Story
'David'
David was born with (Cerebral Palsy) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
Due to his disability, David required constant care and attention.
His parents had both accepted the challenge and were caring for him
24/7. ‘David’ communicated with his parents and just as a mum knows
her baby’s cry, Dave & Michele knew their son and loved him deeply.
There were times when ‘David’ as well as ‘Mum’ and ‘Dad’ needed a
little bit of help too. This is where Bluebell Wood Hospice at North
Anston came into their own.
http://www.bluebellwood.org/
Bluebell Wood offered respite to families in circumstances where
professional help is welcomed/needed. David's family had qualified for
this opportunity and mum and dad found the support they needed to help
them. Sometimes just the ability to recharge their batteries enabled
them to get through the difficult times. Sometimes just the knowledge
that someone was there to talk to and offer professional guidance was
worth its weight in gold.
We as human beings can only imagine what parents with disabled
children sometimes have to endure. Especially when at times having to
watch their child suffer & the feelings of helplessness, Despair,
anger etc that can most likely follow. Again we can only hallucinate
how it must feel, we can never truly know, we just try and make ‘at
best’ some kind of sense of what it must be like…
David's family had started to benefit from the privilege that Bluebell
Wood offered them. Again, how grateful they were of the
opportunities for both them and their son, in their own words is
'beyond comprehension'. The respite that they were now utilising was
liberating them as a family and the future was looking bright.
However, on the 19th of January 2007 David and Michelle took their
seven-year-old son ‘David’ to hospital for what appeared to be routine
procedure. ‘David’ throughout his childhood had visited the hospital
under similar circumstances on a number of occasions. His mum and dad
were quite used to the procedures and followed them accordingly.
However, nothing could have prepared them for the devastation that was
to follow…
Every parent's worst nightmare happened when just after midnight on
the 20th January ‘David’ passed away due to complications.
Dave & Michelle's journey of pain & loss had just begun…
Today Bluebell Wood still play a role in David & Michele's life. You
see, after young David's death they didn't just leave the parents to
grieve and suffer. They became involved in the support of David and
Michele by recognising that the devastation doesn't just go away.
Assistance with funeral arrangements, support, basically anything they
could to alleviate any of the pain that this family were having to
endure
Dave mentioned in casual conversation one day one of his life's
aspirations. He also mentioned the hurdles in front of him. Work
commitments, family commitments, injury problems, and also the fact
that at the time he was embracing the dream he could only run for 30
seconds without having to stop and rest.
The only way he could run a marathon in his mind was if he approached
the situation with a sense of purpose...
David & Michele can't give words or value to the help that they
received from Bluebell Wood and continue to receive right up until
this very day. Sometimes words are not enough and the rest is
priceless... Sometimes a Marathon doesn't seem such a task because
when you find purpose you find other things tucked away you never knew
you had... So after browsing the Internet, The ING New York Marathon
became a seed that was to be firmly planted.
So there's the frame, here is where it all began... And... On November
2, 2008 after 26 miles 385 yards is where it will all be just
beginning. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to join
Dave on this journey, to be part of something so special. I think
there'll be plenty of people cheering and willing us on to success
that day and i'm certain we'll be encouraged by the people we love
when we need it the most wherever they may be...
expressing something of such significance into just a few words...
But that's our story, and they are our reasons, and this is what it
is all about...
Please donate to this great cause and please leave your messages of support... In Fact...
Why not join us - even if it's just in spirit .....