TWO KIDS ON THE SAME PAGE!

This is just an educated guess. But judging from the photo above, here I am at roughly the same age as little Trevor Tredaway of Midland, Texas.

As you can see, I'm still a kid today (just older) here with Trevor. We were giggling up a storm when Melinda, Trevor's mother took this photo last August. Sitting on the floor with our shoes and socks off (Trevor insisted, since he enjoys going barefoot) he sat on my lap and promptly handed me a joy stick for us to operate his large toy train. He got such a kick out of my improvised sound effects of the train chugging its way up a hill. Trevor would turn around and giggle at me, then as the train approached the top of a hill, I'd hold him tight and we'd scream as if we were on a roller coaster! I'm telling you. This is a FUN little boy! I can't wait to see him. Melinda says he has grown so much and of course I am so heartened by his tenaciousness. That night was remarkable.

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Todd and Melinda were present with Trevor's sister, Morgan and their grandparents. When the evening drew to a close, I wondered where the time went? It flew by! That, my friends is the power of a child who loves you as a friend unconditionally. As I hugged everyone goodbye all the way around, it was time for me to leave their hotel room. I knew the Tredaway's had an 11-hour car trip back home to Texas. As I began making my way up a few steps outside, Trevor ran to the doorway and looked up at me. Four times he repeated my first name. No one had ever done that in my entire life! I knew by the sound of his voice that he was putting a question mark behind my name, and I could sense some fear and uncertainty. Have you ever been loved like that by anyone? I remember that I immediately walked back down those steps and knelt down to hold this little boy by the shoulders. I made a promise to Trevor that he would see me again and that I would be taking a Southwest Airlines plane to visit him soon. In the months that followed, Trevor's seizures (before his remarkable surgery last November) were volatile, and it just wasn't appropriate for me to try and force a trip when he was dealing with so much. That situation has improved tremendously! Since his surgery, Trevor has not had any seizures. None.

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Of course there is always a personal connection to events like the one I just described. So, I'll close with a true story.

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At ages 7 and 8 I was hospitalized in the Intensive Care unit of a hospital. A serious bicycle accident and a burst appendix one-year apart. I nearly lost my life on both occasions. So, I know what it is like to face a life threatening situation. That I am alive and writing to each of you in this moment is not lost on me--even if that sounds dramatic. What is clear to me today is that my experience has given me an empathy for Trevor on his journey. And you don't have to be rich or famous to make a difference.

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I am by my own admission, "the guy next door". I am NOT a celebrity and I certainly do not have clout of any kind. But I have an objectivity "from the outside looking in". If you were in my shoes and could see the tremendous difference between where Trevor was one year ago and where he is today, you would be surprised beyond belief! Trevor still has a long road ahead of him. As a child, I see him taking steps one day at a time bolstered by the same love that I had back when I was a young boy in the hospital. For example, I had wonderful parents; so does Trevor! I had wonderful grandparents; so does Trevor! I had the prayers of friends and neighbors who really loved me dearly. So does Trevor! In fact, I know from the e-mails I have been fielding this past week from residents of Midland, Texas who read Kathleen Thurber's article on Trevor in The Midland Reporter Telegram on July 27th that many are praying for him. One of those residents is renowned Gospel singer Sue Roseberry who wrote this to me: "I'll be glad to continue to funnel ideas or be someone on the ground in Midland to try and help with this". After speaking with Sue and and looking over her website, I was in awe of her offer to share her time and considerable talent to help us get this project organized and executed.

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In the days ahead, your collective thoughts and prayers are needed: first and foremost for Trevor to continue his journey to a life that is cancer-free. For his mother and dad, his sister and grandparents to be filled with the confidence knowing that we are behind them every step of the way. And lastly, if you wouldn't mind: a prayer for our event. We could really use a blessing right now in our efforts to "catch a break", and for all the components of this worthwhile concert to come together in Texas. What could be better than a night of many different musicians coming together to make really great music and rally the community with support for Trevor? Fed Ex Office & Print Centers is on board to provide posters, and The Midland Reporter Telegram will continue to cover our progress. I am collecting the names of people and organizations to explore all options! This event is entirely supportable when all good people come together and make a good idea into a really great idea! That is the direction we are heading. Thanks for letting me share this with you!
Michael