One foot in front of the other–Born a healthy nine-pound-six-ounce baby boy, Cj was intelligent, happy, active, and motivated to do anything and everything he wanted to do. He had the world at his feet, and all family members was willing to make sure he strived at the top where he belonged. At age seven, Cj mapped out his school journey with no problem because he knew one day he would end up at college.

The year of 2000, who would have ever thought an unknown disease at the time would stir up so much chaos and disturbance in a person’s life, parents included. Cj began to experience unusual things with his body, and all I can do was face it, head on. Yes, things can happen at any time in your life, but what I found out about this disease changed how I viewed life as a parent and a human being, which will never be the same.