Tony's tongue is affected a great deal, and affects his speech. But he did learn to talk, and is very capable of explaining himself to anyone. As he got into his teens, he became able to reword things, if someone didn't understand, and phrase it a different way, to help. There were many very good thought processes going on in his mind. He is polite, and kind to others. He is very cheerful and loving. Tony is very pleasant to be around.

   On Tony's ninth birthday, I took him out to dinner. He wanted a hamburger, though I explained all the different things he could choose from. Then, the hamburger arrived, with fries, a pickle, some lettuce, and a generous sprig of parsley. He stared at his plate for a minute, then solemnly picked up the parsley between two fingers, and held it up for me to see, with his trembling hand. "Do I have to eat this flower?" He inquired of me, in his halting speech! A mother never forgets moments like this! It was the first time he had ever been served parsley!

     Tony loved to hear me read to him. I would read to everyone, and he would listen, spellbound. That was one of my earliest clues that there was a lot more going on inside his head than anyone had thought! He memorized most of the hymn I would sing to him at bedtime - "Jesus, Tender Shepherd." He couldn't really sing, but he tried. In his halting way, he "sang" with me, saying several words of each line. He closed his eyes, and prayed with me reverently, from a very young age. I told him about Jesus, and taught him probably a hundred Bible stories. Then, he developed more understanding, and really comprehended about becoming a Christian. He prayed earnestly with me, and asked Jesus into his heart, to be his Savior. He asked Jesus to forgive his sins, and help him be a good boy. And he was so very excited to have become a Christian! So was I!

   Tony is a perfect traveler. He has camped many thousands of miles, up and down the coast with us, and never grumbled at all. He never asked when we would get there, he never said he was tired of riding, he never said he was hungry. He watched out the windows, sitting in his wheelchair, and watched what his siblings were doing. He enjoyed trying to sing with us too, because we often sing as we travel. He's just a sweet, happy person.

   Tony has never failed to be fascinated with Raffi. He never tires of watching our videos of Raffi's concerts. He has a big box full of cassette tapes as well, which he takes around the house with him, along with his tape deck, listening to music.

   Tony loves to be outdoors. He hops clear across the yard, to our 14 foot sunken trampoline, crawls on, and tries to bounce on his hands and knees. If someone else gets on, and jumps, he topples over, and rolls about, laughing so very hard! He is not so fond of our wheelchair swing. I think it is because he has no control over it. He can't holler when he wants it to stop, and if it stops, he can't holler to ask someone to make it go. Also, he's stuck in his power chair in it. But other children enjoy it. Tony just is very fond of being able to control his own getting around, and the ground is his favorite choice.

   Tony has always been a good brother. He is patient and sweet. He is so pleasant, that it is impossible not to love him. He is a wonderful son.

   As the years went by, Tony remained a pleasant child, and turned into a pleasant man. His morning greeting EVERY morning - a bright smile, and "I love you, mom!" He does everything for himself that is possible, and is eager and willing to help. He is wonderful and patient about picking up things from the floor, that other children dropped. He is twenty-eight now, and I love him with all my heart.