Pt. Story - Dennis Pilkinton

June 17 2010

Posted in Personal NF1 Stories

God blessed me eighteen years ago with a beautiful son. Never in my life would I have ever dreamed that one person could teach me more about courage, determination, love, and passion than this blessing from heaven. As I watched him from a distance he lived in his world with ridicule, loneliness, medical procedures, MRI’s, and many other non-typical occurrences daily. Not once in his life on this earth has he ever turned to me and asked “why me!”  As we become wrapped up in the events that make up our lives we lose our courage, make determination a measure of how much we want to put into it, and we love only when it’s convenient.

My son gave me an opportunity to see the world differently. He gave me the satisfaction and joy of seeing everyone the same.  Although the world will never grant him the same opportunity he never quits giving. I have spent my entire life looking for the “driving force” that would put me first. It’s amazing that God gave it to me through NF and my son. When the simplest of life’s treasures are met every time with a smile, when listening to what he has to say means more to him than anything I could buy, when standing there and all he wants to do is give a hug more than anything, I know that I found my driving force.

For the past ten years I have tried to give back to the NF community. Without doubt it has been the most rewarding decision I ever made. I love that community and I treasure the smiles that seemed etched in every face I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I know behind the smiles there is pain, but I know that the courage, determination, love and passion will always prevail over the pain. 

I know we always talk about the negatives and trust me there are many, but I am a better person today because my son taught me how to give unconditionally!!!