My grandfather has made the news public so now I can ask for prayers for our family and let something out. My uncle Butch passed away early yesterday morning, and I am both happy and sad at the same time. He had very severe duchenes muscular dystrophy that I watched progress over the years. I remember him being able to feed himself and actually take a bath with my Grammie's help, driving remote control cars with his nephew and they would chase me with them and run over my feet, giving me rides on the back of this wheelchair around the yard and feeling very bad one time when I fell off and he backed over me, and watching movies in his room from his massive collection. Then he progressively lost the ability to do those things, and one year he got really sick and had to have a breathing machine to simply keep him alive. I don't know exactly how long he has had the machine, but I would say probably about 10 years, maybe a little more or less. But he didn't let that stop him from having what quality of life he could; He traveled the country with my grandparents, drove the ATV that my grandpa made him and won awards for, was in a popular mechanics magazine, lived far longer than most people with his strain of the disease, enjoyed many sloppy dog kisses, and became a great uncle. More years go by and we all get older and you honestly can't help but think is today the last day will I see him? But while the questions of when will he pass stayed in my mind, I didn't dwell on it and was just thankful that he was still here. We all had that mentality, but nothing can truly prepare you for the rush of memories and knowing that there will be no more to make. But at my baby shower, He was outside just looking around when I was walking by and I said it's a beautiful day and he agreed. For him to be able to enjoy a nice warm day outside and not in bed makes me so happy, and I am beyond thankful to have been there to give him a hug and tell him I loved him. But in all the sadness of him being gone, you have to look at the positive and know it is best for him. He can walk, he can run, he isn't in constant pain, he will always be warm, he can breathe deeply on his own, he can sit up straight and walk next to God. He isn't suffering anymore. And for that I am thankful.