Monthly Archives: August 2010


August 19, 2010

One year and one day ago my life was flipped upside down.  I can’t, nor do I want to try, to explain all the feelings and thoughts that have gone and continue to go through my mind.  I understand there are individuals less fortunate than myself, but nobody should have to go through what I’m going through.  I miss everything in life that that I took for granted every single day.  I wish so badly that I could do some things that I hear people complain about every day.  It’s aggravating. Be appreciative of everything you have in your life.  If you’re not happy, do something about it.  Don’t settle – you’ll regret it.  I do.  Go out of your way to help somebody in need.  Hold the door for someone who is obviously disabled.  Don’t look at somebody and assume you know everything about their life and situation by the looks of them.  Give everybody that benefit of the doubt and let them prove you wrong.  What do you have to lose?  You might end up having someone really surprise you.  Life isn’t always what it seems and you can never be too sure what’s around the next corner, but isn’t that exciting?  Unfortunately what was around my next corner, this time last year, wasn’t so great.  I have a long way to go, that’s for sure, but I’ve also come a long way, which I easily and frequently forget.  I guess just because I’m not walking, yet.  I’m not afraid to admit I’m a pessimist, but lately something’s been telling me deep inside that I will be walking by this time next year, if not sooner.  Call me crazy.  Maybe August 19, 2011 will come and pass and I will still be in this chair.  If that happens, then I guess we’ll just have to shoot for August 19, 2012.  I’m not going to give up because I WILL walk again one day.  I don’t care what the odds are, I’m going to beat them because I’ll be damned if I’m going to spend the rest of my life looking up at everybody and vice versa.  I truly thank every single person that has helped me along the way this past year from the bottom of my heart.  The stress and anxiety that I’ve placed on my family is enough to break any one down, but they’ve stood next to me the entire time, without wavering.  My friends travel hundreds of miles to see me, frequently, which I cannot even begin to put into words.  I just hope they know that if the roles were reversed, I’d be by their side in a heartbeat.  To all of those people that I’ve never met, that have continuously helped my family and I but cooking dinners, donating money and time out of their busy lives – you are MY heroes.  Our lives would be hell without you.  I just have to say thank you again to my entire family.  I love you all so much and appreciate what you sacrifice for me.  And how could I forget, Leslie Davison .  What an amazing woman.  She does everything for me, without question and never asks for thing in return.  She is a sweetheart, my angel and my love.  Thank you for all that you do!  You are truly irreplaceable.  Everyone in my life is, so thanks again and here’s to another year!  Please keep praying for me.  I need all I can get!


WOW!!!! What a day!

Yesterday 8/14, was the Aaron’s Journey Golf Benefit @ ParLine Golf Course. It was an incredible day. We could not have asked for a better day weather wise. A perfect fall day that was sandwiched between several rain soaked days. Turn out was amazing.
I don’t think any of us who golfed can even begin to understand the amount of work that goes into pulling an event of this size off. The fact that it all came off without a hitch is a testimony to the effort & organization of everyone involved. A big thank you to Pete & Diane and their gang of committed friends for providing the rest of us with such an enjoyable afternoon. Also, thank you to ParLine, everyone who donated auction items, sponsored a hole or golfed.
Several of our dedicated A.J. fundraiser photographers were on hand to document the day so keep checking back on this blog site for pictures that will be posted as soon as they are available.
One funny story from the day. I am teed up about 6 holes into the round. I have taken my back swing and am ready to hit my tee shot when my cell phone, which I forgot to turn off,  goes off in my pocket. Needless to say,  I hit a line drive about 30 yards into the weeds. Turns out that it was Aaron calling to see how my day was going. We finish the hole and as we are driving to the next tee my cell phone rings again, this time it is a member of the foursome that is behind us calling to compliment me on my form & distance. I return Aaron’s call and share the whole story with him which he shares with Gina who says……”It’s no big deal. I’ve golfed with Woody and it would have ended up in the weeds anyway.”

Finally, one of the highlights of the day for me was the opportunity to meet a young man & his family from Tyrone, PA. His name is Caleb Snyder and he and his family (grandparents & parents) drove all the way from the State College (WE ARE) area just for the meal and to meet Aaron and his family. Unfortunately Aaron did not attend but Diane (Aaron’s mother) & I got to visit with them for an hour or so. Caleb, who is now 16, was paralyzed during a wrestling match in January of 2009 when he was 14. He shattered his C5 vertebra and dislocated his C6 & C7 pinching/bruising his spinal cord in much the same way that Aaron did, only a level or two lower. He was diagnosed as a C5 quadriplegic. He also rehabed at Magee in Philadelphia, discharging from there in April of 2009. Did I mention that he walked into the pavilion at ParLine? You could not have picked him out from the crowd except for his Tyrone t-shirt. He is going out for the school baseball team this year. He and his family shared their story and of how HOPE & FAITH played such a huge part in his recovery. He is truely an inspiration and we felt so uplifted talking with he and his family. We hope that Caleb & Aaron will get to meet in the near future and we are told that we will be invited to one of Caleb’s baseball games.

Thanks to everyone for all that you do and for walking stride for stride with us as we continue on Aaron’s Journey.

Keep praying!

We love you all!


August 3, 2010

Hello everybody!

Well, I finally am in possession of my very own power will chair!  It was supposed to be here sometime in February and we had a few bumps in the road along the way, but we won’t harp on that today.  I have a new cushion which is pretty comfortable so far.  The chair itself is pretty cool but also a little obnoxious.  There are wires and some other things that will eventually be cut or tied back once I have it for a week or so and make sure everything is the way I want it to be.

My classes are going very well so far.  My lowest grade is an A-.  Midterms are this week so hopefully I do well in those and continue with the good grades.

Other than that, not too much is new.  I just wanted to say hello and check in briefly.  I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying your summer!  Talk to you soon, I promise.

Aaron