"My wife Theresa and i have been married since September 4, 1982. Nearing 29 years our love and devotion is as strong as ever. We have four wonderful children, Brett 28 who was born with Coffin-Lowry syndrome and who has been handicapped since March 29, 2003 after a terrible fall to concrete. He is pretty much restricted to a wheelchair but in the house he uses a walker whenever possible. Our daughter Laura is soon to be 26 and she also has Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Not as severe as Brett she functions on a 6-8 year old level and mentality. Our third born, Stephanie will be 24 a week before Christmas and she missed the bad X gene that Brett and Laura (and Felicia) got and she is right on the mark for a 23 year old. Then our baby, Felicia- no baby anymore! She also has Coffin-Lowry.  We did not find out about the Coffin-Lowry until September 1999-------Brett was 16 years old then. We lived 16 years not knowing. And the bad X gene is from Theresa who unknowingly passed it down to three of our four.

Over the years whether it was up in Massachusetts where we are from or for when we moved to Florida in July 2002, we have stood proud of our family and we both worked very hard in maintaining a decent warm home for all of us. Health issues begin to plague our family from drop episodes of Brett to type 1 diabetes of Laura. After a bad accident in Virginia 2002 on our way to Florida Laura was banged up pretty badly from that. Months of physical therapy helped but she still suffers.

More health problems for Theresa, and even more for me. I've had 5 different operations from 2003 to 2007: i currently suffer from COPD; GERD; bi-polar; anxiety attacks; spreading arthritis; depression, high blood pressure and sever sleep apnea which i have a c-pap machine, but currently it is not performing too well and i need to see the doctor to see what can be done.

Brett needs us to perform most of his functions. I would generally say we must help him or do for him roughly 85% of his day to day living. The girls are more self-sufficient. Terry- due to a fused from arthritis ankle can not stand for more than 5-10 minutes at a time.. My problems are mounting so fast i can barely keep up with it.

August 8, 2011-------------late afternoon after a rain burst the roads were wet. I was traveling on Hwy 192 WEST headed to Hwy 27. Driving in the slow lane and with Theresa and Brett and Laura and Felicia with us - somehow someway in a blink of an eye we were involved in a 4 car accident. We pulled over the road, me and Laura were injured. Naturally the police, fire, ambulances swarming all around us. Laura and i had to go to ER at Florida Hospital Celebration. After several hours tho we were released....bumps and bruises with us. The front end heading towards my front right tire were smashed in like a piece of aluminum paper. cut the tire and engine block damaged. The car was deemed 'totaled'. We dont have any transportation. Not for food shopping, for doctors appts, to get prescriptions. We rely on our neighbor to help us out whenever he can. Due to my failing health i have not been able to work since March 11, 2011. We had not health insurance and we had the bare insurance on our car so we don't get any coverage for damage or replacement. Only for bodily injury after a $1,000 deductible.. We have no family or friends to help us with a vehicle. We don't have a bank account for there's no money to put in there. We live day to day."