RHODY LIFE

Happy, happy ... joy, joy!

Posted

What a difference attitude makes.

My mother was an eternal optimist. I used to joke that if there were clothes laying on the floor of my bedroom, dirty dishes on my bureau and cobwebs on the radiators, she would look around and say “My, what a clean ceiling you have!” I therefore led a charmed childhood because nothing was ever a problem.

 As an adult, looking on the bright side is a character trait of mine. My brother was multiply disabled with Rubella syndrome after my mother passed along German Measles to him when she was pregnant, (a very good argument for the effectiveness of the German Measles vaccine.) When my oldest son was born with the same severe vision impairment that also affected my brother, I was happy that he only had the vision problem, and not the other disabilities which rendered my brother unable to hear well, speak clearly, or think independently. I have never felt badly about Francis’ vision because it could have been much worse! Passing along my optimistic attitude to him, he reports he has never felt disabled because he has been able to do everything he has wanted to.

Francis greatly enjoyed being a boy scout, and Hubby was the scoutmaster of his troop. He was the first Eagle Scout who is blind in Rhode Island, and he collected more than 500 pairs of eyeglasses which the Lions Club used for the needy for his final project.

Francis excelled at being a swimmer and became a champion on his team. He taught Sunday School using a large print Bible and volunteered as a counselor at programs for children with disabilities.

Francis initially wanted to go to MIT for computer science but financially chose to go to URI on a full scholarship. While there, he joined a fraternity which promoted community service, and volunteered with his buddies for Habitat for Humanity. Because he was strong, he was able to carry wood and other supplies, as long was his co-volunteers gave him step by step directions on where to bring them.

Because of Francis amazing grades and public service, he was awarded a Bill Gates Scholarship that funded his education to get his Ph.D. at Cambridge University in England for Computer Science and human/computer interaction.

While at Cambridge, Francis joined the punting team, being the lead person standing at the head of the long, flat boat. At over six-feet-four, he was a compelling figure pushing the pole strongly and steadily into the river, propelling his team’s boat to victory. His teammates, of course, directed him around obstacles.

Francis backpacked across Europe with pals and loved to ski in the Alps. He also crewed on a sailboat, eventually obtaining his captain’s license. He speaks fondly of his college experience in Europe and managed to do everything on his bucket list.

After completing college, he was recruited by a major computer company from Silicon Valley and has made himself a successful career designing and supervising the design of computer programs for individuals with disabilities, winning a national award for his voice over telephone program for individuals who are blind.

Francis met the love of his life on a dating site and married her eight years ago. She, herself, has a disability and is somewhat disfigured and very short. At part of her wedding vows, she exclaimed that she never thought she would find someone to love her, and he was bemused … why WOULDN’T he love her?

They have an amazing daughter, my granddaughter Izzy, who is now seven years old. Three years ago, they had a son who, unfortunately, was born with severe brain damage due to lack of oxygen during birth. He is a real cutie, but his development is very delayed. He has just started to walk and only has two words that come out of his sweet mouth. He is like a human vacuum cleaner, eating everything in sight, and is as non-stop as a Roomba machine. Francis takes this life lemon in stride and loves his son to pieces, assuring me that he is perfect “as is.” It is obvious that Francis has also inherited my mother’s eternal optimism. What a difference attitude makes!

happy, joy

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here