Dancing Through LIfe

The next inspirational person I want to talk about is my good friend Emrick. The day I met Emrick, he instantly changed my life. He is the happiest individual who loves to dance, sing, and enjoy what life has to offer. 

Emrick has down syndrome, but that doesn’t stop him from loving life. One of Emrick’s favorite things to do is go sing karaoke on Thursday nights. You will catch him wearing a white, bejeweled glove, similar to Michael Jackson’s. 

Emrick also loves to dance. Anywhere you go that has music on, you will catch Emrick dancing. He even entered a contest last year down in Utah county. He placed in the top five and came away with winning the award for most inspirational. 

Emrick doesn’t care what people think about him. He is living life to live life. Not to please others or to try and be the popular one in the crowd. The thing is, Emrick is the popular one. His personality is contagious and attracts many people. He can make you laugh and get out of your shell.

Another great quality Emrick has is that he instantly loves people when he comes in contact with them. Every time I see him, he always comes up to me smiling and wanting a hug. He then asks, without fail, how I have been since last time I’ve seen him. 

Emrick has not only helped my life, but also one of my best friends lives. My friends name is Lindsey. Every since she’s met Emrick, she has wanted to find a way to help down syndrome people. Lindsey joined the program, KOSH. This program is where special needs individuals have friends who will take them out and do things with them. This has now been a career path for Lindsey, wanting to help out with special needs individuals. 

Emrick and Lindsey

Emrick has taught me to love life. He has way more excuses than me not to enjoy life. Emrick doesn’t look at the bad in life, but strives for the positive. He makes everyone smile and want to live a better, happier life. 

More Information on down syndrome

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001992/

Dayton's Legs

One story that has truly inspired my life was one that I saw televised a couple weeks ago on the local news station, KSL. It was about two mormon youth boys who have become friends. One is a normal, regular kid, while the other suffers from a debilitating illness. Together, these two work to make an impact on this world for the better.

Spencer Zimmerman, a youth in Gilbert, Arizona, is a shining star for people to look up to. Spencer’s friend, Dayton, has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheel chair.  Spencer wanted to do a triathlon with Dayton, because he like Dayton. Spencer feels like Dayton should be able to do what everyone else does. 

 Dayton loves the wind in his face and Spencer asked him if he wanted to run a triathlon with him. The way Dayton responds is if he blinks for yes and he doesn’t blink for no. Dayton started blinking a lot, and from there they started training for a triathlon. 

You can only imagine how a thirteen year old had to endure pulling someone with him through a grueling triathlon. Spencer never gave up and felt the energy from his friend Dayton. 

Not many teenagers these days have the heart and kindness to be able to do this for one of their friends. There’s something about these two that have helped want me to change and be a better person. Everyone in this life deserves a chance no matter of their circumstances or beliefs. This helps look in a deeper perspective of teaching us that we are all equal. 

Out of this experience, Spencer doesn’t want to look like the hero out of this experience. He wants Dayton to be the hero. They are both the heroes, setting an example for people to follow, young and old. 

More Information on Cerebral Palsy
http://www.caringforcerebralpalsy.com/

Strength, Perseverance, and Love

Have you ever met someone that is so selfless that it changes your life? When I think of that word, it reminds me of one of the most influential individuals that have come into my life. This person has been my number one supporter. She has taught me the definition of strength, perseverance, and love. This person happens to be my mom, Kristine Hone.

My Mom and Me

When my mom was in her early twenties, she was diagnosed with a pituitary brain tumor. With this, my mom had to go through extensive painful treatments, such as having air put in her brain. 

The most heartbreaking treatment she went through, though, was when she was getting her tumor taken out. She was the second person in the United States to have the doctors go up her nose and into her brain. The doctor messed up on this, which caused my mom’s adrenal glands to shut down. With her glands shutting down, my mom developed Addison’s disease.

