Inspiring 11-year-old with Lukemia has 1 Wish: To Receive Cards

The story posted below was recently published in the Tuscola County Advertiser a few weeks back and was circulated to me by my company's president as a plea for help. The story highlights a brave 11 year-old boy from Caro (you'll pass the town heading on I-75 in Michigan) who is fighting leukemia. His one wish? To receive cards.

The story indicates he has 2-4 weeks to live and that two weeks is up (and today is his 12th birthday). I've searched everywhere online and it appears that he is still hanging on. Won't you please just take a moment of your day to send him a card to brighten his day? He's such an inspiration...if only more people (ahem, adults) had the courage and passion for others like he has, the world would be a much better place.

Adrian, I'm praying for you. I recently sent you a few cards from my nephews and I...I hope they get to you soon! xoxo from Troy, Michigan.

One small wish
By Stacey Tucker

CARO — An 11-year-old who has courageously fought leukemia is asking if the community could grant him just one small wish - to send him a card.

Adrian Gerber was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he was 8 years old. Over the past three years, he has battled his cancer and won twice, until it began to take a downward turn recently.

Gerber’s father, Randy Gerber, said the leukemia has begun to attack Adrian’s liver.
“The cancer cells are increasing, the leukemia cells are increasing and his liver enzymes are increasing” Gerber said. “They’re giving him just two weeks, maybe a month to live.
“We’re hoping he makes it to his 12th birthday on the 21st of this month.”

Although Adrian has been fighting hard to save his own life, the young man never quits thinking about everyone else.

Scott Schalow, whose daughter Leah has battled cancer, remembers a time when Adrian lifted her spirits when she needed it the most.

“My daughter never took her chemo really well and one day we were in her room and, without a knock, the door opens and it’s Adrian,” Schalow said. “Without so much as a word, he walks up and he lays these quarters on her pillow and he tells her to go to the vending machine and to get something good when she’s done.

“Then he quietly left the room, to face his own chemo treatment. I will go to my grave remembering that incredible act of selflessness.”

Adrian would also wander up a floor at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor and could be found telling the children jokes, just to see them smile.

Randy Gerber said Adrian has taught him more in the last three years than he could learn in a lifetime.

“He has taught me what’s really important in life,” Gerber said. “It feels like he’s the strongest while we’re the weakest.

“I’m proud to have him as a son.”

With everything Adrian has been facing recently, his mother, Tina Smith said a card in the mail really makes his day.

“It’s a hard road that he’s been going down and right now we’re doing everything we can to brighten up his day,” she said. “It would be nice for him to know that the community is thinking about him.”

Leah Schalow agreed.

“I really hope a lot of people send cards to him. That would really make his day,” she said. “He’s just a really great person and it’s just horrible that something like this happened to him.”

Anyone interested in sending Adrian a card may do so at P.O. Box 201, Caro MI, 48723. He likes funny animal cards, loves dogs and hunting.

Sunday Song: I'm Alive by Kenny Chesney + Dave Matthews

I know I've been awful about blogging lately...I promise I will try to get better, but as you all know, it's tough when the weather gets as beautiful as it has been as of late!

Regardless, I wanted to share this song as a Sunday Song...by two of my favorite artists across two different genre's - Kenny Chesney (looking forward to seeing him in August!) and Dave Matthews, one of my favorite singers EVER (have seen him in concert several times)!

I was so excited the first time I heard this song. I absolutely adore when singers team up across different genres; to me, it's like peace on earth. Some other faves that have collaborated on a song/album include: Jay-Z + Linkin Park (Collision Course album), Aerosmith + Run DMC (song - "Walk This Way) and Black Eyed Peas + Jack Johnson (song - "Gone").

With that said, this song is just beautiful and serves as a great reminder when things get tough, just remember you're still alive. And, go Kenny & Dave!!!

I'm Alive
So damn easy to say that life’s so hard
Everybody’s got their share of battle scars
As for me I’d like to think my lucky stars that
I’m alive, and well

It’d be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you set and watch go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me, I’m alive

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathing in and out is a blessing can’t you see
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
And I’m alive, and well
I’m alive, and well

Stars are dancin’ on the water here tonight
It’s good for the soul, and there’s not a soul in sight
But this motors caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I’m alive, and well

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathing in and out is a blessing can’t you see
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Now I’m alive, and well
Yeah I’m alive, and well
I'm Alive

Listen to the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts-DCKDacEc

Sunday Song: "Question for the World" by Phredley

Awesome video by Phredley, a Detroit-based band. I love this video highlighting the city.

Best of luck in your move to L.A. Phred! Don't forget your Detroit roots and be sure to come back and show some love to the city.

A Sign of the Times: Jesus Still Loves You

So the word on the street is that Jesus Still Loves Me. At least the sign on I-75 tells me so.

I noticed the sign a few days ago. It's attached to a chain link fence connected to an overpass heading north from Detroit.

I was stuck in traffic and chuckled when I saw the sign above me. I instantly imagined some crazy old man with wiry gray hair, dressed in a flannel pulling the sign out of a shopping cart and hanging it proudly on the fence.

I thought nothing of it afterward.

Today was a different story. It was a great day...but something just felt different. I was again stuck under it and got to thinking.

Maybe this was therapy for someone out there -- a way to tell the world, or at least hundreds of Detroit-area travelers, that they are not alone.

Maybe the person that hung the sign had a bad day, got laid off, found out a family member had cancer, went home to a deceased pet. Maybe they wanted to end their life, but realized that even though awful things were surrounding them, somewhere, someone was feeling the same way.

Thinking that way changed my perspective on the sign.

Everyone across the U.S.A. knows Michigan is struggling...even my grandma in Nebraska who doesn't even have cable worries about us.

But instead of paying attention to all of the doom and gloom portrayed in the media, how about we all collectively think positive for once? To all the amazing/talented/personable/wonderful Michiganders out there - this message is for you: You're not alone.

Whomever this sign-putter-upper is: THANKS. I only wish there were other folks out there sending us little reminders like this to let us know that we're not alone. We may be struggling, but we're in this together, Michigan. It's all of us, and Jesus too.

Sunday Song: From 'Once' - Falling Slowly

This theme song from the movie 'Once' is simply gorgeous... and since I just watched the movie and can't get this song out of my head, I figured it would be an appropriate Sunday Song. The harmony is just gorgeous!

And, for the record, I just saw the movie cost $160,000. That's amazing these days! Give it a watch, if only for the awesome music.

Sunday Song: Stephen Clark's "We Build The Trucks"

Just another great Detroit-powered song by Channel 7 anchor Stephen Clark. Lovin' this song...hope it's on the radio someday!

New Favorite Flick: Young @ Heart

The best movie I have seen in a very long time is "Young @ Heart," a documentary chronicling the lives of some very inspiring folks who have two things in common: their average age of 80 years old and their love for music.

Thanks to Netflix's recommendation (it must know my dorky obsession for human-interest documentaries for some reason...), I added this to the top of my list immediately upon reading the description.

The video above is a song by one of my favorite members of the chorus, Fred Kittle, a hilarious man who sang this beautiful rendition of a Coldplay classic, while hooked to a breathing machine. Sadly, I just learned he died in January.

Regardless of the raw emotion associated with real life displayed in this movie, the docu really shows what life is about -- living it to its fullest and making people smile. Watch it when you're feeling down and you are sure to be lifted instantaneously.