It is such a privelege to have a community of friends, family and many who have made us a part of their hearts and carry us in their thoughts. We are amazed and overwhelmed by the love that is given and that love is so real. We each feel it and throughout the hard times, a sick child, my trouble with finding a full time job with benefits, it can make a man feel defeated and helpless.

Yet, each time we find ourselves wanting to throw in the towel, asking why and feling sorry for ourselves, we can't help but know how loved we are, how many care and that is faith in action! It's real. In hard tims when finding anything real becomes harder to find, we have to continue to try and push ourselves through the dark and tiring moments. I am a father of three sick kids. I am responsible for their care and while I believe we need Medicare and Medicaid, I also believe that because I lost my job, I am terrified of the future for my kids. I have been blessed to have received more education and become a Regitered Therapist where I had been a very blessed Certified Therapist in KC. We took for granted so many things. Yes, we had the kids and they had periods of illness and each in infancy gave us a scare but they were living a great life. My wife had researched everything until we finally received the news that we both knew deep down, they all three had a Genetic Bone Marrow Disease and Immune issues, along wit Grace and her Multicysitic Kidney disease. Finding out this past year that there are even more problems with Grace and knowing we must find a place to take them.

It's hard to even know where to go for you learn that things always go smooth and the doctor we had here was special, very special. Yet , with retirement and he being their Bone Marrow Doctor who realy needs to oversee eveything, simply isn't able too. The trust in the GI department and even within the circle of the handful of doctors who know all about your kids, you wonder if they will be fair. We need to be where he can move onto an adult care and still be close to childrens care. More than anything, we pray our son would heal and my wife who isn't to well would follow up on care. Beyond that, I pray for a JOB with benefits so we can provide them with the top specialists across the nation.  We believe in insurance for all and fairness for care. We don't believe I family should have to give up everything, including their dreams to qualify for Medicaid. It forces families unto poverty, a place a do not want. I want my kids to see that work is important, education and dreams can be reached even by them. That their is no date stamped oto their life. How, thogh can that be done if I cannot even do it? We know their are feelings on both sides but frm two parents who have seen both sides and have watched and known too many loss it all or loss their child due to restrictions of Medicaid.

All of these things we carry on our shoulders and they are as well. So trust me when I say, that each year we think they have done so much, we can't except another fundraiser but the truth is, we are all praying it happens for I do not know where we would be. Any parent knows what it means to provide for your family and I want more than anything a good job, one day a home and maybe a little bit of the life back we once had. Though each day when I wake, it's a great day to see my children. I thank God for that and all those he uses to help us.