He was as tough as anybody I ever met,
as tough as any crusty Special Forces sergeant.
Yet, he was only 19 when he died last week,
barely five feet tall and still wearing diapers.
A victim of severe Autism and probably Down Syndrome,
he could not walk and barely recognized his own name.
A survivor of countless surgeries, treatments, and procedures,
he never complained.
Always happy to see people,
his smile could melt an iceberg.
He "graduated" from high school,
even taking the head cheerleader to the prom.
Hundreds of people showed up for the visitation,
to say good-bye.
What an inspiration!
It was a privilege to have known him!
as tough as any crusty Special Forces sergeant.
Yet, he was only 19 when he died last week,
barely five feet tall and still wearing diapers.
A victim of severe Autism and probably Down Syndrome,
he could not walk and barely recognized his own name.
A survivor of countless surgeries, treatments, and procedures,
he never complained.
Always happy to see people,
his smile could melt an iceberg.
He "graduated" from high school,
even taking the head cheerleader to the prom.
Hundreds of people showed up for the visitation,
to say good-bye.
What an inspiration!
It was a privilege to have known him!
