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What I Love About Johnny. (By Rebekkah Cohen.) -For Michelle Kidwell- by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Rated "G" by the Author.
Rebekkah Rachel Cohen writes of the qualities she admires most in her boyfriend, Johnathon (Johnny) Sandusky and why she feels so blessed to have him in her life.
I am lucky to have a wonderful friend in Johnathon (Johnny) Irwin-Allen Denver-Sandusky. In fact, he is *more* than a friend: he is my BOYFRIEND! :) I don't know how I could have gotten through some of the stuff I've had to endure lately were it not for his steadfast support, his never ending encouragement, or his prayers!
Johnny and I go back several years. I met him through the Internet (thanks to my mom; she was writing to Johnny's mom), and about two years ago, I made my first trip to Tennessee, where Johnny lives. He lives in Nashville. Anyway, we went to Tennessee for Easter break, and we sort of--clicked.
We've been clickin' along ever since! :)
When I first met Johnny, I felt sorry for him. I mean, the kid was in a wheelchair, wore braces on both legs, and tired easily. He had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which is the severe form of the disease (it is fatal; it strikes only boys), and doctors didn't think he'd live past the age of five; yet God had other plans: he saw to let Johnny live! :) Johnny is nothing but a living, breathing medical miracle who continues to beat the odds even today!
Johnny did walk at one time, but he walked with crutches. Then he started getting weaker and weaker; therefore, he had to use a wheelchair all the time, and now his breathing/heart is starting to become affected by the muscular dystrophy. He has to wear oxygen a lot of the time now, and he has already been in the hospital several times due to complications resulting from his illness.
Johnny is a very nice kid: he wouldn't hurt a hair on your head; but he is rather shy in nature. He doesn't take to strangers all that well, but once he gets to know a new person, he may end up talking their ear off--that, or inviting them to play a round of video games (of which he usually wins)! Johnny also loves to sing: he has sung on stage before (he sings country music), and he also plays several instruments--or DID before his MD started getting worse. Johnny wants to be a country singer, just like his favorites Reba McEntire and Ronnie Milsap.
Johnny doesn't really know what he wants to be when he grows up, but he does want to live long enough to be able to drive a car, go on a date (we've been on a few ourselves already; we mostly go to the movies or out to eat--or did, before I moved away!), graduate from high school (he has a few years to go yet; he's only in ninth grade now; just started the ninth grade), get married or have a family. He just wants to live long enough to see the cure for MD and all neuromuscular diseases; that is his greatest wish right now.
Johnny loves to, in addition to singing/playing music, read, write stories or poems, play baseball (he's on a baseball team for children/teens with disabilities), bowl (he is pretty good at it), draw, paint, collect baseball or football cards, go to concerts (country, of course!), go to church every week, and spend time with friends/family. He also loves to travel: he has been to most of the states in the US of A, and he's also been to Canada. Maybe in a year or so (that is, if he's still around, which I'm hoping he is!) he'll go to Mexico--or maybe even Europe.
Johnny used to hate school, but since he got the extra help over a year ago (he had to go to special classes after school was done), he is now doing phenominally well. He is getting A's and B's in all his classes, and he enjoys it now. He goes to a school for kids with disabilities; he is in the "multi-handicapped" class, meaning he has more than one (physical) handicap.
Besides MD, Johnny also has epilepsy, vision and hearing problems, learning problems, and worsening breathing problems. As I mentioned already, he has to use oxygen because his heart/lungs are getting weaker and weaker. It's really sad to see the deterioation in his condition because nothing can be done to help him. That really bites!.
There isn't a day where I don't pray for him--let alone, worry about Johnny. I don't want to lose him; I love him too much! I 'm just glad I have been there for him when he's needed a friend the most; I just hope that Johnny can be there for me one day. I hope that I can be half as good of a friend to Johnny as he has been to me!
~Written by Rebekkah Rachel Cohen, on September 6, 2007, London, England. :)
Sometimes we are so in on the cure that we let time escape between our fingers, time we could use to enhance the life's quality of the one we care so much.
They only wanted that we be aware of them and not so much of the illnes that tied them down.
In our face shouldn't be a expression pain but smiles.
Good for Johnny!!!!!
Georg
Inspirational and a crowd-pleaser...goal-setting is very key in learning to cope with disabilities...at least speaking out in the cyberworld where most info is free for the taking...and the friends that the disabled make in real life are also the Light that will shine in the afterlife...it's a point to ponder...thanks for the letter today, Karen Lynn...be well, you and Karla...Blessed Be.
Love,
Sage
Reviewed by Delete Account
9/6/2007
Duchenne muscular dystrophy runs in my son's father's family (we're divorced). Ryan's uncle lived to be 19.
I hope I live long enough to see a cure for MD and all neuromuscular diseases, too.
Thanks for the read
Reviewed by Lewis Findley
9/6/2007
The Johnnys of the World are what make the world go round for sure. Enjoyed. "Donny"
Reflections and Nature Watercolors is a collection of Margaret's spontaneous positive thoughts in celebrating and reflecting on life and her nature watercolors.
