Anna Kate covered her ears when the bagpipers started playing!

Noelle asked if she could take a picture of us… she’s really good behind the camera!

  

We heard a story about a local Dad who has ALS and jumped on the chance to help!  Even though he is a stranger to our family, this disease is devastating, and we are heart broken for all of the amazing families who have to be heroic just to stay alive. 

This is a little more information about the Mansfield family from my friend Sundey:

“Jarrod Brodnax is a Mansfield fire fighter. Jarrod has worked for the Mansfield Fire Department for 6 years. He is in his early 30’s, with a 3 year old and a six month old daughter. His wife Melissa is a Labor and Delivery nurse at Mansfield Methodist.

Last year, he was injured on the job during a rescue. He suffered injuries to his neck and back. During his treatment, it was found that the injuries opened the door to a much more devastating problem. He was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gerhig’s disease. From the ALS website:

"Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig’s Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed."

No one should have to suffer this fate, but it is especially devastating to a young father as active and involved in his kids’ life as Jarrod. In the year we’ve lived here, I’ve seen Jarrod walking around normally playing with his 3 year old daughter outside every day, happily working in the yard with Melissa in the evenings, to limping, to needing a walker, to now having to use a non-motorized wheelchair and being unable to hold his toddler or new baby.  He is always kind and affable, despite his condition. His wife, Melissa, never complains, never asks for help, is always smiling and cheerful, despite having a toddler, a brand new baby, a full time, stressful job, insane medical expenses and a paralyzed husband.  I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a helping hand.

Jarrod’s brothers in the fire department and the Texas Red Dirt Road show are holding a Texas country benefit concert for him.

For additional info, to make a donation or for contact info, visit the Mansfield FireFighters Association page at www.MFFA3599.org. "

I literally cannot imagine going down this road.  It totally puts all of life into perspective.  Please keep this Texas family in your prayers as well as our dear friends, the Ziemkes in California.  The holidays are so very special, and also so very hard for so many who love and have so much to lose.  Thank God that he is here…