My nephew Tim
He is The Legal Genealogist‘s hero.
He is smart.
He is funny.
And he has the heart of a lion.
He is my nephew Tim, and he is one of four family members recorded in my genealogy database with a birthday on May 5th.
And have I mentioned that he’s my hero?
He is an unrepentant Cubs fan, who will listen — start to finish — to every single game no matter where the Cubs stand… and he still believes they will win a World Series in his lifetime.
He is a Bears fan. A Bulls fan. A Blackhawks fan. A Chicago fan through and through.
And have I mentioned, lately, that he’s my hero?
He is a total card sharp. Do not ever play poker with this man. He will take your shirt while stealing your heart and making you laugh while he does it.
He is a Facebook addict. Letting him loose on the computer guarantees that you will (a) laugh and (b) lose a lot of time chasing down the links he posts.
Have I told you that he’s my hero?
He knows every song Taylor Swift has ever sung, word for word, and may be the world’s biggest Taylor Swift fan.
He is a loving son, loving brother, doting uncle of Martin (who has just turned one), a nephew and cousin to so many.
And have I mentioned yet — he’s my hero?
When Tim was born, there was every reason to believe he wouldn’t make it. A combination of spina bifida and hydrocephalus at that time offered a grim prognosis.
And time after time he has beaten the odds.
He has endured operations.
Years in a brace, and a wheelchair.
Hospitalization after hospitalization.
His life, of necessity, has been different from that of his peers.
And through it all — he has been smart.
And he has been funny.
And he has shown that he has the heart of a lion.
He is my nephew Tim.
And he is my hero.
Judy,
This is was a beautiful post. Like your nephew I was born with Spina bifida and hydrocephalus and given a grim prognosis. From the prospective of a person with Spina bifida I can say that we are not the heroes. The heroes are the ones who take care of us, pray for us, love us, and assist us in navigating a world that wasn’t meant for us to survive in. These are the heroes. They are our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, sisters and brother, nephews and nieces, cousins, significant others, and friends and we are as blessed to have them as they are to have us.
Lacey, my brother and sister-of-my-heart (Tim’s parents) and Tim’s sister (my niece) and brother-in-law are surely also my heroes — and all of you on both sides of this equation (the caretakers and the cared-for) have my deepest admiration.
What a beautiful post! Tim looks (and sounds) like a great guy!
Thanks for sharing.
Renate
Tim is a great guy. (Just don’t play poker with him.)
The way you and your siblings love each other, Tim could hardly be given up on. Your own beautiful spirit is likely at the core of your family’s strength. You take the time to share your family with all of us. You make my heart smile.
Sharon
I take absolutely NO credit at all for Tim and HIS beautiful spirit, Sharon! Anything I have has grown because of Tim, and not the other way around.
What a touching and beautiful tribute to someone who is clearly a beautiful and brave person. Thanks for sharing this.
He is indeed beautiful and brave!
Wow. That’s all I have to say.
That’s what we say about Tim all the time!
What a beautiful tribute to a fabulous guy. Thirty years ago, our daughter was born with cerebral palsy and we were given a grim prognosis – she wouldn’t walk, wouldn’t talk and her intellectual capacity remained unknown. Today, she’s a trained paralegal who can talk the leg off the table. The only thing the doctors had right is that she doesn’t walk – but with her wheelchair, she’s mobile just the same. She’s had surgeries, severe neck pain from a pinched nerve and a DVT in 2012 that was pretty scary and stressful, but she keeps on going. She’s my hero and the centre of my whole universe.
Cheers to your hero as well, Pat!
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing your hero.
Thanks for the kind words. Tim deserves it all.
Another post from Judy that makes me tear up!
The first two special-needs children I ever worked with had spina bifida. One is now a lovely young lady in her mid-twenties who decided she wanted to leave home and live in New York City (she does)! The other is an angel who will eternally be eleven years old, whom I remember every Memorial Day with a rose on his grave.
I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with wonderful people with a range of abilities and personalities. My life is all the richer for it.
Thank you for this lovely tribute, and happy birthday to Tim!
Our lives are indeed richer for the people who share them with us — and I will certainly give Tim your birthday wishes!
Would you expect less from a guy name “Tim”?
Thank you, Judy. As genealogists, we often make the mistake of focusing on our past rather than enjoying the present. The “present” are the glorious moments we have with the Tim’s in our lives.
Give your hero a big hug from all of us as you wish him a Happy Birthday!
It’s our own family history we need to record, as well as our ancestors’! And I’m sure my Tim will appreciate the good wishes from the other Tim!
What an amazing guy Tim is – thanks for sharing him with us. Happy birthday, Tim!
Tim is amazing — even if he is a Cubs fan! 🙂
I wish I was related to you! Thanks for sharing your family. May I add that he looks quite dapper in the photo.
That was at his sister’s wedding, Denise, and he was dapper indeed!
Thank you for sharing Tim’s story. Happy Birthday! As the parent of a disabled son I can appreciate that people often only see the disability rather than the person.
As an occasional poker player I appreciate the advisory regarding his skills – LOL!
I can absolutely assure you that he has NO disability at the poker table. Watch your wallet!
What a lovely tribute to your inspiring nephew!
Sometimes, in our quest for ancestors, genealogists can forget/neglect some of the living people who grace our lives! Clearly, you do not do that!
Happy Birthday, Tim!
You forgot to mention he is a killer Words with Friends player. I’ve said for years that Tim is a warrior. His family is amazing too.
I can’t give away ALL his secrets! (Or at least I’d better not if I know what’s good for me!) And you’re not getting any argument from me about his family — he has the world’s best parents, sister, brother-in-law and — of course! — the world’s cutest nephew.
Tim is surely a Hero
Hats off to him.
He is indeed!
Awesome tribute to an awesome guy! Tim rocks, and has brightened every day I’ve had the pleasure to share with him. Go cubs!
And you’re not so bad yourself, other nephew of mine! Nice to see you here.
Thanks so much for sharing Tim with us. This is a great reminder for us all to live our lives to the fullest, enjoying the special people around us. Your family is truly special!
Every one of us has a family that’s special, Nancy — each in our own ways!