His Own Two Feet

Our 2nd annual showing at the Georgia Walk Now for Autism Speaks was this past weekend.  The year's Walk was punctuated by the fact that there was an absolute deluge occurring in Atlanta that very weekend.  We woke up to thunder and texts from various members of Team Jack.

"Are we going?" they were asking.

"Yes," I replied, "we are absolutely going."

Yet again, I was overwhelmed at the turnout.  Almost everyone who committed to coming to the Walk did in spite of the rain.  Sure, we huddled in a parking deck to wait out the hour and a half prior to start time.  Sure, most of us were more than just a little soaked...but we were there.

We were there because of one very special little boy.

Our team raised $1300 this year to go towards autism research, awareness, and assistance for families.  We saw once again the generosity that people can display because of the life of a little boy.  My heart was full that day.

That was not the best part, though.

Last year, Jack had to be carried for the entire course.  That was two miles of alternating between me and Brian.  Our backs were screaming by the end of it all.  Honestly, we didn't expect much different for this year.

We were wrong.  We did carry Jack a little while, but he did a good portion of the course on his own two feet.  He moved under his own power.  It was his will and determination that kept him making each additional step, not ours.

It seemed appropriate, really.  He's 4.  He's growing up.  This is the year in which we're seeing Jack shed the baby-like appearance and begin to grow into being a kid.  He's doing better with stairs.  He's jumping.  He wasn't doing either at this point last year.

He's moving with his own two feet.  I can't wait to see where they will take him.