gradys all stars

Wow the Pasta Dinner at St. Val's church was this weekend and it was a huge success

We served over 1,500 dinners most likely close to 1,700 but we lost track of which 440 were take out. Over 400 lbs of pasta and 50 gallons of sauce was used. There was over 80 auction items which raised $6,800. The line started when the doors opened and never stopped until well after 5 pm. It was very heart warming to see all of those people and know that my sons have touched each one of them!

One of the most memorable moments of the dinner is when two women came up to me to introduce themselves and share their story.  Their sister passed away in 1984 at the age of 11 from Batten Disease.  The pictures they showed reminded me that even though Drew and Trent will not be with us as long as we had planned they will never be forgotten! They said that their mother was there but it is still too hard for her to talk to me. I later ran into her and words are not needed to know the kind of bond her and I share.  If it was not for her doing all she could for her child my children would not have the hope of treatment that they do now. I always try to remind myself that my sorrow will someday lead to another mother's joy. I am convinced that we will find a cure for this terrible disease and I get some peace for knowing that we were a part of it.  Below are a few pictures of Dodie:

Drew is scheduled to have his feeding tube placed next Tuesday so please remember to say an extra prayer for him so that everything goes well and he bounces right back.  Trent is still doing really well with no signs of seizures yet.  He is talking more and more everyday.  Funny but he says "Jackass" really well.....I don't know where he would learn words like that.  Trent is also making his brother laugh every day!  Trent is trying very hard to include his brother in everything he does.  If he is playing hockey he gets Drew a stick and demands that he play too.  Same with baseball.  It is too cute.