upwards into a smile.  This child TRULY amazes me.  Everyone including myself, takes what we have for granted.  Our mobility, our ability to speak, to work, to eat with a fork and spoon, are all things we do naturally without even thinking about it.  What would you do if one of those were taken from you?  

And I'm CONFIDENT in saying that 95% of what it is that keeps Dylan going like he does is the love and support that surrounds him.  Mike and Melissa continue to balance a work life, marriage and family life all while ensuring Dylan has hands down the best possible care.  There are days when I read about Dylan and I think to myself, "Gosh, how do they seriously stay so put together on a daily basis?"  Now don't get me wrong.  I know they have their days where they don't feel like facing the world.  But they have their moments and then they get right back to doing what they do best, and that's being Mommy and Daddy to Dylan.  And I'm sure any loving parent would step up to the plate and do what they had to do for the sake of their child.  I know I would.  But I truly find this family to be so inspiring.  They show perseverance that I don't see often in so many others around me on a day to day basis.

My point for this whole post tonight is this:  We spend so much time focused on what we don't have,  wishing we had more emotionally, physically, financially.  Before you know it, you'll be in your middle aged years before you realize you've spent half your life wishing/wanting more.  Please... take a moment and really be thankful for all that you are, all that you have, and everyone you love.  Because all it takes is one phone call...one moment, to change all that you've known in the blink of an eye.

God Bless and Good Night.