Rare and Beautiful

This week we acknowledge Rare Disease Week.
We attempt to bring awareness to ailments few know of
or perhaps educate folks on some they do.
Of course, first on my heart is dermatomyositis,
a life-threatening auto-immune disease
that attacks the skin and proximal muscles.
My son battled this monster for nearly a decade.
There is no known cure and treatment is awful.
Also front and center is NEMO, Fragile X,
Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Crohn's, and perhaps,
the worst of all, the as-yet-undiagnosed.
Before you judge appearances,
learn about signs and symptoms.
Help where you can and do what you're able.
Growing old is a privilege denied to many.
The kids I've known have the spirits of the Angels;
positive, polite, and hopeful.
Prayer and hope are as powerful as any medicine.
Remember how truly Rare and Beautiful
these precious people are.