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20.6.10

The Journey & the Friends You Take with You

Someone on the crew (I think it was Diane) remarked how grateful she was for the members of our crew that joined because they had a connection to FA through a friend. We draw a lot of parallels between the kind of terrain passed on this journey and a family's life with FA. Many times, I imagine, it is the uphill climb like the team is traveling now---where you just need to put your head down and keep turning the crank. Other times, I'd think, it is like the loneliness of the dark and rainy night on a quiet Ohio country road. And others like the wind blowing you sideways as you try to move forward as in the open Kansas plains. But still our FA families and our team press on---knowing that it isn't necessarily the terrain but who you take with you and who you meet along the way that matters. Thank you to the friends and siblings in our crew---Blake, Mike G, Tracy, Aaron, Steve, and Phil. You joined the team simply because you love someone with FA. You've followed behind our cyclists lighting their way in the dark, feeding them between shifts, monitoring their progress and watching out for them. They've made this journey because you were either behind them or at their side. A special thank you to our cyclists Mike and John who came to this journey because of their friendship with Sean and Kyle. Your commitment to your friends and to the FA community has touched the hearts of so many.

And an added Happy Father's Day to Phil who is spending it on the road with the team and away from his little girls in CA. Thanks Phil.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

God Bless You All!

Mary Hallett-Brown said...

beautiful...

Terri said...

Well said. Our prayers are with you and all dads on this glorious Father's Day Finish Day!

Spinner said...

So well said, God Bless all of you! Thank you Felicia!!!

Unknown said...

Well said Felicia. Thank you all TEAM FARA. We are blessed to have you on our side. See you all at the finish line.




Jeff Golanec (New York)
Kaela 8 (FA)

Unknown said...

That was beautiful, Felicia. I got a little teary when I read this. As a parent of a child with FA, I totally get what you are saying. Blessings on the siblings who love and support their brothers and sisters who have FA, when it would be so easy to resent all of the times that dealing with the FA has taken time and attention away from them. Special blessings on the friends who saw past the wheelchairs and "different" speech to the person inside, and stuck by our kids, especially during the teenage years when being different or being with someone different is especially difficult. Sometimes the attention focuses on Sean and Kyle, because as parents of children with FA, we KNOW how much grit and determination is necessary to complete this trip when they are battling the debilitating effects of FA in addition to everything else. But John and Mike, I marvel and am forever grateful to you both for making this difficult journey with Sean and Kyle. You are true friends to Sean and Kyle, and by throwing your hat in the ring, to the rest of the FA community as well. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Gretchen

Unknown said...

That was beautiful Felicia. This FA life certainly is a journey - one that we would gladly not embark upon - but it has made our lives that much richer because of the friends we have made along the way. Thank you to all of you, friends and family, who have made this journey across America to bring awareness to FA.

Anonymous said...

You must have read my mind. I have been spreading the word, what wonderful people John, Mike and all the other friends are. We couldn't accomplish all this without the help of such wonderful FRIENDS. God Bless To You All!
Your are Gittn-R-Done!

Unknown said...

Your writing thoughout this experience paints a vivid picture of the event for those of us that were not there. Masterful!

Unknown said...

Felicia - Just the title of this post alone, lets the reader know they are likely to be reading something very special. For those of us not physically on the journey - this journey, you have
brought us all along. I often say,"the journey is the reward" - this so very eloquent post of yours, proves my point.

Gods Speed.
Your Pal - superlario

NonProfitDave said...

Way to go Felicia! That was such a spot on analogy and great how you pulled in different parts of the race to bring it home!!