Some of you might remember me - I wasn't super active on the forums but I'd frequent a few of the forums - Artwork, Market Street, Standard, and Rumor Mill in particular. I have been unable to play MTG for quite awhile and miss it quite a lot. I still visit here and lurk whenever I can manage.
The main reason for my initial absence was fatherhood - balancing my interest in the game, work, and home was rough. Well it has gotten rougher as we learned my son has Angelman Syndrome - which I had never heard of until now.
I can't really express the pain we have gone through and are still going through. Some moments feel better than others and then some moments the pain is as fresh as ever. It's the worst thing I have ever experienced.
I wanted to just let everybody in my world know about what's going on and to raise awareness about this disease.
If you would like to learn more about Angelman Syndrome and my son's journey, please visit his website:
Thank you so much for reading this and thank you so much for the community - I loved my time here and still think back often about how great you all are.
I can't even begin to try to imagine how you feel or think, but I am, indeed, very sorry to hear this news, of your son's diagnosis of such an incredibly rare disease.
I am aware of AS, but I have no personal experience or exposure to it and, perhaps fortunately, have never observed any patients with the disease in the clinic.
I have no intention to rub you the wrong way, perhaps by saying something insincere or otherwise feigning something or by being condescending, but I sincerely wish you and your family well and all the very best and that Garrett has his health and a reasonable quality of life, all things considered and in spite of the disorder.
How heart-rending, but your son is the cutest little button that I have ever seen.
IIRC, actor Colin Farrell's son has Angelman as well.
Finding out your child has a major illness is a huge blow. With our one child, we sought treatment and she was fine within a few years without any major problems. Granted this wasn't genetic and so forth. There's time when she can be a little overwhelmed by things, but she's learned how to manage everything quite well and is healthy. There's a time when things get frustrating and you just want to scream, but then comes those times when you can talk to someone and say "Yea, this or that" that can help someone else a lot.
My first and foremost belief is to be a good example towards other people, and you and your family going to that length are being a good example for others.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
Thank you very much Captain Morgan. I really appreciate that. This is definitely a tough journey but the last month, while having challenges, has also been incredibly inspiring. The people in my life - family, friends, co workers, students, and even perfect strangers from real life and online are all doing incredible things. It's totally blowing me away.
In just a month we've raised over $6,000 towards Angelman Syndrome Research and the MTG community is part of that too.
I managed to attend the midnight pre-release of Born of the Gods (which was amazing) and our shop wants to run a tournament and make shirts and have all the proceeds go towards AS research. I was so amazed to hear that because I fell out of the scene so abruptly. Knowing they care and are wanting to help means so much to me.
Thank you to everybody who's read this and clicked through to the website. There are hundreds of hits coming from this community and it means tons to us.
I'd like to encourage you all to go to the website and there's now a link to a whitehouse.gov petition to increase AS research funding. I got the idea from the whole Justin Bieber thing and figured if something like that can get 250,000 votes than surely this can get 100,000.
Thank you so much to everybody and please take a moment to sign/share the petition - means the world to us.
For what it's worth, I can tell you it is quite obvious to me your son is loved beyond words by his parents. Were that to be his only blessing, he would be more blessed than most. But for that blessing I know he'll have many more.
You say your journey has been inspiring; please know seeing the three of you travel it with such grace and dignity is inspiring to others.
your son is the cutest little button that I have ever seen.
This as well.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Wind of Endless Plains 2WWWWW
Legendary Creature - Avatar
Flying, Vigilance, Lifelink
Madness 3WWWWW
If Wind of the Endless Plains' madness cost was paid, destroy all lands and creatures. They can't be regenerated. Wind of Endless Plains gains Defender.
7/7
Waves of the Endless Island 2UUUUU
Legendary Creature - Avatar
Split-second, Non-basic Landwalk, Shroud
Madness 3UUUUU
If Waves of the Endless Island's madness cost was paid, return all permanents to their owner's hands. Waves of the Endless Island gains Defender.
7/7
Confusion of Endless Possibilities 5WUBRG
Legendary Creature - Avatar
When Confusion of Endless Possibilities enters the battlefield, target player skips his or her next turn and your life total becomes 1.
Hexproof, Haunt, Amplify 7
Madness 7WUBRG
If Confusion of Endless Possibilities' madness cost was paid, target player skips his or her next turn. Confusion of Endless Possibilities gains Defender.
7/7
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The main reason for my initial absence was fatherhood - balancing my interest in the game, work, and home was rough. Well it has gotten rougher as we learned my son has Angelman Syndrome - which I had never heard of until now.
I can't really express the pain we have gone through and are still going through. Some moments feel better than others and then some moments the pain is as fresh as ever. It's the worst thing I have ever experienced.
I wanted to just let everybody in my world know about what's going on and to raise awareness about this disease.
If you would like to learn more about Angelman Syndrome and my son's journey, please visit his website:
Garrett's website
Thank you so much for reading this and thank you so much for the community - I loved my time here and still think back often about how great you all are.
Feel free to ask me questions or anything.
Thanks again,
pwner1
I am aware of AS, but I have no personal experience or exposure to it and, perhaps fortunately, have never observed any patients with the disease in the clinic.
I have no intention to rub you the wrong way, perhaps by saying something insincere or otherwise feigning something or by being condescending, but I sincerely wish you and your family well and all the very best and that Garrett has his health and a reasonable quality of life, all things considered and in spite of the disorder.
How heart-rending, but your son is the cutest little button that I have ever seen.
IIRC, actor Colin Farrell's son has Angelman as well.
Garrett is a beautiful little boy!
My first and foremost belief is to be a good example towards other people, and you and your family going to that length are being a good example for others.
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
In just a month we've raised over $6,000 towards Angelman Syndrome Research and the MTG community is part of that too.
I managed to attend the midnight pre-release of Born of the Gods (which was amazing) and our shop wants to run a tournament and make shirts and have all the proceeds go towards AS research. I was so amazed to hear that because I fell out of the scene so abruptly. Knowing they care and are wanting to help means so much to me.
Thank you to everybody who's read this and clicked through to the website. There are hundreds of hits coming from this community and it means tons to us.
I'd like to encourage you all to go to the website and there's now a link to a whitehouse.gov petition to increase AS research funding. I got the idea from the whole Justin Bieber thing and figured if something like that can get 250,000 votes than surely this can get 100,000.
Thank you so much to everybody and please take a moment to sign/share the petition - means the world to us.
Garrett's Website
Whitehouse.gov Petition
Thanks
You say your journey has been inspiring; please know seeing the three of you travel it with such grace and dignity is inspiring to others.
This as well.
Legendary Creature - Avatar
Flying, Vigilance, Lifelink
Madness 3WWWWW
If Wind of the Endless Plains' madness cost was paid, destroy all lands and creatures. They can't be regenerated. Wind of Endless Plains gains Defender.
7/7
Legendary Creature - Avatar
Split-second, Non-basic Landwalk, Shroud
Madness 3UUUUU
If Waves of the Endless Island's madness cost was paid, return all permanents to their owner's hands. Waves of the Endless Island gains Defender.
7/7
Legendary Creature - Avatar
When Confusion of Endless Possibilities enters the battlefield, target player skips his or her next turn and your life total becomes 1.
Hexproof, Haunt, Amplify 7
Madness 7WUBRG
If Confusion of Endless Possibilities' madness cost was paid, target player skips his or her next turn. Confusion of Endless Possibilities gains Defender.
7/7