It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0 <\/em>(Invictus: Henley) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhen Emmet and Martina\u00a0<\/em>Crawford started a family, they were not to know ![\"M](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/675\/2016\/06\/M-E.jpg\")
that, at 18 months, their first-born son Neil would be diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (a congenital bone disease that affects 1 in 3000 newborns).\u00a0 They were told that, as a result of this, there was a 5% chance of his developing a cancerous growth and possible curvature of the spine \u2013 he developed both!<\/p>\nAt age 3 Neil was diagnosed with a tumor on his bladder; it was surgically removed with chemo and radiotherapy to follow.\u00a0But a series of complications ensued: many of which seriously compromised his chance of surviving.<\/p>\n
A defining and culminating moment in this harrowing series of events, was when one night \u2013 still critically ill and on a ventilator \u2013 the nurses disengaged him from the machine; placed him in his Martina\u2019s arms; and wrote on his medical chart: \u201cParents told child will die.\u201d\u00a0 Ambulance and funeral arrangements were made \u2013 but Neil had other ideas . .<\/p>\n
Life & Mission<\/strong><\/p>\nNeil rallied and somehow pulled through . . He was four when finally discharged from a full year of hospitalization; Martina (expecting her second child at the time) practically lived at the hospital for that entire year.<\/p>\n
Neil struggled through life but expanded his gifts and talents in many ways. With limited mobility, recurring chest infections, and digestion issues, he didn\u2019t have it easy over the years. But this didn\u2019t stop him attending a special school and later completing several certified courses at the local community college.<\/p>\n
Apple Inc Addict<\/strong><\/p>\nNeil kept up with all the latest Apple Inc devices. As soon as a new one was advertised, he had it pre-ordered immediately. He was a staple, secure figure in the Crawford home. Between downloading music, Facebook bantering, and text messaging, he stayed up to the wee hours on a regular basis. He was a country music show addict as well; never missing the latest gig that came to town.<\/p>\n
Neil had a beautiful, quiet demeanor. Sure he got agitated on the odd occasion; but they were the exception. As his 6 siblings circled around him immersed in their teenage ways, he took all in his stride. He was not one to comment on or complain about his fragile health and disabilities.<\/p>\n
Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Neil\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/675\/2016\/06\/Neil.jpg\")
Neil\u2019s mission was one of presence in the family home. He was gentle, had a mirthful sense of humor, and was simply always there . . like a family air traffic controller on his kitchen bar stool.<\/p>\n
Neil, at age 26, passed away in his sleep just a few days ago. His legacy of loving-kindness, gentleness, and peaceful acceptance of the vagaries and blows of life, will remain fondly in the hearts of all those he blessed by simply being the unassuming self that he was until the end.<\/p>\n
His soul, in the end, decided its own destiny \u2013 a resounding testament to the irrepressiblity of the human spirit.<\/em><\/p>\nNeil was my first nephew. He inspired me to compose two songs for him over his lifetime. The first was a lullaby when he was a baby; the second a soft, melodic piece I composed when he was much older. Regrettably, I\u2019ve forgotten the lyrics to the latter; but I recall these four lines from the lullaby:<\/p>\n
Neil, baby Neil I marvel at the miracle of you . . Now as I lay you down to sleep, I give you to the angels to keep . .\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nNow dear friend may you blissfully know the company of these angels as they guide you on all the spiritual adventures that await your precious soul.<\/p>\n
I love you!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Thanking those who leave their footprints indelibly on our hearts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2586,"featured_media":1277,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[115,114,17],"class_list":["post-1276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-angel","tag-disability","tag-soul"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\n