Let me say right up front that it was shocking for me to see what a fat ass I am on television. And, knowing that I was going to look like a fat ass and still charging forward with this, shows just how much I wanted to make this helicopter flight happen for that sweet boy. Seeing the look on John Henry’s face when that chopper got down to treetop level was worth all the fat jokes I’m sure my friends are too nice to tell, but that I will tell on myself. I am more than happy to take one for the team.
Here’s why:
This is a story that has so many facets. This may be a long post, so just get out a box of tissues and settle in with me for a while. With the news of the re-occurrence of my kidney cancer 17 weeks ago, I have been in a state of mind that I’ve never before had to experience. The bruising pressure of knowing you have a tumor inside of the bone of your spine that could grow astoundingly fast and that you are powerless to move the practice of medicine along fast enough to get it taken out in a timely manner (at least, timely to me) is crippling.
During the 15 weeks I spent waiting for the radiosurgery at Emory, I had periods when I couldn’t concentrate. My mind would start running scenarios about possible outcomes of this cancer. One minute I could see myself healed and whole. The next, I would think about what kind of funeral I wanted. Blissfully happy one minute and lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut the next. I did all of this without medication and with a single counseling session with my good friend Stephen Muse at The Pastoral Institute. He agreed to see me, even with his huge caseload, but we agreed there wasn’t much he could do for that that I couldn’t do for myself. I was just sad. Even with my incredible wife and children, I was sad. While still having both my parents and a mother-in-law whom I love, I was sad beyond belief.
The cancer is here. I can’t do anything about it. It is incurable over 90% of the time — an auto-immune juggernaut waiting to metastasize and take me down. This is the way you think when you know there is a malignant tumor growing hot inside of you. What a person in my condition has to do is learn to deal with the sadness. Sometimes it can happen on its own and sometimes it takes an unlikely event to snap you out of the doldrums of a cancer reality.
Then John Henry Clark came along. Bouncing up the sidewalk in his stroller on a cold Saturday morning with an enormous grin and some healing Christmas mojo that he didn’t even know he had. I got that photo. It really is special. So special that I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I kept looking at it and it moved me to tears every single time. There must be some reason this picture touched me so.
Then I heard about his love for helicopters and I knew what I needed to do. I want to thank all the law enforcement folks that made this flight happen today. These guys are the real heroes of the day.
There is much more to this story. That’s the way stories are. I needed John Henry on Saturday. Someone else needed him today. Local WRBL employee, Reggie Phillips, has also been sad during this holiday time. He lost her 24-year old son, John on February 1 of this year. He was a Down Syndrome child, too. John Henry’s thing is helicopters. John Phillips’ thing was Christmas.
Reggie called co-worker Pegi Taylor this morning and said, “I can’t get my Christmas spirit.” She is missing her son, John, and the perpetual Christmas he brought into her life. Pegi asked Reggie to meet her at South Commons this morning at 10:30. Although she didn’t know why, she braved the drizzle and stopped by John Henry’s party this morning. Seeing his joy, his smile and the unconditional love he spreads wherever he goes was just what she needed to open her heart to a Christmas without her precious son.
John Henry’s story is really a story for all of us. What is more healing than a smile, a hug, or a wave from a little blond boy wearing a badge and a crooked cap. It is impossible not to be touched by this little man with the big Christmas spirit. This has been a great day.
Now, I’ll share some great photos taken by my friends Wesley and Neely Ker-Fox, who responded to my call for help at the very last minute this morning, when we realized this flight was going to happen. Thanks, guys!
Mikey
This is beyond incredible. … a spark that became more than that, especially to him. Thanks for acting on your good instinct. And no, you’re not a fat-ass. (is that hyphenated or not?)
Love ya,
a.
Great story, Mike. What a precious little boy. Thanks for making his day and for sharing this heart warming story.
I’ve been waiting for this all day! I can’t make the smile go away. Your story will bring me sweet dreams, I am sure.
Becca and I have been sitting around since dinner, talking about the lives we’d planned and the lives we’re living… and how they coincide and how they don’t. I confess that every little while I’ve checked to see if you’d yet posted this blog entry, ’cause I couldn’t wait to hear how it all went. And wow. Just wow.
So here’s my big advice to my daughter, after 2+ hours of “philosophilizing,” as one of my high school friends used to call it: Never live in a community where people don’t love each other enough to do things like this.
