Maddie's Mission

Help, I need somebody, Help, not just anybody, Help, you know I need someone, Help! When I was younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody's help in any way. But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured, Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors. Help me if you can, I'm feeling down And I do appreciate you being round. Help me, get my feet back on the ground, Won't you please, please help me? I've held this song in the background waiting for the right post because it carries a special message. It speaks of the realization of vulnerability and the willingness to open oneself for help. When you realize "my life has changed in oh so many ways", it's OK to "know that I just need you like, I've never done before." Thankfully for our family, many angels are here to help. This is the story of one great group of people. Last week we met with Dr. Barry Byrne and his research team at University of Flor...

The night before we moved from our Northern California home a friend who learned we were moving to the Northeast asked me a question.  "Do you know it snows there, even when you don't want it to?"  I laughed it off speaking instead about the beauty of the Northeast, my new job opportunity, and of course the cheesesteaks.  While I thought it was a humorous question at the time, I must admit I repeat it each winter as I gear up to clear the snow from the driveway.  Seven years after living on the east coast I've realized I have two favorite parts of a winter storm.  The first is watching a heavy snowfall where the snowflakes are so large and distinct you can reach out and touch the magic of winter.  The second is when that last bit of snow is washed away by a gentle spring storm clearing the way for warm, sunny days.  Sure there's all that other "stuff" in winter that's cool too, but when it comes to co...

I'm 15... for a moment caught in between 10 and 20 and I'm just dreamin' countin' the ways to where you are 15 there's still time for you time to buy and time to lose 15... there's never a wish better than this when you've only got a hundred years to live As a young man I remember that itchy feeling of freedom that comes upon you when you are no longer a child, but not quite an adult.  The time when the world is filled with wonder and every opportunity remains within reach.  For me, that feeling uniquely resides in the eyes of a 15 years old.  You've entered the new world of high school, and the thoughts of college, a job, and a mortgage seem so far away.  During this time many of us tried to find a place where we could dream of tomorrow be it in our rooms, at a beach, or a friend's house.    Emma resides in this wonderful age and has found her place of freedom behind the steering...

Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don't care if I never get back, Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don't win it's a shame. For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, At the old ball game. I can’t recall if it was the smell of freshly cut grass or the unique sound made when a baseball meets a wood bat, but as we climbed the stairs onto the field it was clear that this was a day to remember. Like most boys my age in California, I never heard of lacrosse, rugby, or that crazy sport those Europeans call football. I played baseball. Whether it was an organized community game, a pickup game before school at St. Angela’s, Over the Line with my two brothers at the park, or the non-stop two-seam fastballs that hit the garage door over and over and over, I loved the game. As a young kid my heroes were Davey Lopes, Steve Garvey, and Ron Cey. I remember sitting in the stands above Ch...

Boy, you're going to carry that weight, Carry that weight a long time Boy, you're going to carry that weight Carry that weight a long time A recent blog comment from a dear friend got me thinking. The comment went like this: Hopefully, this family will see the people around them care in a way that they never even imagined people could care for them. A caring that was always there, but lost in the shuffle of every day life. Last Friday Maddie's 5th grade class attended Music in the Parks in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This is a competition between regional elementary, middle, and high school band and chorus groups which includes performances, an awards ceremony and a day at Hershey Amusement Park with all the rides and mini candy bars you desire. As with many school field trips, the day started early in preparation for the 1-1/2 hour bus trip to Hershey. By 1:30 the kids and parents were finished with in the park eating $10.00 hot dogs and standing in line for that ultima...

Growing up a loyal sports fan in the Los Angeles area, I've developed an immediate smirk each time I hear about the town Boston.  Sure the band Boston was great ( I know your humming "More Than a Feeling" right now ), but how can this fan support a town whose teams battle my Lakers and Angels year in and year out?  There's no doubt these guys have talent, but rooting for anything from that town is like a Philadelphia Flyers fan rooting for the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup.  Happening?  No. While it pains me to write this, I must admit the tide is changing.  Now you won't see me wearing a Red Sox hat anytime soon ( read never ) or rooting against Kobe in the NBA Finals, but you will see the Crowleys standing up in applause for our new Boston friends for the following... Genzyme Receives FDA Approval for Lumizyme for Pompe Disease Lumizyme is the first treatment approved in the US specifically to treat patients with late-onset Pompe disease.  T...

Ever since I was a young boy I've played the Skee-Ball From SoCal out to Boston I must have played them all But I ain't seen nothing like her In any amusement hall That young, tall, and blond kid Sure plays a mean Skee-Ball She's a Skee-Ball wizard There's got to be a twist A Skee-Ball wizard She's got such a supple wrist    When I approached the bank of Skee-Ball machines last night I did so with a high level of confidence.  You see, I didn't grow up with an XBox and PS3, but in the age of pinball and Skee-Ball.  Now I sung this song by The Who several times while I piled quarters into the pinball machine, but could never master it.  However, after several summers killing time at the Balboa Pier Fun Zone in SoCal, Skee-Ball was mine.  I would take on everyone from old blue hairs to the unsuspecting 5 year old cashing in on every win.  No shame, just victory!  So when Emma suggested a side...