This story in today’s Citizen.

Rob Warner is grateful for his son’s life of 323 days, 17 years ago. He describes how Liam Michael Warner was born with Trisomy 13 and not expected to live two months. 

The doctor told him: 

Treat him with the same respect and love you would a normal child. There was no need for him to ask us to love our son, but I’m glad he did. It said something about the man. And we listened well.

Warner says he is thankful for that doctor, for friends who supported him, for his wife of “reliable grace and strength.”

He concludes by saying this: 

Liam Michael Warner would have been 17 on Dec. 13.

He had a right to be here.

Indeed.

Short lives, long lives, disabled lives–all meaningful lives. I’m grateful for stories like this one–where the human spirit rises over tough circumstances and responds with grace, dignity and strength.