A worthy purpose

Many people have a wrong idea

of what constitutes true happiness.

It is not attained through self-gratification,

but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.

~Helen Keller

Through the brilliant mind of Helen Keller, her quote sums up the past few weekends. I continue to say how blessed I am to have the outpour of support. I have said many times over how amazed I am by the compassion from people I don't even know. I have cried many tears over the graciousness of my family, friends and community as a whole. We have all banded together for a common goal. A goal that will be brought to fruition. A goal that IS atainable if we continue on the path we are on. It is because of YOU and YOU and YOU that fuels my fire to fight for a cure. To fight for treatment. To fight for all the families who feel as I do when they glance at their child, and their child doesn't lock eyes with them and smile because they see you smiling at them.

The sadness I am reminded of daily of the visual impairment of my baby has slowly begun to soften. It is not as harsh, cold, or stomach churning. It is, though, still as difficult and devastating. That has not gone away, it will always be difficult. I cannot change what is. As we all know, what we can change is the future. The future is full of promise, hope and the ability to allow this process to take place. I can cry, we can cry, but we will not cry for long. The crying will hit the plateau as we edge closer to cures that robs thousands of children, teenagers, adults and the elderly of the most precious of all senses.

There WILL be no more LCA, RP, Usher's Syndrome or the other many countless diseases that robs us of the ability to see everything we should. Every day when I look into my sons beautiful eyes, I am reminded. When I saw the way the sun was peeking through the clouds, and how magical it looks, I was reminded. I am reminded every day my child cannot see. It feels as if it is every moment that I am reminded. It is a constanst sense of urgency that is tugging at my heart. An urgency because we are on the brink of so many promising researches, breakthroughs and treatment.

You have each individually AND collectively spawned an entire mission within my heart. YOU have validated our efforts. I say "our efforts", because if you are reading this, and you have contributed in some way by donating, walking, crying with us, or just being there along side us as we march through this phase in our lives, it is our efforts. You are a part of this mission, just as my husband and entire family is. We can change the world, and the way thousands see the world, in a way each individual deserves to see it. With vision, with sight, with hope.

I am putting such emphasis on you, yes YOU reading this because I am just extremely hopeful for the future. We have such a strong foundation to stand upon, and that is the support from every single one of you. People I have not talked to in 16 years, people I have never met, the entire board of the Little League our family is involved in, who we just met this year has ANOTHER event they plan on doing to raise money. Past co-workers, my husbands existing co-workers, people who live in other countries who read this blog and email me with their kind words. It is every single PERSON who has played a part, and it is because of you, and my will to be damned my child goes through life in complete darkness that fuels my fire to move forward with my involvement to help Gavin, and those like him.

I tirelessly thank you. I thank your involvement, I thank your support and I thank your compassion. This is only the beginning of many bigger things. Gavin's name, and his condition will stand for so much more, and will contribute to greater things in this lifetime of his.

I am so proud of all of you for standing by my family and holding my sons hand so he knows you are there.

You have all made a powerful impact in my life and in my heart, and with your continued help, we will move forward and accomplish great things. Great things for our child, but even greater for the world.