Break the Chains of MS (MS Liberation Treatment)

“My four year old son has never seen me without a cane” said Ken Roberts last night at 50’s dance to raise funds for his MS liberation treatment.  Tears and emotion choked him as he thanked everyone for their support.  Ken goes down to Albany, New York later this month to have the surgery.

I met Ken almost 10 years ago.  We go to the same church.  I have never known Ken without the MS diagnosis.  I have seen it progress, though, and change the man over the years.  He is holding on to his faith and hope in God that this surgery will be an answer to prayer.  Prayer that he has believed for years.

Prayer isn’t always answered the way we want.  It isn’t always a “yes,” like God is our puppet and we are the puppet master.  I would venture to say that while seemingly ‘unanswered’ prayer has gone out over the years, Ken is holding on to faith.  He knows that God moves in different ways that we do.  God isn’t bound by human realms.  If he were, I don’t think I would want to serve that God anyways!  I want a great big God!  One who is beyond anything that I can imagine.

We decided to make the dance a family event.  My wife and I, with our 13 year old son and 11 year old daughter headed out after 9:00 p.m. last night to attend our first 50’s sock hop ever.

Our kids have been raised in the new millennium, where most music has some sort of techno sound mixed into to.  It’s re-mastered to make even the worst singer (See Fergie at the Superbowl halftime show) sound good on the radio.  They didn’t really know what they were missed.

With my wife and daughter with their hair up in pony tails and wearing scarves, we entered a different time and place.  It was such a wonderful time!  Ken’s wife Jody did much of the planning and she did it well.  Silent auction, numerous fund raising games that I hadn’t seen before such as one where you pay a toonie, writer your name and phone number on a playing card.  At the end of the night, if your name is on the joker, you win $50.  The cards were all taped face down into the letters MS.  You can’t forget what all of this was for.

Music played and people danced.  Poodle skirts, bee-hives, up-do’s, rolled up jeans, white t-shirts and cigarette packs tucked into sleeves.  We were in a different era, and it was good.

My son said to me “This music is catchy!”  My daughter and wife danced to Chubby Checker’s The Twist and many others.  I danced with my daughter.  My wife danced with our son.  We sang, we visited, we had a truly nice time.

Despite the reason for the event, it highlights for me, once again, simplicity.  Fun music that everyone across the generations can enjoy.  Simple clothing.  Dancing wasn’t all foreplay.  It was just simple and to be enjoyed.

Jody said this morning that the dance was very successful and I am happy for them.  They need the community to support them, this isn’t a free out-patient procedure.  They are looking to raise $15,000 with the majority of it needed as soon as possible.  Ken will make four trips to Albany to undergo the process.

Monday night at Harry’s Charcoal Broiled, there is another Break the Chains fundraiser for the MS liberation treatment fund.  From 4 until 8, a special will be offered with proceeds to going to the fund.  If you are in the area, come out and join the family for a meal and support the cause.

Everyone has a story.  Ken’s is a long one in his battle with MS, but the story isn’t finished yet.  I’ll keep you posted.