My niece has MD, Muscular Dystrophy. She's 13. My guess is that some of you know someone that has this disease as well, perhaps even in your immediately family, or you yourself.

She was diagnosed with it, I think, about 4 years ago. I don't see her often, she lives on the coast... I see her maybe once every couple months or so. She's doing well, she can get around on her own though with some difficulty - but to the 'casual' glance you wouldn't really know.

On our last trip, late May, to Disneyland my entire family meets. My niece was there but this time, for the first time in all our trips, walking around the parks every day from morning to night was out of the question. She does not like wheelchairs... and 'vanity' isn't the reason.. she's a fighter.

Her brother is the same age as my oldest grandson, a few days apart. They took turns... carrying my niece around Disneyland and California Adventure... and loving every second of it. And my niece smiling from ear to ear... walking occasionally, hopping on one or the other's back when needed.

I have a step down living room, only two steps. Her last visit here, just a month or so ago, she stumbled on those steps and fell.. not badly, but she couldn't hold back the tears. She and my granddaughter, (my granddaughter is 3 years younger than her), used to cartwheel down those steps together. On my boat my grandkids, and her brother, pull her up onto the deck from the water.

She is not depressed, overly so I guess I should say... and she's determined, VERY determined. And she has a personality that makes you melt.

This came to mind today because she's visiting... so I thought I would say: Keep MD in mind when you feel charitable. - JamesJM