Independence Day: A Simple Act of Kindness

                           July 4, 2014.    More commonly referred to as "the 4th of July". 
                               But for me today, I prefer to call it "Independence Day".  

Independence Day is the most memorable epoch in the history of America.  For all of us though, Greg, Alex, and myself,  from where we've been and from now forward, this time just may be the most memorable epoch in the recovery of Kyle's independence.

On July 4, 1970, 150 runners gathered at the old Sears parking lot on the corner of Peachtree and Roswell Road. Of those runners, 110 finished. The group, now known as the “Original 110,” ran 6.2 miles through Atlanta to Central City Park in what would go down in history as the inaugural Peachtree Road Race.
In 1982, the Shepherd Center's Wheelchair Division was added.  Since then the event has produced several world record-breaking performances by participants in the wheelchair division.

As I've mentioned before, with Kyle's trake still in, I cannot take him from his floor by myself.  He has only been outside to the Gardens about three times and each time he either gets too hot or experiences pain.So for Jasmine to come and make sure we made it down to the infamous Peachtree 10k Road Race, well, she went beyond what was expected and words can't thank her enough.

The race passes right in front of the Shepard Center. The curb is lined with Shepard patients and families. As the runners pass they reach out their hands ,and the patients reach back.  The runners thank them for their support.  But for Kyle, he cannot reach out his hand so I hoped and hoped someone would come to his chair.  But as runner after runner went by, I was feeling this little twinge of sadness.  But... I was NOT prepared for the emotions that would well up inside me from this simple act of kindness.

The photos speak for themselves.

                            

         And what more could we have asked?.........

                ......Kyle nodding his head "yes" to a question by Jasmine, for the very first time!