Current Work in Progress: Love, Sam

So... My current #WIP is something beyond anything I have ever written before. It is not simply a story, or a book, for that matter.

It is a creation of a life that was lost too soon on this earth, and one that begs to be told to the world.

There was this boy... his name was Sam.

I met him when I was in junior high at Sahuaro Elementary in Phoenix, Arizona. We quickly became friends, and so much more.

The first thing I learned about him was that he was in a wheelchair and suffered from some sort of disease that affected the way he moved, the way he spoke, and eventually, even the way he breathed. I believe now that it was most likely ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord).

BUT...that is not what defined him; that was simply only the first thing I noticed when I met him.

He was so much more than the boy behind his illness.

He was full of joy, despite the adversities he faced every single day. His smile warmed the hearts of those he touched, his laugh, completely contagious. He was happy every...single...day...

One day in particular, we were eating lunch together and a group of kids walked by and yelled out, "who is that, your boyfriend?" I knew they were taunting him and it was bullying, point blank. The look on his face made me sad and I reacted without another thought.

I pulled Sam closer, kissed him on the lips, and said, "As a matter of fact, he is!" They walked away, confused, their arrogance deflated, and never bothered him again.

In that moment, I knew that I had made his day, maybe even his whole life. From that day on, we were inseparable. We ate lunch together, spent recess together, and shared what I now consider to be unforgettable, precious memories, no matter how brief they were.

I only wish I would have known back then how precious and few those encounters were and how much they would impact me still, this many years later.

As his illness continued to progress, he could no longer speak without extreme difficulty, and eventually ended up completely wheelchair bound, and having to use one of the talking sticks that was attached to his forehead, as the only means of communication. He would point to different letters and various words, making sentences to show us what he wanted to say.

I will never forget the most important words that he ever spelled out. He pointed to each individual letter, finally spelling, "I love you," for the first time. I remember all of us hugging him and telling him that we loved him, too.

He was a lovable, adorable, kind, gentle, funny, joyful soul, and he was cherished beyond words. I just hope that he truly knew how much.

Sadly, somewhere between when we graduated from 8th grade and moved into our Freshman year at Moon Valley, Sam passed away.

I have thought about him a lot over the past 35 years, and knew always that I was better for knowing him, and that he touched my life in a profound way, but there was always something more that I couldn't quite place my finger on that was in the back of my mind.

On September 14th, 2017 while driving home from work, I was listening to music and thinking about my workday, nothing more. Suddenly, I felt his presence in my car. I was covered from head to toe in warmth and goosebumps, the hair on my arms standing straight on end.

I "felt" him speaking to me, reminding me that he was there, and asking if I would tell his story, to let everyone know what it was that he was meant to accomplish during his short time on this earth.

So, I began writing, at times feeling like I was not in control of the story, in any way. He has gently guided the words as they are meant to be told, creating a beautiful story of his life, and a life that he would liked to have had if given the chance to live a little longer here on earth than just the short, 13 years he was allowed with us.

So I will continue sharing Sam's story, honoring his precious legacy, and exposing the innermost thoughts and secrets of his heart, all in one breath, and with the every stroke of the keys that I type, for as long as he guides me to do so.

I am blessed to have known Sam for as long as I did.

When this "book" is finished, I hope that you, the reader, will know, and understand, just how much his life meant, and just how much he was loved, beyond measure, for the joyful, precious soul that he was.

Much love, always,

Sadie