Some People's Kids... Are AMAZING

Okay, so you know my dearly departed buddy, KJo? He's the one who abandoned us fellow Northerners and hi-tailed it South to nestle in the comforting clutch of the warm sun of a saucy little wench called Florida...AKA the Nation's wang...

But I'm not bitter

Anywho-he has two lovely little girls who bare his wife's likeness and his humor gene. His eldest, Peanut, has suffered from an incurable heart disease since birth. She has had countless open heart surgeries throughout her little, fragile life--including two pacemakers and an internal defibrillator. She comes face-to-face with her own mortality every day. Her prognosis is uncertain, yet she has endured all these life-sustaining medical intrusions with more strength and grace than most adults.

She never complains.

Last week her seventh grade writing assignment was to pen a poem entitled "I am..."

This tender tike apparently has never expressed how she feels about her physical dilemma. Until now. She is articulate, brave and hopeful. She is an inspiration. Her missive puts one's own life challenges in perspective.

After you read this, I'll be waiting with a Klennex for you at the other end.

I AM

I AM... A STRONG AND LOVED PERSON

I WONDER... HOW HEALTHY I WILL BE IN TEN YEARS

I HEAR... MY DEFIBRILLATOR CLICK WHEN I SIT QUIETLY

I SEE... MY SCARS WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR

I WANT... TO BE ABLE TO RUN A MILE LIKE EVERY OTHER KID

I AM... A STRONG AND LOVED PERSON

I PRETEND... THAT SOMETIMES I'M A NORMAL KID

I FEEL... PHYSICALLY TIRED SOMETIMES

I TOUCH... MANY LIVE'S WITH HOPE

I WORRY... ABOUT MY FUTURE

I CRY... WHEN I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH EVERYONE

I AM... A STRONG AND LOVED PERSON

I UNDERSTAND... THAT I HAVE LIMITS

I SAY... I CAN DO ANYTHING I PUT MY MIND TO

I DREAM... ABOUT LIFE WITHOUT HEART DISEASE

I TRY... TO BE A POSITIVE FACE TO HEART DISEASE

I HOPE... TO LIVE A LONG HEALTHY LIFE

I AM... A STRONG AND LOVED PERSON

Some people's kids, huh?