My son is thirteen years old, yet he has the mind of a very young child.  He was born this way:  he was born with brain damage and accompanying physical disabilities.

At the age of thirteen, Mookie Daniel cannot walk or speak (he can make noises; his noises tell us how he is feeling), and he has to be fed.  He requires a lot of care.

Now, Mookie can see, hear, move his limbs, communicate in a rudimentary, basic way (his noises, eyes speak volumes), and love.  He can cry, laugh, scream, yell.  He is very good at making his requests/needs known.

People, however, can't seem to get past his wheelchair, his spastic limbs, or the fact that he can only make noises; yet I bet that Mookie can love, appreciate life better than most able-bodied adults!  He isn't totally helpless; people need to give him a chance.

I have people tell me all of the time to put him away, put him in an institution; he'd receive better care.  No f***ing way!  I am not about to subject my son to that kind of environment; half of the time, those places are hugely understaffed, and the residents are subject to abuse or some other terrible treatments.  No, I am not having my son go through that; he's better off being at home with us, where we can love and take care of him!

Mookie loves many things:  the feel of a soft kitten's fur on his face, the taste of peaches, milk, bananas, and hot dogs on his tongue, the soft, gentle peck of a mother's (or father's) kiss, the sound of music coming from the stereo (any music will do; he particularly enjoys rap and rock, like any teenager), and the bright colors of a children's cartoon show on television.  He also loves the sound of rain falling or the sound of rumbling thunder.

What he doesn't like include vegetables (he will spit them out, in our faces, each and every time!), physical or occupational therapies (what child does like to work??), going to the doctor's (or hospital) for treatment or a checkup, and people staring at him or being mean to him.  He may be mentally disabled, but Mookie has feelings, dreams, desires, too, just like any other child!

Well, I have to go. Mookie has a doctor's appointment; I have to get him ready.  I will write more about him later on; until then, this is his father, Melvin Yost, signing off!  Take care and God bless you!

~Melvin Yost, Mookie's father.