Donna
02-03-2007, 11:36 PM
http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6438840?MSNHPHMA
These get me every time. I sat here in tears as I read this. All those feelings came rushing back again.
DAVIDSON, N.C. - On this Saturday, Joe Gibbs was just another fan in the stands watching his grandson play basketball at the local YMCA.
BlogJam...
Taylor Gibbs, 2, was diagnosed with leukemia four weeks ago and is embarking on a three-year treatment plan. You can offer your thoughts and prayers to Taylor and the Gibbs family here.
Gibbs' grandson has leukemia
On this Saturday, he wasn't Coach Gibbs, the man who led the Washington Redskins to three Super Bowl titles. He wasn't the NASCAR owner who celebrated Cup championships with Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart. He was simply Pat's husband, J.D.'s dad and grandfather to Jackson, Miller, Jason and Taylor.
And on this Saturday, on the eve before the biggest game in football, the Super Bowl couldn't be farther from his mind. Gibbs and his family are facing a different kind of battle. Four weeks ago, his grandson Taylor, 2, was diagnosed with leukemia. Taylor, who recently started a three-year treatment plan, is the youngest son of Melissa and J.D., Gibbs' oldest son, who oversees Joe Gibbs Racing.
Despite his tremendous faith in God, Gibbs is haunted by that helpless feeling many of us share when we hear that a grandchild, mother, husband or friend faces a life-threatening disease. Gibbs painstakingly speaks of the effect the ordeal is having on the entire family, including his wife Pat, who valiantly overcame brain surgery in 1979.
"She was in tears last night," Gibbs said.
After handing me a prayer card with Taylor's precious face shining from one side, I could understand why. Taylor's resemblance to his grandfather is uncanny.
The pleas on the other side of the card put everything in perspective:
That Taylor would take his medicine. He takes quite a few each day and like any child he doesn't like it.
For Taylor's mood swings due to the medicines. It's rough on him and Melissa. That Melissa would get him to eat a well-balanced diet.
For Taylor's physical comfort as his little body deals with all the medicines and chemo.
His energy level — he feels fatigued most of the time.
For Jackson (9), Miller (7) and Jason (4) as they adjust to all the changes and adjust to Taylor needing so much more of J.D. and Melissa's attention.
Complete healing.
It doesn't matter if you root for — or against — the Redskins, cheer for Tony Stewart or Denny Hamlin, or couldn't care about racing at all. Taylor and his family — and any family dealing with a crisis — can use the support of all of us. So I'm passing this prayer card along from me to you.
Lee Spencer is a senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com.
These get me every time. I sat here in tears as I read this. All those feelings came rushing back again.
DAVIDSON, N.C. - On this Saturday, Joe Gibbs was just another fan in the stands watching his grandson play basketball at the local YMCA.
BlogJam...
Taylor Gibbs, 2, was diagnosed with leukemia four weeks ago and is embarking on a three-year treatment plan. You can offer your thoughts and prayers to Taylor and the Gibbs family here.
Gibbs' grandson has leukemia
On this Saturday, he wasn't Coach Gibbs, the man who led the Washington Redskins to three Super Bowl titles. He wasn't the NASCAR owner who celebrated Cup championships with Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart. He was simply Pat's husband, J.D.'s dad and grandfather to Jackson, Miller, Jason and Taylor.
And on this Saturday, on the eve before the biggest game in football, the Super Bowl couldn't be farther from his mind. Gibbs and his family are facing a different kind of battle. Four weeks ago, his grandson Taylor, 2, was diagnosed with leukemia. Taylor, who recently started a three-year treatment plan, is the youngest son of Melissa and J.D., Gibbs' oldest son, who oversees Joe Gibbs Racing.
Despite his tremendous faith in God, Gibbs is haunted by that helpless feeling many of us share when we hear that a grandchild, mother, husband or friend faces a life-threatening disease. Gibbs painstakingly speaks of the effect the ordeal is having on the entire family, including his wife Pat, who valiantly overcame brain surgery in 1979.
"She was in tears last night," Gibbs said.
After handing me a prayer card with Taylor's precious face shining from one side, I could understand why. Taylor's resemblance to his grandfather is uncanny.
The pleas on the other side of the card put everything in perspective:
That Taylor would take his medicine. He takes quite a few each day and like any child he doesn't like it.
For Taylor's mood swings due to the medicines. It's rough on him and Melissa. That Melissa would get him to eat a well-balanced diet.
For Taylor's physical comfort as his little body deals with all the medicines and chemo.
His energy level — he feels fatigued most of the time.
For Jackson (9), Miller (7) and Jason (4) as they adjust to all the changes and adjust to Taylor needing so much more of J.D. and Melissa's attention.
Complete healing.
It doesn't matter if you root for — or against — the Redskins, cheer for Tony Stewart or Denny Hamlin, or couldn't care about racing at all. Taylor and his family — and any family dealing with a crisis — can use the support of all of us. So I'm passing this prayer card along from me to you.
Lee Spencer is a senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com.