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Doing 'jail time' for MDA; Locals to be locked up
Nise's Notes
by Denise Schoppe
The Marlin Demorat
April 27, 2005
On Thursday, many of Marlin's leaders in business, government and big hearts will be "going to jail" for a good cause: the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The jail is the Cactus Restaurant, where those being arrested must bring their bail and be "booked" - complete with mugshot!
Perhaps you've heard from one of the jailbirds asking for help in raising their bail. If not, then I'd like to encourage everyone to look for someone to help bail out - because while you are bailing out a "local celebrity" from jail, you are also helping bail out someone else from the jail they live in for life.
It's easy to look away when we see someone less fortunate than ourselves. There is tug at the heart, but its easy to just not look or think about it. Every year during the MDA telethon, its simple to just click to another channel. Instead of wanting to help, we would rather not consider the possibility of being in that person's shoes.
On October 12, 1997, my nephew was born. Premature, he was smaller than the Elmo doll someone gave him and spent the first several weeks of his life in the hospital. Even after going home, he wore a heart monitor — just in case.
We were all filled with love for and pride in this new addition to the family. Spoiled? Of course! The first grandson and nephew on both sides, it was everyone's perogative to spoil the small bundle of joy.
It was hard to not notice his development was somewhat slow, but his being premature made everyone not think too hard about it. Eventually, though, his parents took him to the doctor to be checked. Tests were done, and the wait began.
It was with disbelief and a denial that word came of his having Muscular Dystrophy. No, no, no. Can't be. The doctors were WRONG.
However, with time comes acceptance, and with acceptance comes an openess to help. That's where MDA and Shriner's Hospital in Dallas has come into the picture. Regular trips to DFW have brought hope and aid. MDA has answered questions and also shown a ray of hope on what could have been something that brought a lot of darkness in life.
My nephew today is active as he can be. Thanks to exercises, braces and medication provided by the Shriners and MDA, he plays baseball in the summer and enjoys bowling. He rides a bicycle, and can "fight" with his little sister like any big brother would do. He is active in 4-H and attends public school where he makes As in the classroom, though he doesn't run like the other kids, he participates in PE as best he can and, of course, recess is his favorite subject.
We are all aware that as the years pass, the Muscular Dystrophy will continue to progress and he will no longer do many of the things he does now. However, it is thanks to MDA that we all have hope that that day will continue to be somewhere in the future and not right now. We even dare to hope that maybe, just maybe, thanks to donations to MDA a cure will indeed be found and that day will never come.
My nephew is one of my greatest inspirations. Even though he can't quite keep up with the other kids, you don't hear him complain. He pushes forward in all things, and he doesn't use his disability as an excuse for anything. He's a normal kid who has already fought countless battles — just from staying alive as an infant to passing a spelling test.
I will be in the bleachers as often as possible as he plays baseball through the summer, and I will proudly carry his picture with me to jail on Thursday. I beam with pride over him, and will gladly bend anyone's ear about his accomplishments.
Never again will I change the channel when an organzation begs for my help. I may not be able to give much, but I will certainly do what I can.
You never know when its going to be you looking to others for help. I firmly believe in the idea that you get back what you give to others. Right now there are over 50 people in Marlin working to raise money for MDA in the form of their bail.
Thank you for your hard work, and thank you to those who have given. And even bigger thanks to MDA for all they do — for those inflicted with Muscular Dystrophy, for their families, and for those who have no idea what it is about but who learn about it through you.
Nise's Notes
by Denise Schoppe
The Marlin Demorat
April 27, 2005
On Thursday, many of Marlin's leaders in business, government and big hearts will be "going to jail" for a good cause: the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The jail is the Cactus Restaurant, where those being arrested must bring their bail and be "booked" - complete with mugshot!
Perhaps you've heard from one of the jailbirds asking for help in raising their bail. If not, then I'd like to encourage everyone to look for someone to help bail out - because while you are bailing out a "local celebrity" from jail, you are also helping bail out someone else from the jail they live in for life.
It's easy to look away when we see someone less fortunate than ourselves. There is tug at the heart, but its easy to just not look or think about it. Every year during the MDA telethon, its simple to just click to another channel. Instead of wanting to help, we would rather not consider the possibility of being in that person's shoes.
On October 12, 1997, my nephew was born. Premature, he was smaller than the Elmo doll someone gave him and spent the first several weeks of his life in the hospital. Even after going home, he wore a heart monitor — just in case.
We were all filled with love for and pride in this new addition to the family. Spoiled? Of course! The first grandson and nephew on both sides, it was everyone's perogative to spoil the small bundle of joy.
It was hard to not notice his development was somewhat slow, but his being premature made everyone not think too hard about it. Eventually, though, his parents took him to the doctor to be checked. Tests were done, and the wait began.
It was with disbelief and a denial that word came of his having Muscular Dystrophy. No, no, no. Can't be. The doctors were WRONG.
However, with time comes acceptance, and with acceptance comes an openess to help. That's where MDA and Shriner's Hospital in Dallas has come into the picture. Regular trips to DFW have brought hope and aid. MDA has answered questions and also shown a ray of hope on what could have been something that brought a lot of darkness in life.
My nephew today is active as he can be. Thanks to exercises, braces and medication provided by the Shriners and MDA, he plays baseball in the summer and enjoys bowling. He rides a bicycle, and can "fight" with his little sister like any big brother would do. He is active in 4-H and attends public school where he makes As in the classroom, though he doesn't run like the other kids, he participates in PE as best he can and, of course, recess is his favorite subject.
We are all aware that as the years pass, the Muscular Dystrophy will continue to progress and he will no longer do many of the things he does now. However, it is thanks to MDA that we all have hope that that day will continue to be somewhere in the future and not right now. We even dare to hope that maybe, just maybe, thanks to donations to MDA a cure will indeed be found and that day will never come.
My nephew is one of my greatest inspirations. Even though he can't quite keep up with the other kids, you don't hear him complain. He pushes forward in all things, and he doesn't use his disability as an excuse for anything. He's a normal kid who has already fought countless battles — just from staying alive as an infant to passing a spelling test.
I will be in the bleachers as often as possible as he plays baseball through the summer, and I will proudly carry his picture with me to jail on Thursday. I beam with pride over him, and will gladly bend anyone's ear about his accomplishments.
Never again will I change the channel when an organzation begs for my help. I may not be able to give much, but I will certainly do what I can.
You never know when its going to be you looking to others for help. I firmly believe in the idea that you get back what you give to others. Right now there are over 50 people in Marlin working to raise money for MDA in the form of their bail.
Thank you for your hard work, and thank you to those who have given. And even bigger thanks to MDA for all they do — for those inflicted with Muscular Dystrophy, for their families, and for those who have no idea what it is about but who learn about it through you.
