Many of you reading this, and myself included, spend an overwhelming majority of our time throughout the day focusing on things such as our careers, bills, and countless other "worries" that we do not take time to appreciate how precious our lives actually are. We get caught up in things that hold such a small significance to who we really are and what adds value to our lives. We are rarely faced with a "life or death" situation, regardless of how pressing something may seem we can almost always recover from it. We can get ourselves out of debt, we can re-establish ourselves after a lost job or failed relationship, we can get back into shape after an injury....the point being, these obstacles, however tough, can be overcome.
Imagine for a moment being 25 years old and facing a disease like Cystic Fibrosis, an incurable monster that attacks your lungs leaving them useless. Imagine being in the ICU for weeks at a time, fighting every single second of every day. Think about having to make the decision to apply for a double lung transplant so that you can continue to be there for your family and friends and experience life. THIS is a real life or death situation. And THIS is real life for my best friend Tucker. The most amazing thing about this is that Tucker is positive, strong, and the only person I know that can get through this.
In the time I have known Tucker he has been a constant in my life. We understand each other is some weird-unspoken way, and I have benefited more than I can express from having the privilege of knowing him. No matter how hard things are, no matter how many times he has gone to the hospital for his "tune ups", no matter what life throws at Tucker-he handles it, and he handles it with a calming positivity that is so inspiring. He has taught me, whether he knows it or not, how to be strong in the face of adversity. How can I complain about my "problems" if he steps up and pushes through everything like he does.
Another thing about Tucker that always amazes me is that he KNOWS EVERYONE! I've been out with Tucker in the Fan, in the Bottom, at Innsbrook After Hours, and everywhere else is Richmond and people are coming up from every direction saying "TUCKER!!" "What's up!?" or Tucker will tell me to hold on so he can say hi to someone, it is crazy! However, I know exactly why that is: Tucker is genuine. He is himself all of the time, and puts on a front for no one. He is a great person and an even better friend. We can all learn a thing or two about being genuine from Tucker, I know I have.
For everything Tucker has done for me and my life, I feel honored to have the ability to do any small token I can to help him. He is facing an incredibly tough time ahead and he needs to the support of his friends, his family, and strangers alike. There will be many challenges in the road for Tucker and his family, and we can all do a little bit to make that easier. I am hope you will take a few moments to look at the following links and see just how special he is and the support that he already has at his back. Once you have done that, I encourage you to act in some way. Whether it be sharing the Facebook group, posting a picture of yourself with the #HelpTuckerBreathe on Twitter or Facebook, donating to the fund that is being collected to help him be accepted by Duke for the Double Lung Transplant, or simply keeping Tucker and his family in your thoughts.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248020525336034/
http://www.gofundme.com/helptuckerbreathe
We are presented with so many opportunities each day to do something extraordinary for someone else. Please keep a look out for those, and SEIZE THEM!
-Luke
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