Labor Day

It's Labor Day and, for as long as I remember, that has meant one thing to our family, the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. Most of you know that my brother suffers from muscular dystrophy. Let me say that the disease is as terrible as they say. It robs a person of the use of their body while allowing their mind to be strong. My brother is, without a doubt, the sharpest person that I know. He is extremely smart, very witty and quite possibly the funniest guy I know.

So this day is my day to reflect on this disease and it's impact on families all across this nation. My brother, thankfully, is now 33 years old and is living a good life in Colorado. However, some families never get the chance to see their loved ones have a full life. When I was a teenager I attended a MDA camp. I was a couselor to a child that had muscular dystrophy. It was my job to help this child do things that their disease would otherwise not allow them to do, fish, canoe, swim, and things like that. The camp is a week long and it can be a life changer. The Muscular Dystrophy Association makes this camp possible. Yes, MDA does great disease research, and they are closer than ever to a cure, but they also provide the smaller stuff, stuff like the camp, that allows children to have a better existence.

Labor Day is my day to give, to pray and to hope that there is a cure to this terrible disease that has taken so much from my family and the families of others. Please look in your heart and give.

James, I love you.