With these two life changing events, my mom was given a slim risk of being able to have children of her own. She patiently waited seven years before she and my dad were able to adopt my first brother, Brandon. Four years later, my parents then adopted my other brother, Neal. 

During this time, doctor’s had been coming up with solutions for my mom to be able to have children of her own. Little did she know that when they adopted my brother Neal, she was pregnant with my sister, Ashley. Then five years later, I came around to make the family complete. 

When my mom found out that it would be hard for her to have children, it devastated her. So, when she was able to have four of her own, she treated us with so much love. She made sure she was at every sporting event, recital, school program, etc. Her family is her pride and joy. 

My Family

My mom has many life-long complications with her tumor and disease. With the tumor, my mom has to take medicine every day to keep her tumor at a small size. With her disease, she has to take a pill that produces adrenaline for her. If my mom somehow throws up or does not have this medicine in her system, she will die in a matter of hours. 

The great thing about all that I just told you, is that you would have no idea my mom has health complications. She doesn’t let her illnesses define her. In fact, she defines it by not letting it beat her. She lives life to the fullest and is always happy. Most people who come in contact are changed by her with her witty personality, and the ability to connect closely with her, instantly. 

My mom finds every aspect of life joyful. She never complains and uplifts everyone around her. She has found strength in her family, persevered through health hardships, and shown love to all those around her. 

More information- Links to

Addison's Disease

Pituitary Tumor

Mere's Helping Hand

As some of you may know, I have had the great privilege of being able to help people in Kadavu, Fiji. On my first trip down there, I was able to meet a inspirational lady named Mere Osborne. 

Mere with the teachers from America

Mere is a lady who seemingly has nothing, just like most Fijians do. This has never stopped Mere. Her kindness and generosity have helped many Fijians lives prosper for generations to come. 

When Mere was younger, she had a rare opportunity to be educated in Australia. Mere capitalized on the chance of a lifetime and has told me it was the greatest thing she has ever done. This experience helped Mere decide what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

Education has become a priority to Mere’s purpose here on earth. She wants others in her community to have the same educational opportunities she had. Obviously, not every Fijian can go to Australia to be educated. So, Mere helped jump start programs to increase the education level in Fiji.

Navautu Secondary School Children and Teacher

This is when I met Mere. My parents and I had just flown to Fiji to go scuba diving. Upon arrival, my mom and I felt a need to help out this island. Mere was the manager of the resort we were staying at, and we asked her what we could do. Mere then said to educate the children, so they have hope for the future. Mere then asked me to help teach at the primary school.

 At this primary school, Mere was starting a reading recovery program to improve the children’s english. She asked if I would help run the program and bring learning materials from America to help them. Without any hesitation, I accepted the offer. 

With this program, Mere has helped bring english literacy up. The Drue School, where we teach, is now the highest scoring school in Kadavu, Fiji. 

English is now the main language used on the islands. It is required for children to attend primary school (elementary school). If the children want to go to secondary school (high school), they have to pay room and board. The Fijian government does not require students to attend secondary school. Most families cannot afford to have their kids go to secondary school. 

This was troublesome for my family and Mere, so we implemented a program for the top five students in two schools to get scholarships. This caused a lot of students to be more involved in their studies. Test scores have gone up 50% higher since this program was introduced. Children see hope because of Mere’s helping hand. 

Mere now helps run the learning center my family has built. She teaches cooking, sewing, computer literacy, and self sustaining tools. Women in the local villages help her make food and Fijian artifacts for tourists at the airport. With the profit made from this, Mere gives the money to these individuals who helped with it. This has helped teach the islanders to work and to see the rewards of working. 

Drue Primary School Students Singing

Mere has and will do anything in her power to see the success of her native country. She is proud of her heritage and wants to see her people thrive. Mere has touched many Fijians lives as well as my family. She will give the shirt off her back to help other succeed. She is what most people in this world need to be. Selfless, charitable, and full of life.