About Me

My name is David and I am 56 years old. I was born with birth defects in my back, legs and feet and developed arthritis at age 6. I was raised in an environment that if my parents were to admit that there was something wrong with me that there was something wrong with them so we lived in denial of my medical trials till the doctors stood up for me in JR high school and forced them to see that I really did live in chronic pain and was not going to be like everyone else no matter how hard they denied the truth. Mom was a bipolar alcoholic so life was interesting to say the least. I went to college on vocational rehabilitation funding from the state I live in. Nothing seemed to be "enough" because in the back of my mind I knew that the doctors had told my parents I would be in a chair soon and dead by my 20th birthday...the more I had dwelled on it, the further I sunk into depression. Dropping out of school, becoming a teen alcoholic and drug abuser became my failing attempts to cope. Suicide attempts came next. Then I went to church with a girl because she was cute... and found a purpose in life in serving God and encouraging and helping others. About 19 years ago I received a quite serious head trauma.(This was not the first head injury but the most damage from the other head injuries)... This one changed my life more profoundly than ever. Loss of all short term memory, lack of focus, my ADD increased by at least 10 times, my temper was instantly out of control and over nothing... lots to work through. Through hard work and the advice of a friend who was a brain surgeon who came to me to help me.. things are much better... and I forgive myself for being different and not being able to be the "old me". I have spent most of my life trying to hide my disabilities and so I could be like everyone else. Then the pain became so profound I could not hide it any more... Other than a slight limp (most days) and occasional cane use (on the others) I look fine... but inside... that is the challenge. I am determined to live every day as if it is my last and celebrate it for the memories I make and not surrender a thing to the pain. 35 years later I am a successful husband and father, grandfather, minister and disaster mental health counselor and chaplain.I spent over 25 years as a children's ministries specialist performing a ventriloquist, magician, clown, storyteller and puppeteer. (all things you can do without lifting over 20 pounds or standing for longer periods of time or walking great distances). We have written several books and manuals as well complete courses all designed to help people become better participants in life and become productive people and servants of God as they live in this world. I now have seen that all my challenges have been used as tools later in my life to reach and understand those that are hurting and feel they have no hope. I now see my disabilities as lifestyle inconveniences .... my life is full doing what I CAN do not regretting what I cannot do. I now define myself as dad and "papa"to my kids, grandkids and many others who call me dad even though they chose me as a dad because I was willing to be there for them in their time of need. My success is in the success of others and I am blessed! I live my life to love people and reflect God's love through my life to those who have not yet experienced unconditional love.