Thank you, Mike, Sheriffs, Task Force Guys, Ker-Foxes (NO surprise to me that they’ve involved in something this wonderful!)… and thank you, JohnHenry. Turns out that I needed your special brand of Christmas love too, guys.
Mike, this is just an amazingly wonderful story!
TomL
Ryan, I’m sorry your picture came up here. It makes you look like you’re the fat ass, not me. I’m getting a real kick out of this. I’m sure you not so thrilled, though.
Hey Mike, great story and wonderful photos, what a special day, wow, really nice job, Merry Christmas!!
Wow… just…Wow. Sadness comes to us all in some form. Mom and Dad would be celebrating their 61st wedding Anniversary tomorrow. Mom misses her husband…. I miss my Daddy but you shared the truth of it all (Isaiah 11:6) And a little Child shall lead them.” Thanks so much for sharing. Love the photo of you and John Henry.
http://www.wltz.com/news/local/John-Henry-gets-his-wings-112018529.html?video=pop&t=a
You are an amazing man. The spirit of Christmas which is the spirit of our Lord has surely worked through you today. Thank you for sharing this story with us. It should be picked up by CNN!
Mike, I “shared” your post today on my page…..hope you don’t mind. I’m so glad everything went well for John Henry…and for you! The pictures were great, too!
Mike, This is just an amazingly wonderful story!!!
Beautiful….
Mike, just absolutley wonderful! The pictures, the story, even the “pleasing” sight of you on the tube. Great job listening to your thoughts and feelings, all to often we don’t, I’m so glad you did.
Thank you for the wonderful Christmas present you and John Henry gave us all today!
Mike, “thank you” does not seem enough. You made a wonderful thing happen for my grandson and our family. May God continue to bless your life. Merry Christmas.
Mike,
What a nice and poignant story for this time of year. We all have much for which we should be thankful, sometimes it just takes the right moment for us to realize that. I enjoyed this immensely and am thankful for you, as well. Give Jilly a hug!
Ron
Mike you looked great on TV. YOU LOOKED HAPPY! I’m glad you and John Henry had a happy day. Thanks for touching us all.
One tissue, two tissues, three tissues, now the nose is running. Sob, sob sob for joy for both you and John Henry. One note however, John Henry’s grandmother Minnie told me yesterday while we were waiting for John Henry to return from his flight that 80-95% of Down’s Syndrome babies are terminated and that John Henry’s peer group is dwindling. So glad for you and the rest of us that had the opportunity to meet him that John Henry is here.
Just awesome!!
Thanks to all for making that happen!
Thank you for bringing Christmas to all of us.
Thanks Mike for making this happen. Lots of people think of good things to do, you made it happen.
Mike, I was so moved by the story in the Ledger that I had to take a moment to find your blog and read the rest of the story. Thank you for this wonderful act and wonderful story. Looking at the happy face of this child and having grown up around an uncle with Downs, I believe that, if the rest of us were as happy, content, and as full of love & compassion for others as these precious individuals are, that Peace on Earth would not be just a wish this Christmas, but reality. Thank you for all you did to make this happen and for sharing it with the rest of us.
Thank you, Mike, for “pouring yourself out” for your friends. You help those who are facing cancer now, as well as those who will wrestle with it at an unknown, future date. You are truly doing the Lord’s work.
Hope
The twinkle seen in John Henry’s eyes is a Blessing for our family. God works in mysterious ways and He is definitely working through YOU. Thank you for sharing this precious story!
Read the Ledger’s story about John Henry and his helicopter ride. That was amazing. You little Santa Claus, you! Hope you’re doing well, Mike. We think of you often
A beautiful post and a beautiful story. Thank you for being such an inspiration to your readers and friends. Wishing you, Jill and your sons blessings and peace.
I was so blessed just reading this. I know you’re blessing is 10 fold! Merry Christmas.
Absolutely beautiful story Mike. There’s a special place waiting for people like you…..not anytime soon though!
Ryan’s not fat, just fluffy.
Thank you again for a whirlwind, amazing, and unforgetable past 48 hours.
Melissa & Ryan, Thank you for sharing your little man with me and the rest of the world. He is a beacon of love. A little whirlwind of goodness. I intend to keep up with him as he grows up and I hope you’ll let me have a visit with him every once in a while. I know why your family is the one that was chosen to receive the gift of JohnHenry. Watching all of you together yesterday morning was very special. What a great circle of love with JohnHenry right in the center. Merry Christmas to the Clark/Weaver families!
Prayers are with you, Mr. Veneable