breakfast/lunch/hugs

[...Whitepower...]

Gotta love the family support this kid has received to make his own way.

[syf350]

wonder how old he is. he is much higher functioning than my 17 year old. much better speech and conversational skills as well.

[jaxgator]

That is frigging awesome! Thanks for posting it up Mark.

[...Whitepower...]

Originally Posted by syf350

wonder how old he is. he is much higher functioning than my 17 year old. much better speech and conversational skills as well.

Quick search determined he is 27.

Breakfast, lunch and hugs at Tim's Place - CNN.com

[DAB]

that was on the local news about 2 months ago.

good for him.

[VetteBoy1979]

That kid is awesome. I now feel like a piece of crap. I can be better.

[Truck Guy]

Originally Posted by jaxgator

That is frigging awesome! Thanks for posting it up Mark.

[C5SilverBullet]

Pretty awesome story.

[...Whitepower...]

Originally Posted by VetteBoy1979

I can be better.

Do something about it.

I had one of those reality check/epiphanies this summer myself and have stepped my game up all around as a result. It hasn't gone unnoticed.

Don't make excuses make adjustments.

[LilRedCorvette]

Now THAT is the kind of news story I like to read and/or hear about. Simply awesome! If I was local, I'd be a regular, those are the type of businesses I want to support.

[LilRedCorvette]

Originally Posted by VetteBoy1979

I can be better.

Me, too...lots of people can, for that matter.

Originally Posted by ...Whitepower...

Do something about it.

I had one of those reality check/epiphanies this summer myself and have stepped my game up all around as a result. It hasn't gone unnoticed.

Don't make excuses make adjustments.

Very well said, thank you...will do.

[Datawiz]

[Admiral Blue]

That is AWESOME!

Thanks for posting. Good for him--hopefully others will be inspired and do the same. It makes me want to head out there just for lunch...and a hug.

[MrPeabody]

There's a non profit in my county that helps find employment for people with Down's Syndrome. They work at almost every fast food place in town, bag groceries at the grocery store, do landscaping work, sweep sidewalks, etc. The organization employs chaperones to help train and supervise them and provide transportation to and from work if needed.

This organization is so well known and does such a good job that people move here because of them. You can't hardly walk around town or go out to eat without seeing them.

Aside from the obvious benefits to the afflicted people, it provides a much needed break for their relatives that are caregivers.

When I used to cook rib dinners at the Elk's Lodge, this organization was sometimes the beneficiary of the fund raiser. There was a guy with Down's that used to help out in the kitchen, and I think he taught me more about life than I could have taught him. He was a hard worker, always had fun and was never late or wanted to leave early. He had the mind of about a ten year old, and I was shocked when I learned he was 32. He looked like he was 18. I realized that was because he didn't have a care in the world. His aunt and uncle that he lived with said this was exactly the case.

It may sound funny, but I almost envied him.

[mrvette]

And there is a ~75 y/o retired Navy guy, double dipper, and his retired Navy nurse wife....not far younger and busted her ass well beyond years, but they had kids WAY too late in life....downs for 2 out of the 4 boys....oldest is ok in the Downs side of things, so is the youngest....but the two middle boys are just walking/ticking time bombs.....one is about 6'2" and weighs easy 270 lbs....and brain dead to talk to....the younger one with Downs is just setting and rocking, as if it was that Burt Reynolds movie....and will not talk to anyone....the old man tries to bring the kids along, but we all can see the strain on the wife, she is just aging on forever....they never bought that house and so it's falling apart.....I fully expect that when one of the folks pass on, there will be a very violent explosion in that house, and honestly don't want to be near, much less outside.....We all friendly up and down the street, but this shituation is just not tenable.....Those two thugs in the making are the reason I have a loaded gun in the house.....odd that the oldest is ok, but has a thug background, at least it's not mental....the youngest is fine, normal kid, but heavily influenced by his two middle brothers, who are Downs.....

complicated shituation, I know, but best I can type it out....it's a effed' up mess.....

[Rob]

Originally Posted by ...Whitepower...

Do something about it.

Don't make excuses make adjustments.

We all control our own destiny - life gives back 10 fold whatever you have contributed.

[ConstantChange]

Can you imagine being so happy that you dance your way into work? That guy has "it" figured out.

[Dan Dlabay]

That is a great story about someone who does not let his disability get in the way of being successful in life. Thanks for sharing.

[Chuck A]

very cool, indeed

[SQUIRMIN VERMIN 84]

Originally Posted by Gilligan

And there is a ~75 y/o retired Navy guy, double dipper, and his retired Navy nurse wife....not far younger and busted her ass well beyond years, but they had kids WAY too late in life....downs for 2 out of the 4 boys....oldest is ok in the Downs side of things, so is the youngest....but the two middle boys are just walking/ticking time bombs.....one is about 6'2" and weighs easy 270 lbs....and brain dead to talk to....the younger one with Downs is just setting and rocking, as if it was that Burt Reynolds movie....and will not talk to anyone....the old man tries to bring the kids along, but we all can see the strain on the wife, she is just aging on forever....they never bought that house and so it's falling apart.....I fully expect that when one of the folks pass on, there will be a very violent explosion in that house, and honestly don't want to be near, much less outside.....We all friendly up and down the street, but this shituation is just not tenable.....Those two thugs in the making are the reason I have a loaded gun in the house.....odd that the oldest is ok, but has a thug background, at least it's not mental....the youngest is fine, normal kid, but heavily influenced by his two middle brothers, who are Downs.....

complicated shituation, I know, but best I can type it out....it's a effed' up mess.....

As heartwarming as the OP's story is, your story is sadly, not an isolated situation. I know of a few like that (time bomb). Celebrate the good ones and prepare as best you can for the others....