The last time I had time to write a post about anything…well, as my son would say was “ages ago”. To be honest I still don’t have time, but I guess that would only matter if those of you reading where so enthralled with the quality of my writing that you demanded I take time to grace the universe with a regular chronicling of my thoughts. Fortunately, I recognize that I do not offer anything special by way of my thoughts and if you are here you are doing me a favor by taking time out of your day to read anything I write for the interwebs. My hope is that by the end of this post you would be so kind as to consider another favor altogether.
I met Bryan Florio my freshman year of High School on the first day of school. We shared one class together, J.R.O.T.C. At that time I was determined to be the kid everyone liked and as a result I would have jumped off the roof if someone told me everyone would love it. Bryan however followed the beat of his own drum. As anecdotal proof I submit the story of how we first met. I had walked into J.R.O.T.C. and happened to sit down behind him, I was late (imagine that) and the only seat left was in the second row of tables. I chose not to pay attention to the instructors and proceeded to make mocking gestures to the guy behind me about how Bryan was dressed. I realize that the idea of me mocking anyone is likely to astound all of you…not. However, in my defense Bryan was wearing socks with sandals. I’m not sure that he ever noticed me mocking him, but I do -vividly- remember him putting me in my place when I, high on the attention I was getting from everyone else decided to speak my first few words to him. “Hey man, my name is Luis. Yours?” I said. Not that I wanted to actually go through the awkward teenage meet and greet ritual. He responded “Bryan Florio”. I said “Umm Dude, wearing socks with sandals is nerdy.” and he replied “I don’t care what you think”. He said it rather intensely. So much so that I immediately admired him and he never got rid of me after that, some would say we were inseparable.
We were -in my estimation- the truest example of what best friends could and should be for 4 years. Then college time came around and we went our separate ways. For the life of me I cannot come up with a good reason for why we never carried our friendship forward. Perhaps teenage inexperience? I know that I did not come from a family of means and although Bryan parents are not Bill Gates rich, they were able to afford their children many blessings. Bryan always shared his blessings (except for the chocolate cookies with powdered sugar from the cafeteria) and I never had much to give back if anything. I’d like to say that I was considerate enough to be aware of the imbalance, but the truth is our friendship was so easy that its clear now I took his generosity for granted. As you can imagine, good friends fight hard. They can see through each other and sometimes they forget to hold back punches. Plus, I’m an ass. So in review, maybe we do have a good reason. 1. I made him feel used and 2. I was an ass. Four years of that can wear on a teenager. So Bryan if you are reading, I’m sorry. I can honestly say that my heart was not where perhaps my actions were suggesting they were. When I got married in 2003, I lamented you not being there as my best man. I should have had you and Josh up there with me alongside my brothers. Ahh! Enough of that. The whole point of bringing that up, is that -although it may not have been at the front of my mind- I never stopped caring about my first real friend.
So along comes another ass (and I’m speculating based on a movie) named Zuckerberg and he invents a website which leads to -years later- Bryan and I reconnecting via Facebook. Through Facebook I learned that he is married to a lovely wife named Jackie who seems to be as mad about him as he is to her. I also learn that he has a beautiful daughter named Sophia and that she lives with Cystic Fibrosis. I have a son (3yrs) and daughter (1yr) and it only took me a second to imagine them in Sophia’s stead and I in Bryan’s. Although I could never fully understand what Bryan and Jackie face, I immediately felt a great deal of empathy and sympathy.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is not something I am completely educated on so I think it best to provide you with an excerpt from something Bryan’s mother wrote:
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects 30,000 children and young adults in the U.S. CF causes the body to produce abnormal thick, sticky mucus, which clogs and interferes with the digestion. This mucus holds onto harmful bacteria which can lead to life-threatening lung infections. On a daily basis, Sophia endures 30 minutes of respiratory treatments and chest physiotherapy to help move the secretions in her lungs. In addition, she currently takes 18 pills a day, as well as a CF-specific vitamin supplement and additional salt, to help her absorb the nutrients in her food. CF is the #1 genetic killer of children in the U.S. The median life expectancy is 37. There is NO CURE. Sophia is the healthiest right now that she will ever be.
Let me reiterate the last few sentences as I think they capture the magnitude of what CF brings to a family like Bryan’s. Also, let me apologize in advanced, I will likely be guilty of being indelicate with the following. “The median life expectancy is 37. There is NO CURE.” This means that Bryan and Jackie wake up and face mounds of research telling them that right now they will likely outlive Sophia. It probably goes without saying but this is a parents worst nightmare and nothing is more paralyzing than that fear. Imagine having to prepare for that eventuality should medicine not reach a point where a CURE can be formulated. Moreover, as she puts it “Sophia is the healthiest right now that she will ever be”…
I have read about a time where polio placed families like Bryan’s in these heart crushing scenarios with little to no hope. The paranoia was so great that they once believe polio was brought on by ice cream. However, the dedication of a scientist proved that polio can be prevented. Today, there are scientists emulating Jonas Salk by diligently working to bring about the demise of this condition. All they need is to research, study, test, and build tools against it. I am not a scientist, nor will I ever serve the world at the scale of someone like Dr. Salk. I can however, serve those who can bring freedom from CF by offering a donation.
Let me be clear, there are many ways to serve one another and by no means am I suggesting that offering financial support to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is what you must do. However if you are like me (remember, I’m an ass) or you are buried in the things that can easily consume a person’s time and talents then sometimes the best you can offer up is a financial donation.
All I ask is a small favor. Please consider a donation of any amount. Should you choose to contribute please visit Bryan’s mother’s fundraising page at the Cystic Fibrosis website. If you find yourself unable, please pass this post along to others that might be inclined and able to offer a donation and join Bryan’s family on May 7th for the Wichita Great Strides Walk.
It’s been many years of life since Bryan and I parted ways and yet Facebook has wonderfully reminded me that he and his family are still admirable. If you were to read Jackie Florio’s posts and updates its clear he married someone equally admirable as he and let’s not even talk about Sophia. (I’ll let the pictures tell you all you need to know)
I have to say the Greek language has it right, Friendship is Love. So, to Bryan and by extension his entire family (those I know and those I have yet to meet): We may not be the best of buddies these days, but you will always be my Friend and you will always have my friendship.
~Luis
Bryan’s Mother’s Fundraising Page
Wichita Great Strides Walk Facebook Page
After discussing things with a friend at work I found myself considering a point she made. I’ve been thinking about it for a day and I am unsure how best to say it so here goes… In the section above I dwell on the gravity and impact of Cystic Fibrosis, in doing so I was -admittedly- rather indelicate. I feel it is important to state how hopeful I am (and all of us should be) that modern medicine can produce huge gains in the mitigation and eventual cure of CF. I wrote on my perspective to help encourage those who are able to help Bryan, Jackie, and Sophia hasten that day.
