How a New Born Changed a Grandfather’s Life

One day can change anyone’s life for the better or for the worse.

At a young age, my father lived a day that he would never forget. Riding his bicycle on a busy street he heard the sound of the truck coming from behind him. He was knocked off into a ditch on the side of the road and the pain still lives with him today. With herniated disks and spurs in his spine, he would be injured for life.

Meeting my mother at the age of 14, it was love at first sight. Before their wedding day, the doctor told my mother he would not be able to walk by the age of 50 due to the back issues he suffered from that accident.

30 years later, the only word describing my father is ‘remarkable’. The pain has not gone away, but he is a true testament of how the mind can play a part in staying mobile. Every day he comes home, after a very manual intensive job, and you can see the pain in his face —a pain that he will not let win.

Over the years of fighting through chronic pain, it has worn him out. Each day more pain creeps up only to be squashed by his own stubbornness, but stubbornness can only get you so far.

Just as the pain began to win the war against his self esteem, the remarkable happened. My nephew was born. The first grand child to enter our family.

I have never seen such a transformation of courage and relentlessness. A relentlessness which I only hope I can possess as I grow old with my own chronic illness.

Something amazing happened. It started with a smile, and in front of my family’s own eyes we saw years get added on to my father’s life. Despite the pain,  my father lifted my nephew up and smiled.

We can all learn from the resilience of my father and how our emotions are tailored to our own situation. Imagine a life where my father did not meet my mother and have the joy of holding a grandchild in his arms. Our surroundings have a great impact on how we show our emotions day to day.

Step back and realize how your surroundings are affecting your emotions.

I want to offer a sentiment. Everyone with chronic illness needs family, friends, and a community of support. The Disease Cant Stop Me Community on Facebook can be that support.

Also, I am always here to talk. Feel free to reach out to me by emailing DavidRaymondGay@diseasecantstopme.com.

Thanks,

Dave