A few years ago I had a friend named Troy. He was a very close family friend. Troy developed muscular dystrophy at a very young age and was confined to a wheel chair. A few years older than me, I can remember going on family vacations and holiday get-togethers with him.
Every time I saw him, which was a few times a year he was happy. He would have the room captivated with his jokes and quips. Despite the fact that his disease seemed to take something new from him every few months or so, Troy never let his smile go.
Troy was never given an optimistic outlook on life from any doctors, and knew he was not expected to live longer than 16, but he didn't care. The nature of the disease is that you gradually lose all ability to move and your body essentially breaks itself. I never once heard Troy complain though. His biggest pet peeve was to let others feel sorry for him.
When 16 years old came, he kept going. He kept going all the way through college and graduated, despite that when he finished he could no longer even move his arms. Yet he kept smiling.
Troy's last days were spent with his family, and with my Uncle. My uncle oftn tearfully retells the story of his final moments where he expressed that he wanted noone to feel sorry for him. In his final moments he said he could see himself getting out of his chair and running down the road. "Running real fast." were his last words.
The reason I post this is because I like retelling his story and think that it helps others. On the back of my door I have the words "every day for you" because I know that no matter how hard things are it is not as bad as how he had it. When I'm running a race I think of him and how strong he was. I thank his every day that I can go for a run. I remember that the quality of life is primarily dependant on the affect you have on those around you. In 23 years, Troy accomplished more than anyone I know in that he is remembered by so many. I remember to never feel sorry for myself, and keep going when life gets hard because that's the only thing to do.
I like to share this story with people who are going through hard times, and feel like nothing goes right.
I just like to share little parts of his life with people even though you don't know him.
Anyways thanks for your time, and remember to keep on goin, and smile even when you have no reason.