What
Heroes Are Made Of!
During
the September 11th tragedy, our country saw
first hand what true heroes are made of. Countless
people gave their time, energy, heart and
soul to help the thousands of people who were
affected. We feel blessed to share our life
with a very special hero who teaches us every
day what heroes are made of...our son
Bill.
Although
Bill was only 2 years old in 1988 when a driver
high on cocaine and alcohol killed his mother
and stepfather and left him a quadri-plegic,
his spirit has never faltered. He lives his
life to the fullest, making the very best
of every day. The selfish drunk driver may
have robbed
Bill of many of his physical freedoms but
he will never capture his spirit. It takes
much courage and integrity to live everyday
with little to no personal freedom or independence.
It is extremely difficult to rely on others
for the most basic necessities of life, bathing,
dressing, eating and even rolling over in
bed. Bill has great friends and they try to
include Bill whenever possible but the physical
constraints are often a major hassle. Through
all these trials and tribulations Bill continues
to smile and makes the best of whatever situation
he encounters.
Bill
spends many hours a week just to keep his
body from deteriorating. Not to mention the
numerous days and hours it takes to keep his
equipment and medical needs in check. But
through it all, Bill keeps his sense of humor
and makes every effort to keep a positive
attitude. This year Bill is facing many hurdles...braces
on his teeth, the removal of his tracheotomy,
learning to drive, looking at colleges. For
most teens many of these activities are exciting
but for Bill, they are often extremely complicated,
painful and scary.
Our
son Bill shows us everyday what real heroes
are made of. He is an extremely fine young
man and continues to encourage those he comes
in contact with to remember his simple message....Please
don't drink and drive!! May God give
us the courage to make wise decisions!
Bill,
Patty and Bill Crowley
