Today is Candi and Nicole's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY you two.

I'm going to dedicate this update to someone that is very special to me. This person has all the qualities that I wish I had. I have watched this person go through life's struggles that make anything that I have gone through look like a stroll in the park. It's amazing how many of the same interests we have. We seem to almost know what each other is thinking. I can remember a time when we went to a local football game together. We walked through a mile of dirt and I complained the whole way. We watched the game while it was freezing cold, we sat in the wrong seats, I got ticked at the guy behind me, and we got stuck in traffic. Guess who didn't complain a bit? You got it . . . my friend. We found that we had the same interests in cars, movies, sports and so much more. I think we became best friends when we met. Don't hold this against my friend, but we are both Dodger fans. It seems like my friend has always been there for me. My friend was there when I got engaged, married, when my father passed away, the birth of both my kids, and most recently when I broke my neck. My friend didn't say too much, but was just there. My friend is an exemplary Christian. If the roles were reversed, I'm not sure that I would have been near as good of a friend. I would definitely be thinking to myself ģI hope none of this guy's bad luck rubs off on me! My friend knows when to constructively correct me when I am wrong and is always sure to point out all the positives in every situation. I honestly do not think my friend fears anything. My friend once rolled a car down an embankment and walked away from it without hardly a scratch. I know my friend will always be there for me. We made a pact a long time ago to always be "best friends". My friend has never let me down. I am thankful for my friend and I wanted to use this as my opportunity to say "thank you".

My physical progress has slowed recently. My left leg is pretty weak and my left arm continues to not want to move. All the muscles are firing but the tone continues to hold the physical progress back. I had someone ask me recently, "Are you getting depressed with your progress?". My answer was "NO". I look at it from the perspective every day that I am starting from being paralyzed and working my way forward. Plus, I have watched Whitney Hope take off to heights I would have never expected. I am looking forward to seeing all the smiling faces and watching as I see people with physical disabilities live a more enjoyable life. Sometimes, it feels like physically healthy people are the one's who are handicapped. Wait until you see how your prayers and donations affect so many lives for the better.

Those of you who know me know that what I am about to ask makes me extremely uncomfortable and is hard for me to do. As Whitney Hope grows, so do our expenses. We have one full-time person that relies wholly on donations for income and two others who give their time without any compensation. Whitney Hope recently received a check for $50.00 with a note that read: "We know this is not a lot, but we want to help as much as we can." The note went on to say that they know someone who is very special to them that has disabilities and they are certain that a camp like this would mean so much to this individual. I watch with amazement as our full-time staff person goes further and further into debt to support this cause. I take this opportunity to ask you to give a little to a cause that will mean so much. You can determine the best way to give by visiting www.whitneyhope.com or by contacting our main office at PO Box 3576, Ventura, CA 93006-3576 or calling 805.658.1189. It is my personal vision to eventually obtain corporate sponsors for all expenses and to have personal donations go directly to sponsor scholarships. This is going to grow into something pretty unimaginable and your assistance can ensure we stay focused on what matters most: providing inspiration, providing a camp for the disabled, and erecting a building which will serve as a safe haven for individuals and their families while they adjust to living the rest of their lives with a spinal cord injury. Thank you so much!

By the way, for those of you wondering how badly my brain was affected by this accident, you'll be glad to know that I did not sustain any brain damage or memory loss in the accident. I purposely did not name the individual above because I wanted to save the best for last. If you didn't already guess, that person is Candace Ann Claassen who now goes by Candi Whitney. Sometimes I think it took breaking my neck to realize how fortunate I really am. God knew what He was doing when He gave Candi to this world.

Dan