Random Observations on Life

Random Observations on Life

Over time, owners do resemble their dogs!


This is a blog about a dog. Well not really. This is the more about the ramblings of the dog's dutiful owner, Blue's Dad. Although Blue might be the backdrop of this whole experiment, there's no telling where this trail will lead me. I apologize ahead of time for the randomness of my observations. I've always tended to color outside the lines.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Defining Heroes

When most people are asked about heroes, they typically reel off a list of names whom we all know as sports figures, celebrities, politicians, etc. It's interesting, though, when their fame fades, we seldom list them much. Their heroics are somehow tied to their time in the limelight.

I want to tell you about a hero of mine, one who the general public doesn't know about. He hasn't been highlighted on ESPN or Entertainment Tonight, but he is a hero just the same. He is my oldest brudder, Darrell.

In his early 20's, he was diagnosed with a back disease which has deteriorated his spine over time. He was told by doctors that he would be in a wheelchair before he was 30. He wasn't. For most of his life, he walked with his pain, bending more and more as time went by.

I never knew a time when Darrell wasn't surrounded by friends, mainly because he was such a good friend himself. He never seemed to want pity, although you could often see the pain in his face.

Last year, his car was hit by another car, which subsequently broke his already weakened back. Surgery was required to take one of his ribs and repair his back. For the past five months, he has been in a hospital bed trying to re-learn to walk. During this time, I never heard of him complaining. He always took the attitude of "What good is complaining going to do?".

Just because a person has a disease doesn't make them a hero, but what makes him a hero is how he has responded to the hand he was dealt, which I am sure has helped him overcome it. His attitude has determined his altitude!

This week I got some pics of him which motivated me to write this post, Darrell walking on his own. The glow in his face shows the pride in his accomplishment.

My hat's off to you big brudder!! Thanks for being my hero and one that won't fade with time.






2 comments:

glen said...

Words will never define this MAN!I am so thankful he is my Big Brudder. He has bless my life more then anyone I know.
Thanks little Brudder for this post.

jopledger said...

What a delightful post and tribute to your brother Darrell. He is indeed a very fine fellow. I've known him since we called him "wild thing" in high school and he is one of the most positive people I know. Thanks for letting the world (or at least the bloggers who read this) know this about Darrell. God Bless. Jo Pledger