Terri Hershey here.  Hope this finds y'all well; we are doing great!

Even though my seven year old son, David Patrick, didn't make it to the auditions of AGT, he continues to perform.  He sings just about every weekend at his uncle's campground, where they have music just about every weekend.  And this weekend, on July 3 and 4, he will be performing as part of the city's annual "Red, White, And BOOM!" Festival/Fourth of July Celebration.  We are looking forward to it; David is really more into the fireworks, as well as the food!  LOL

Typical little boy!  LOL

We haerd from the Sanduskys; Ronee' made it to the next round.  She has a very good shot of making it to the semi finals or to the finals; she has really been making a splash in local country/Cajun music!

And speaking of, we saw Johnathon; he looks so sick it is heartbreaking!  He's now on a ventilator to help him breathe; I'm afraid his singing/performing days are over.  Such a crying shame:  he had more talent packed inside that skinny, broken little body than most people have their entire lives; he was destined to be a star before his MD took a heavy toll on him!

Now I look at him, and I think back to where he was, and I can't help but cry!  I have been praying for this dear young man for a very long time; I hope he's around for many more years to come!  He deserves to be happy, have good things happen to him!

I'm sure Johnny was looking forward to singing/performing at the "Red, White, And BOOM!" Festival!  Now he will never get that chance.  Such a pity!

As for us, we are doing well.  I continue to be involved in David's life, as well as being involved in the parent support group we have.  I have met many good friends, and it's kind of nice to know that I'm not alone in parenting a child who has special needs.  Some of the stories I've heard are absolutely heartbreaking, such as the case of Erma Kirkman, who has a daughter with cerebral palsy and Pierce Hunter, who has a daughter with AIDS.

There's also Adam Rose, who has a son with a neurogenetic disorder.  He was born healthy, but then he started losing his developmental skills; now at the age of four, he is virtually a prisoner of his own body, unable to do anything for himself, while his parents care for him.  It is a twenty-four hour job.  The doctors don't hold out much hope for him; they don't think he'll live beyond the age of six; if he does, he'll only continue to get worse.

Suddenly David and his problems don't seem so bad.  Even though he sometimes has "meltdowns", he still can function reasonably well, and singing/performing has only brought him out of his shell, to where he can relate with people.  It's been nothing short of miraculous!

Well, I am going to go now; David is calling me.  He says "America's Got Talent" has started; he doesn't want me to miss it.  I will watch it with him.  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Terri Hershey signing off!  Take care and God bless!

~Love, Terri.  :)