Janelle Karras...The Rest of the Story

I didn't ask for permission to write the rest of Janelle's story. I didn't ask because I know my mom's family. I know they don't like anyone to make a fuss over them.

But I'm going to do it anyway because the world deserves to know what they did.

Let me tell you just one of the things they did for Janelle:

Every Sunday they would bring Janelle from the nursing home out to the family farm.

He would carry her into the house.

They would enjoy the day together as if MS never existed in Janelle's body.

He would carry her out to the van.

These are the people who inspire me to keep writing greeting cards for both caregivers and patients.

These are the people who inspire me to be a better person.

These are the people who inspire me to be a better brother because the "they" and "he" up above are/is Janelle's brother Kent Haury and his wife Myrla.

Even though Janelle suffered greatly with MS, she was so blessed to have had a loving brother and sister-in-law.

They will tell you they were only doing what anyone would do in their situation.

I disagree.

What they and the millions of dedicated loving caregivers do, is extraordinary, and I will keep on blowing their cover.

Janelle Karras

Janelle Karras passed away peacefully March 21, 2012, at 11:16 a.m. CST after a courageous 29 year battle with MS. Our lives crossed in person for less than 2 hours, but I will be inspired by her the rest of mine. You see MS may have taken away all her ability to walk and even peck out an e-mail on her computer, but it never stopped her smile. It never destroyed her faith. It never stole the twinkle in her eyes and excitement in her voice as she shared stories about my mother when they were little girls.
See...Janelle Karras was my mom's "little" cousin.
I had heard about her my whole life, but geography limited us to only meeting once in person back in December 2010. Within minutes, Janelle lived up to my mother's hype of being an
inspiration to everyone who knew her. She was truly an amazing woman!

Even though Janelle and I spent little time together, she made and will make a big impact on my life. I hope I can do the same to others no matter the length of time we spend together.

I hope you do too.